Life doesn’t stop at an HIV diagnosis
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On this site, you will find information about HIV, help for finding an HIV care provider in Denver and throughout Colorado, and links to various resources that serve people with HIV.
Getting an HIV diagnosis is tough. It can be overwhelming finding a doctor and getting connected to resources. You don’t have to have everything figured out right away. When you’re ready, scroll down to find out more…and remember, you can always take it one step at a time.
HIV medications today have minimal side effects and will control the virus, so you can keep living your life with fewer worries. People with HIV live long and healthy lives.
Facts You Can Trust
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The science is clear. People who have HIV and who achieve and maintain an undetectable viral load (the amount of HIV in your blood) by taking HIV medications called antiretroviral therapy (ART) CANNOT sexually transmit the virus to others. This is referred to as U=U.
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You are not alone. There are many services designed specifically for people with HIV that can help you find a doctor; get enrolled in programs that aid in paying for medications, health insurance, and dental care; and connect to other available resources. Scroll down to find more information.
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Decades of activism and advocacy have created a beautiful and vibrant community of people with HIV.
Most people with HIV have the same life expectancy, on average, as those who don’t have HIV. This is especially true for those with regular access to medical care and treatment.
You may feel overwhelmed with information & options—remember that you do not have to decide everything today. There are people whose jobs are dedicated to helping you figure it out, one step at a time.
Whether you are worried about finding the right clinic, getting access to medication support systems, or even just talking with someone about how challenging your diagnosis may feel, there are many resources in Colorado to help you. We are lucky to live in a state that is not only so beautiful but also full of great options for care!
Colorado has resources for everyone.
HIV Treatment
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HIV care in the Denver Metro Area
The Linkage to Care team at the Public Health Institute at Denver Health works specifically to help people with HIV find doctors and get connected to services. Call them at 303-602-3652 or email them at HIVlinkage@dhha.org. They can also be reached by completing the form below.
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Options for Coloradans living outside of Denver
Live outside the Denver metro area? The Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) is a good place to go to get connected to these services. Clicking on the “Find a case manager” drop-down will take you to various organizations outside the metro area.
The CDC has a HIV Service Locator where you can search for HIV service providers by zip code. Learn More
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CONNECT TO CARE
If you need to get into HIV care in the Denver area, call the Linkage to Care team at the Public Health Institute at Denver Health at 303-602-3652.
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Disclosing your status to someone is a very personal choice that you should always feel in control of doing or not doing. In almost every circumstance, you do not have to disclose your status to people if you’re not yet ready (or ever), including employers, friends & family, and neighbors & community members. It is important to notify your medical providers, so they can provide you with the best possible medical care. There are no HIV disclosure laws in Colorado, but there may be in other states.
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There are many programs that will help with all or most of your HIV medical care, including medications. Your doctor’s office and/or case manager will help you connect to these programs (ask your clinic or case manager about enrolling in SDAP!).
In addition to the State-sponsored medication assistance programs, many pharmaceutical companies offer financial assistance for HIV medications. Ask your pharmacist or doctor’s office about these.
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Usually not. Modern-day HIV medications (called antiretroviral therapy, ART) have minimal-to-no side effects. You may experience side effects such as an upset stomach or fatigue when you first start taking your medications, but these typically subside after time. If one medicine causes problems for you, there are many alternatives available.
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Yes! Your sex life is NOT over just because of your HIV status. When you take your medications, your viral load becomes undetectable, meaning that you cannot transmit HIV sexually. It may still be challenging or uncomfortable at times to tell sexual partners about your status. The link below includes resources to help you navigate these conversations in a way that feels safe to you.
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Yes! Having HIV does not mean that you cannot or should not have a child. Parent-to-child transmission is avoidable with modern-day medicines when the pregnant person with HIV is taking HIV medications.
The Children’s Hospital Immunodeficiency Program (CHIP) helps expectant mothers with HIV obtain state-of-the-art services and support and provides comprehensive reproductive health counseling for persons with HIV.
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It varies, but most people will see an undetectable viral load within 3 months of starting HIV medicines. Sometimes the viral load becomes undetectable in as little as one month. Rarely, it may take up to 6 months. Once the viral load has been undetectable for 6 months, it is considered “durably undetectable” and there is no risk of sexual transmission of HIV as long as the viral load stays undetectable.
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While HIV treatment has evolved tremendously over the last 40 years, many people do not have updated facts about HIV—and stigma has unfortunately remained. People may experience stigma in different ways, and some may experience more stigma than others. Below are some tips on how to stop HIV stigma.
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U=U (Undetectable = Untransmittable) means that if you are taking your meds and have a consistently undetectable HIV viral load then the virus cannot be sexually transmitted to a partner.
PrEP refers to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, a pill or injection that people without HIV can take to prevent getting HIV.
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No! And don’t let other people tell you otherwise. HIV is primarily transmitted through vaginal or anal sex or sharing of injection drug-use equipment. HIV dies quickly outside of the body and therefore can’t be transmitted by casual contact like touching, kissing, or through the air.
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Yes. Vivent Health, an organization located in Denver, has a team of lawyers available for people with HIV who have been discriminated against or denied employment, housing, health care, health insurance, and government assistance like social security. They can also assist people with HIV with power of attorney for health care/advance directives, estate planning, landlord & tenant dispute resolution, and name & gender marker change.
EASY ANSWERS TO tough QUESTIONS
Resources, tips, and tools for your journey
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There are many services for people with HIV in Denver, including resources for housing, financial assistance, food assistance, health insurance assistance, and mental health care.
