Bergen Family Center: What is your status? Knowing is Everything.

What is HIV?

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus which interferes with the body’s immune system, making it harder for the body to fight other infections. HIV is spread through unprotected sex, sharing needles and passive immunity from mother to child.

Should I test?

Today, HIV is again reaching epidemic levels because people who may be infected don’t know it. Whether you engage in unprotected sex, share an unclean needle or you had an incident where you may have been exposed, you should schedule a free and confidential HIV test. BFC partners with the Bergen County Department of Health to provide HIV testing and test results are available in under 20 minutes.

What is involved in testing?

Before testing, you must sign a consent form. Once the consent is signed, a test counselor will meet with you prior to testing to discuss any risk behaviors and post-testing to discuss the meaning of a positive or negative test result and any other questions pertaining to HIV.

The HIV test consists of a simple finger stick. The results are available to you in under 20 minutes.

Benefits of Testing includes:

*Client-centered counseling

*Decreased anxiety from finally knowing HIV status

*Ability to make decisions about condom use with a partner who has also been tested

Where can I get tested?

Bergen Family Center

10 Banta Place

Hackensack, NJ  07601

(201) 563-3819

(201) 518-6414

Bergen County Department of Health

120 South River Street

Hackensack, NJ  07601

(201) 336-3350

HIV affects everyone, every race, every gender and every age.

We offer Support:

HIV Testing: BFC partners with the Bergen County Department of Health to provide free and confidential HIV testing. Testing involves a simple finger stick and patients receive their results in under 20 minutes.

Outreach & Early Intervention Services: Our outreach and early intervention providers coordinate community outreach efforts, educate about HIV across all populations, advocate testing among identified at-risk populations, navigate those who are newly diagnosed or out of care into medical care and provide the appropriate resources to the client.

Counseling: BFC offers therapy by licensed clinicians to individuals who are infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. Individual, couple, family and group sessions are provided to develop coping strategies to ensure the mental and physical well-being of our clients. Psychiatric assessment and medication monitoring are available when needed. Spanish speaking clinicians are available.

Legal Advocacy: BFC has an attorney to assist our clients with securing benefits, access to medical care, housing issues and discrimination. BFC is the only Bergen County Agency offering legal services to the HIV/AIDS community at no cost for eligible clients.

Fees: BFC has federal and state grant funding to provide services for those infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS. The agency has a sliding fee scale for persons who can afford partial payments.

For more information about HIV/AIDS Services, please contact Paula Tenebruso at (201) 342-9200, ext. 20.

What is Bergen Family Center?

Bergen Family Center (BFC) supports, strengthens and enriches family life through innovative programs and quality services. BFC has locations in Hackensack and Englewood and is Bergen County’s oldest, continuously operating family service agency since 1898. In addition to its HIV/AIDS Services, BFC offers day care/educational services for children, support services for adolescents, older adults and families and general counseling.

HIV/AIDS Services at Bergen Family Center:

The goal of the HIV/AIDS Services at BFC is to enhance the quality of life for people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS and to support a positive self-imagine and healthy attitude. BFC recognizes and understands the impact of HIV/AIDS has on loved ones.

Bergen Family Center

HIV/AIDS Services

10 Banta Place

Hackensack, NJ 07601

Phone: (201) 342-9200

Fax: (201) 342-2075

Website: http://www.bergenfamilycenter.org

*Disclaimer: This information has been taken directly from the Bergen Family Center pamphlet. I have not used this service so I have no opinion of it either yes or no to how the service works. Please call the above number or email them for more information.