The First Response Wellness Center is the oldest and largest ministry of the First Response Center. It evolved in response to the manner in which HIV/AIDS is devastating the African American community, knowing that a non-traditional method of identifying need and delivering service was necessary to combat the epidemic. The Wellness Center successfully operates on the premise that the Church, as the cornerstone institution in the African American community, provides the first response when faced with a critical need. Many of our clients are unemployed or single and have no viable support systems or safe places. The offices of the First Response Center provide them with a "place to be" thereby helping to fulfill the need to belong and be a part of a community. We are committed to providing a safe, sensitive, caring and confidential environment where anyone, irrespective of any aspect of their being, can receive compassionate service and culturally appropriate information. Consequently, we are able to reach persons who are often outside the continuum of care provided by more traditional social service agencies and organizations. In the seven years of our formal programmatic experience (fourteen years informally) we have achieved a high level of credibility as a by-product of being able to provide an environment of non-judgmental care within the African American community.

The First Response Wellness Center is Middle Tennessee's leading church-based AIDS service organization. Its mission is to promote and participate in a comprehensive and compassionate response to HIV/AIDS through pastoral counseling, education, transportation, emergency housing, case management and other forms of assistance. The Wellness Center is open to persons infected and affected by HIV/AIDS in need of help, hope, healing, health and wholeness. The Wellness Center assists its clients by addressing their mental, physical, emotional and spiritual needs.

Staff

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