Equitas Health Mansfield Meeting Needs & Fighting Stigma 20 Years Later

Before Equitas Health opened its Mansfield office in 2003, people living with HIV/AIDS in the area could drop by a local AIDS Task Force to meet with mostly volunteer staff. The task force provided support and resources for a population that faced great stigma.

20 years later, Equitas Health Mansfield still provides support and resources for people living with HIV. The range of services has grown greatly, along with the people they serve.

Mansfield’s full-time staff of 10 connects people to doctors, HIV/STI testing services, dentists, counselors, and support groups. Health advocates provide case management, benefit navigators connect people to insurance, and housing advocates work with people to find housing.

Formerly known as AIDS Resource Center Ohio, Equitas Health is a Columbus-based, non-profit regional healthcare system. It serves people living with HIV/AIDS, the LGBTQ+ community, and anyone seeking a welcoming and affirming healthcare home. Equitas Health Mansfield sees about 180 clients living in a 10-county area. The office is located on the city’s west side at 410 Park Ave. W.

“The biggest change I have seen is in medication. People living with HIV can achieve undetectable and untransmittable viral load status by simply taking one pill a day,” said Jodi Startup, a health advocacy supervisor. She joined Equitas Health 10 years ago and provides clinical and administrative oversight for the Mansfield team.

Changes in treatment and outcomes

Prescription drugs known as anti-retroviral therapy (ART) help lower the amount of HIV in a person’s blood. When HIV is undetectable in the blood, people cannot transmit the virus through sex or drug use.

“When a client is undetectable, that’s a moment to celebrate. We walk with them, but they do the hard work,” said Brandy Cooper, a medical health advocate. Cooper has been with Equitas Health for seven years, most recently in the Mansfield office.

Cooper and the other Mansfield staff help educate clients – and the community – about HIV prevention and treatment.

People who don’t have HIV, but who might be at risk for the virus, can protect themselves with a medication called PrEP. PrEP is a once-daily pill that reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99%. PrEP is free to most Ohioans through a program called PAPI.

Health advocates help people get and pay for this and other medications.

“We spend a lot of time helping people with insurance. They might only have one medication, but they need to have access to it,” said Startup.

While the Mansfield office does not have HIV testing services, they connect people to groups that do. Their community partners include Planned Parenthood and the health department. They also refer clients to OHIV.org for free condoms and HIV home test kits.

Many people in Richland and surrounding counties are just discovering the wide range of services provided by Equitas Health.

“We do more home visits, and not as many people come into the office. Transportation can be a barrier for people who live in rural counties,” said Cooper.

Stigma is another barrier to care. Stigma can keep someone from walking in the office or getting tested for HIV. Equitas Health staff work hard to help reduce that stigma.

While it has become easier to talk about issues of sex and gender, Cooper and Startup agree there is a lot of work to do. Events like Mansfield Pride help. Equitas Health was proud to be a part of the city’s first Pride event nine years ago, and they have been a part of every celebration since.

“On a positive note, more and more of our communities are celebrating the LGBTQ+ community. We have gone from having one or two Pride events, to events in cities across the state,” said Startup.

The changing needs of clients

Additional staff with specific roles help the office reach more people and keep them connected to services.

Benefit navigators work one-on-one with people who need insurance. They help people navigate Medicaid, Medicare, and marketplace insurance. They also link clients to the Ohio Department of Health’s Ryan White program for people living with HIV.

Peer navigators often go to doctors’ visits with clients to help them ask questions. Many peer navigators are also living with HIV. They know the challenges people face with a new diagnosis.

While their services once focused mainly on people living with HIV, Equitas Health is seeing more and more people who want gender-affirming care. A handful of people each month reach out to the Mansfield office for referrals to doctors or pharmacists who will treat transgender and gender-expansive folks, said Startup.

The future

Ohio has seen an increase in people with sexually transmitted infections (STI), including gonorrhea, syphilis, and chlamydia. Passage of House Bill 68, which restricts access to gender-affirming care, raises questions and concerns for transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming people. Health disparities continue to exist for people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, people with mental health concerns, and women.

“We’re also seeing a lot more people whose first language is Spanish. I would say about 12 percent of our clients are Spanish-speaking,” said Startup. The office uses a translator service to communicate and connect this population to care.

In communities around the state, Equitas Health advocates for access to services, affordable healthcare, and an end to stigma.

“We will continue to focus on getting people the quality, affirming care they need and deserve,” said Startup.

Learn more about all Equitas Health services at equitashealth.com.

Equitas Health Mansfield is located at 410 Park Ave. West, Suite 5. Walk in hours are Mon. through Fri. from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or call (419) 525-2437 to make an appointment.