HIV Prevention in Local Communities
Each year, the Tennessee Department of Health’s HIV Prevention Program allocates funding for evidence-based HIV prevention activities to at least one organization in each of the five Ryan White Part B planning regions.
These activities include condom distribution, PrEP (which stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis) navigation, HIV prevention services for people living with HIV (including rapid linkage to care and supportive services), Partner Services for the partners of people living with HIV, syringe services, and peer support for people vulnerable to HIV.
Tennessee HIV Prevention Coalition
The 2025 HIV Prevention Coalition partners are:
· Southwest: Friends for All, Le Bonheur/Methodist Community HIV Network
· West: Children and Family Services
· Middle: Nashville CARES
· Southeast: Cempa Community Care
· Northeast: Choice Health Network
The HIV Prevention Coalition agencies work with local partners in their regions to ensure that HIV screening, prevention supplies, and prevention activities are as accessible as possible, including a network of funded syringe services programs. They work in collaboration with Ryan White Part B and A programs to ensure Tennesseans who are diagnosed with HIV have full access to HIV medical care and supportive services.
HIV Testing
HIV testing is available through health department clinics, HIV Prevention Coalition partners, and Syringe Services programs.
Click here to learn more about HIV testing in Tennessee.
Condom Distribution
Condom distribution is available through health department clinics, HIV Prevention Coalition partners, and Syringe Services programs.
Click here to learn more about using condoms to prevent HIV from the CDC.
Condom Distribution in Health Departments
Regional and metro health department clinics all over Tennessee provide condoms to members of their local communities through the Condom Distribution program.
Click here for a list of regional health departments.
Condom Distribution through the HIV Prevention Coalition
HIV Prevention Coalition partners provide condoms through community distribution. Condoms are regularly distributed to local bars, clubs, community organizations, community health centers, barbershops, beauty shops, tattoo parlors, homeless service organizations, and many other locations across each region.
For more information, contact the HIV Prevention Coalition partner in your area:
· Southwest: Friends for All, Le Bonheur/Methodist Community HIV Network
· West: Children and Family Services
· Middle: Nashville CARES
· Southeast: Cempa Community Care
· Northeast: Choice Health Network
Condom Distribution through Syringe Services
Condoms are available at all syringe services program locations. Click here to learn more about syringe services and find locations near you.
PrEP and PEP Navigation
PrEP (or pre-exposure prophylaxis) is a daily medication that is highly effective at preventing HIV when taken correctly. PEP (or post-exposure prophylaxis) can be taken within 72 hours of sex or syringe-sharing to prevent HIV.
To support people in accessing PrEP and PEP, there is a statewide network of PrEP/PEP navigators. These navigators are trained to connect people to accurate information about PrEP and PEP, to medical providers that can prescribe PrEP and PEP, to pharmacies that can fill PrEP and PEP prescriptions, and to cost assistance resources.
In Tennessee people can learn more about PrEP and PEP through health department clinics, HIV Prevention Coalition partners, and Syringe Services programs.
Click here to learn more about preventing HIV with PrEP from the CDC.
PrEP and PEP through Health Departments
All health department clinics provide information about and referrals for PrEP and PEP. Click here for a list of regional health departments.
The following health department clinics provide PrEP and PEP navigation and medical care:
· Shelby County Health Department
· Jackson/Madison County Health Department
· Metro Public Health Department Nashville
PrEP and PEP through HIV Prevention Coalition
HIV Prevention Coalition partners provide PrEP and PEP navigation services.
For more information, contact the HIV Prevention Coalition partner in your area:
· Southwest: Friends for All, Le Bonheur/Methodist Community HIV Network
· West: Children and Family Services
· Middle: Nashville CARES
· Southeast: Cempa Community Care
· Northeast: Choice Health Network
PrEP and PEP through Syringe Services Programs
Syringe Services programs provide information about PrEP and PEP and referrals for medical care and navigation. Click here to learn more about syringe services and find locations near you.
Find PrEP and PEP resources in your area.
PrEP Locator is a national database of medical providers and navigators for PrEP and PEP.
Click here to visit PrEP Locator.
HIV Prevention Services for People Living with HIV
U=U, or Undetectable = Untransmittable, is the most effective form of HIV prevention for people living with HIV. It is the treatment goal for people living with HIV.
A person living with HIV can take HIV treatment medication and attend medical monitoring appointments to suppress the HIV virus to the degree that it is undetectable. Undetectable HIV cannot develop into AIDS and does not require HIV medication regimen changes to control.
