About | Our History

• About 1 in 5 individuals with HIV are unaware they are infected
• There are 588 persons living with AIDS in New Hampshire , and an estimated 300-500 persons living with HIV
• There are 484 persons living with HIV/AIDS in Vermont
• It is estimated that there are nearly 12,000 Vermonters living with hepatitis C
• There are 26,000 people living in New Hampshire with hep C

When HIV/AIDS first appeared in the Upper Valley, neither our medical community nor our social service agencies were prepared to meet the needs of those affected by the killer virus. Additionally, misinformation, rampant fear and prejudice created a climate that was so hostile few people felt safe enough to talk about their illness. Fortunately, a diverse and compassionate group of volunteers came together in 1988 to find ways to help those affected and infected with HIV or living with AIDS; together they established ACoRN.

ACoRN is now a comprehensive and professional AIDS service organization that has supported hundreds of HIV positive people and their affected family members. We offer case management, support groups, assistance with transportation to medical appointments, and emergency financial help for housing, food, clothing and medical needs. We also offer comprehensive HIV and hep C prevention education and testing; ACoRN has three certified HIV counselors and testers. ACoRN's services are free of charge and available to anyone living in Windsor and Orange Counties of Vermont and Grafton and Sullivan of New Hampshire.

All of our services are free and confidential.

In the year 2004, ACoRN changed its name and mission statement in order to include services to those both infected and affected by the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). ACoRN’s staff and Board of Directors became increasingly aware that HCV had become the leading blood borne pandemic in the United States, as well as the world and that greater numbers of those co-infected with HCV and HIV were dying. ACoRN has begun to apply its years of knowledge and experience in combating our rural HIV epidemic to now facing the challenges of HCV.

In addition to supporting people who are already directly infected with HIV and/or HCV, ACoRN’s mission includes stopping the spread of these viruses through a variety of community outreach and educational programs and services. Most recently, ACoRN staff has begun to directly target prevention services to those who inject drugs and their sexual partners. In addition, ACoRN is working closely with Dartmouth College, Plymouth State University as well as area high schools as part of an intensive educational program.

Both epidemics of HIV and HCV are escalating rapidly among those who inject drugs in our communities. Recently ACoRN staff with support from the Board of Directors established the first needle exchange program ever provided in our catchment area. This move represents ACoRN’s ongoing commitment to grow and shift its priorities and services in order to continue succeeding in accomplishing our founding member’s mission in the service of our communities.

ACoRN has supported hundreds of HIV-positive people and their affected family members.

The agency began a Needle Exchange Program in the fall of 2006. Because of the large numbers of clients who have co-infections, this new program was felt to be a necessity as the agency expanded its scope and Mission. During the first 6 months, more than 800 needles were exchanged and there were numerous referrals to Methadone clinics and other treatment facilities. The success of this program was such that initially it was conducted once a week (Thursday). The response was such that an additional day (Tuesday) was added. Since the beginning of 2009, the syringe exchange program has given out 1,200 clean syringes and 70 HIV and hep C tests!

Because of the needle exchange program, ACoRN has acquired new HIV clients as the agency has urged participants to be tested not only for hepatitis C but for HIV. Our Prevention Educator has also adopted some new innovative approaches to reaching individuals to educate, inform, and test:

• Healthy Relationships retreat (CDC curriculum, done twice annually) providing participants with communication, self empowerment and relationship building skills
• HIV /HEPC and substance abuse
• Social Network Testing (CDC curriculum for HIV reduction), in which intravenous drug users bring others to be counseled and tested
• Programming in correction facilities
• Multiple-visit curriculum in treatment facilities
• School presentations
• HIV/Hep C testing and counseling
• Searchlight Project
• Posting our available services in MSM chat rooms so that individuals can ask questions anonymously

ACoRN is actively “looking outside the box” as federal and state funding resources continue to be cut. There is no cure for HIV and it is spreading, especially among 18-26 year olds. We ask for your support to be able to keep our services for our clients, offer counseling and testing as well as risk reduction to individuals, and most importantly to provide education to the greater public.