Although HIV infections continue to occur at an alarming rate, medications are drastically reducing the number of deaths from aids and improving the quality of life of HIV-infected people. Lawyers who advise HIV-positive clients need to emphasize that the best way to avoid stigmatization and discrimination is to be selective in whom clients entrust with information about their HIV status.
Vol. 76, No. 2, February
2003
Meeting the Needs of People with HIV
AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin
The AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin (ARCW) is a statewide nonprofit
agency that serves the health, social, and legal needs of people living
with HIV and AIDS. ARCW provides HIV-positive persons with medical and
dental services, case management, food pantries, counseling and testing,
housing assistance, mental health therapy, and residential living.
The ARCW operates out of nine offices, in Milwaukee, Green Bay,
Appleton, Wausau, La Crosse, Eau Claire, Madison, Kenosha, and
Superior.
There are opportunities for attorneys to volunteer or contribute to
ARCW's work. The Legal Services Program at ARCW provides free legal
assistance to HIV-positive persons in a variety of legal matters,
including discrimination, guardianships, advanced directives, social
security disability, confidentiality issues, insurance, family law, and
bankruptcy. Attorneys can volunteer by acting as a consultant in their
respective area of law to the ARCW staff attorneys or by accepting a
case for pro bono representation.
To learn more about becoming an ARCW cooperating attorney, or to make
a charitable donation, please call Christopher Krimmer at (414)
225-1532.
Wisconsin
Lawyer