When undetectable HIV is maintained for six months or more, the person living with HIV becomes untransmittable. This means that it is impossible for HIV to pass to other people during sex.
To support people living with HIV in achieving U=U, health department clinics, Centers of Excellence clinics, and HIV Prevention Coalition partners offer medical, navigation, and social support services.
Click here to learn more about U=U from the CDC.
If you are a Tennessee health care or social services provider, click here to learn more about U=U.
Partner Services through Health Departments
Partner Services includes a wide range of medical, prevention, and psychosocial services for the partners of people who are living with HIV. In Tennessee, Partner Services is conducted by Disease Intervention Specialists (DIS), supervisors, and managers assigned to county and metro health departments.
This team of staff ensures that people who are at elevated risk for HIV through connection with a person living with HIV receive access to:
· Confidential counseling and testing
· Support linking to HIV treatment
· Eligibility assessment for Ryan White services
· Partner notification, partner referral, and partner testing
· Health education and patient counseling
Partner Services are available at all health department clinics. Click here for a list of regional health departments.
HIV Centers of Excellence
The HIV Centers of Excellence offer clinical and social services through an integrated model. These agencies are designed to meet the needs of people with HIV who have limited ability to pay for care, other health conditions alongside HIV, or who need basic needs met (like housing or transportation) to thrive in HIV treatment. These facilities provide seamless access to HIV medical care and supportive services.
Click here for a full list of HIV Centers of Excellence in Tennessee.
Early Intervention Services and Case Management
Early Intervention Services, or EIS, are support services for people new to an HIV diagnosis who are seeking HIV medical care for the first time. The staff who provide them are trained to provide clients with local HIV care options, connect clients to financial resources to pay for care, and to link clients to supportive services.
All health department clinics provide Early Intervention Services alongside Partner Services. Click here for a list of regional health departments.
Case management for people with HIV is available through Ryan White Part B and Part A partners and through Centers of Excellence facilities. People with HIV are paired with a dedicated case manager who keeps them connected to medical care, explores financial resources to pay for care, and links them to supportive services to meet their needs.
Click here to find HIV case management and early intervention services in Tennessee.
For case management and EIS providers in Davidson county click here.
Services for People New to an HIV Diagnosis
The first month after a person is diagnosed with HIV can be a stressful time. Starting HIV medical care, paying for HIV medical care, adjusting to the new routine of taking HIV treatment medication, learning about HIV as a chronic condition, and getting support from friends and family can all be challenging tasks. Starting HIV care as soon as possible after diagnosis is a proven way to avoid health complications from HIV.
In addition to the resources listed above, there are several services provided specifically to people new to an HIV diagnosis.
Anti-Retroviral Treatment and Access to Services (ARTAS)
ARTAS is an evidence-based linkage to care service where a person new to HIV is paired with a trained linkage coordinator. The trained linkage coordinator can work with the patient for the first month after their diagnosis, connect the patient to medical care and supportive services, and answer questions the patient has after their first HIV medical appointment.
ARTAS is available through HIV Prevention Coalition partners in the Southwest and East regions:
· Southwest: Le Bonheur/Methodist Community HIV Network
· Northeast: Choice Health Network
Healthy Relationships
Healthy Relationships is a peer support service that connects people new to HIV with small groups of their peers to discuss, troubleshoot, and support one another in disclosing their HIV status to family, friends, and sexual partners in the larger process of building healthier personal relationships.
Healthy Relationships is available through HIV Prevention Coalition partner in the Middle region:
· Middle: Nashville CARES
Healthy Relationships may be available to people who live outside the Middle region through virtual facilitation. Please contact the partner agency directly for more information.
HIV Prevention Services for People Vulnerable to HIV
PrEP, PEP, condoms, using sterile syringes, and avoiding syringe sharing and specific sexual activities are all proven ways to avoid HIV. Getting routine HIV testing is recommended for all adults and teens engaged in activities where HIV can spread.
Click here to learn more about HIV prevention from the CDC.
In addition to these services, HIV Prevention Coalition partners also provide opportunities for people to connect with peers for support in building and maintaining safe and healthy habits. These peer support activities combine education about HIV, STIs, harm reduction, and viral hepatitis with social support.
Please contact the HIV Prevention Coalition partner in your area for more information:
· Southwest: Friends for All, Le Bonheur/Methodist Community HIV Network
· West: Children and Family Services
· Middle: Nashville CARES
· Southeast: Cempa Community Care
· Northeast: Choice Health Network