Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1998. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Miami Herald - Thursday, July 23, 1998
Javier Morejon, Herald Writer
The new group, CAresource Community Aids Resource, Inc., is a union between the Health Crisis Network (HCN) and the Community Research Initiative (CRI) of South Florida. The two groups each contribute to the fight against AIDS in different ways.
"We hope the merger will allow us to consolidate and enhance our base of clients while giving them the best care and support that is possible," said Rick Siclari, the executive director of CAresource, which has offices in Coral Gables and Miami.
The Health Crisis Network was founded in 1983 and provided education, prevention, case management and referral services.
The Community Research Initiative was founded in 1989 and helped expedite the research effort against AIDS, often by helping test new drug treatments, including two protease inhibitors.
CAresource hopes to begin offering the expanded resources to clients of both HCN and CRI within about 90 days.
According to Siclari, CAresource hopes to help 1,000 people a month with services including AIDS education, research and support.
"Our goal is to grant access to treatment and care that a lot of these people would have no way of reaching -- such as the protease inhibitors, which were still experimental when we first offered them," Siclari said.
One of the group's success stories has been John Sadler. Sadler, 36, has been HIV-positive for three years.
"There are so many things that are out there and it's a real bear to keep up," Sadler said. "These guys keep up with it. They keep up to date on the new programs and treatments and work hand-in-hand with the doctors to help keep the patients up-to-date."
Sadler said he supports the merger.
"I really believe that this merger will help the community," he said. "It will be a bigger organization with more money and more clout, and it will be able to reach the people who need it."
To get more information about CAresource, call 305-667-9296.
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