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You may want to understand basic facts about what HIV does and how it’s managed.
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Many people with HIV are eligible for a state program that covers the cost of medical insurance, HIV medications, and many other medical expenses outside of HIV.
In addition to the State-sponsored medication assistance programs, many pharmaceutical companies offer financial assistance for HIV medications. Ask your pharmacist or doctor’s office about these.
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Many people with HIV benefit from using something called Case Management. This is an opportunity to link with a person who understands how to apply for various resources and services you are eligible for, including financial assistance, housing support, and more.
Case management for people in the Denver area:
Case management for people outside of the Denver area:
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Located in Aurora off of East Colfax, It Takes a Village is a non-profit organization geared towards reducing health and social disparities among people of color in the Denver area. If you want to connect with community members who share both your racial identity and status experience, this could be a great place to get started!
Servicios de la Raza is a bilingual (Spanish/English) health and human services organization that addresses the needs of the Latino and other underserved and marginalized communities across the Denver metropolitan area and Colorado.
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The Children’s Hospital Immunodeficiency Program (CHIP), located at Children’s Hospital Colorado in Aurora, Colorado, helps expectant mothers with HIV obtain state-of-the-art services and support.
The Positive Women’s Network is a national advocacy group that supports and is led by women with HIV.
The Empowerment Program is a local organization that supports women with HIV with various resources and support groups. If you identify as a woman or femme, these may be great organizations for you to meet individuals with shared identities.
It Takes a Village is a non-profit organization geared towards reducing health and social disparities among people of color in the Denver area. It Takes a Village has programs for cis and trans women.
The Well Project is a non-profit organization dedicated to changing the course of the HIV/AIDS pandemic through a unique and comprehensive focus on women and girls.
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Living with HIV as a young person comes with its unique set of issues and challenges. The CHIP Youth Project at Children’s Hospital Colorado in Aurora, Colorado is a comprehensive health care program focused on serving youth aged 13 to 24 with HIV, affected by HIV, or at-risk for HIV.
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Servicios de la Raza es una organización bilingüe de servicios humanos que sirve a las comunidades latinas en Denver, incluyendo las personas que tienen VIH. Todos los servicios se ofrecen en español.
Servicios de La Raza is a bilingual human services organization that serves Denver’s Latinx communities, including individuals with HIV. All services are offered in Spanish.
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If you’re dealing with substance use issues, you’re not alone. Overcoming substance use issues is hard. Check out some of the resources below.
Mile High Behavioral Health Care provides a range of behavioral health services in the Denver area, including services for people dealing with substance use challenges. Denver Element is a program of Mile High Behavioral Healthcare that provides behavioral healthcare including substance use and mental health counseling services.
Mile High Behavioral Healthcare
It Takes a Village is a non-profit organization geared towards reducing health and social disparities among people of color in the Denver area. Among their wide variety of services include programs for people with substance use issues.
The Harm Reduction Action Center is Colorado’s largest public health agency that works specifically with people who inject drugs. Individuals have an opportunity to dispose of used syringes, access sterile syringes, pipes for smoking, and are offered resources. If you currently inject or use drugs, check them out.
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People who have HIV who achieve and maintain an undetectable viral load (the amount of HIV in your blood) by taking HIV medications called antiretroviral therapy (ART) CANNOT sexually transmit the virus to others. This is referred to as U=U.
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People with HIV are in charge of their stories. Hear stories of other people with HIV.
Hear our stories and those of other people with HIV.
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There are many online resources for people with HIV. Below are just a few.
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Language matters when we talk about HIV. There are a lot of outdated and incorrect ideas about what HIV means and how it works. More inclusive language can help us reduce stigma, and spread more accurate information.
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Your mental health matters. Dealing with an HIV diagnosis and learning to not only live with HIV, but thrive with HIV, can be hard. There are a variety of different organizations that provide mental health services and support for people with HIV in the Denver area. Check out the link below to find different organizations that offer mental health services and support.
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The Denver Sexual Health Clinic provides evaluation and treatment for sexually transmitted infections and provides family planning services. If you are experiencing symptoms or know that you were exposed to an STI, please contact DSHC at (303) 602-3540 to schedule a visit.
Test Yourself Colorado offers free at-home HIV and STD testing annually. The test kit allows for individuals to test for HIV, chlamydia and gonorrhea. The HIV test is completed by using OraQuick®, which is a home based HIV test and provides the individual with results within 20 minutes. The gonorrhea and chlamydia tests are collected by the individual and sent via mail to be processed in a lab. If someone tests positive for HIV, you are connected to the Linkage to Care team at the Public Health Institute at Denver Health for confirmatory testing. If you have a positive test for chlamydia and/or gonorrhea the individual provided with free treatment.
Keep up to date with what we’re doing
We are a volunteer-based group of community members, so it may take us time to get back to your message. Rest assured that we will respond, and link you with what you need! If you want to join our efforts, please reach out to the Taskforce by emailing us at info@5280fast-trackcities.org
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In 2014, Denver joined other cities in creating its own Fast-Track Cities Taskforce–a group of people who care about making HIV treatment and prevention services more accessible for our community. In 2021, we introduced the Community Activation Work Group–a new group made primarily of local individuals with HIV who help steer and support our efforts.
Check out our meetings folder here.
Get involved
In addition to the work the 5280 Fast-Track Cities are doing, there are many different groups working to improve services for people with HIV in Denver and throughout the state. Check out these links and throughout this website to see if any interest you.
