Positive Health Solutions

12/22/2025

12/18/2025

12/17/2025

12/17/2025

JOLT's outreach team is in Tazewell County every Tuesday and Thursday. If you live in Tazewell County and need support, services, or supplies you can text the number below and they will do their best to accomodate you.

Tazewell County is largely rural so an immediate response may not be possible but if you contact them in advance, they can plan how best to connect you to the resources you want.

12/17/2025

SEE IF YOU PASS THE QUIZ, IT'S LIKE 5 QUESTIONS...

THINK YOU CAN PASS ON THE FIRST TRY ?

stART Strong with Rapid Start ART

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a treatable, chronic condition, and people with HIV live whole lives. HIV medications, or ART (Anti-Retroviral Therapy), help a person living with HIV have less virus in their body, which slows disease progression and can lead to better overall health and sense of wellbeing, amongst other benefits. While starting ART at any time benefits people living with HIV (PLWH), Rapid Start ART ensures those benefits begin even sooner.

What is Rapid Start ART?

Rapid Start ART is prescription medication to treat HIV, prescribed as soon as possible after an HIV diagnosis. Rapid Start ART uses the same medications that are used to treat HIV, but the medications are started immediately after an HIV diagnosis, sometimes on the same day! Rapid Start ART medication is typically one (1) pill, taken once per day.

How is “Rapid” Defined?

Rapid can mean receiving medication the same day that a person receives their HIV diagnosis or up to 7 days after diagnosis. Starting these medications quickly is safe, effective, and typically with very few side effects.

Why Rapid Start ART?

While starting ART at any time is beneficial to a person living with HIV, Rapid Start ART has additional benefits. Starting ART immediately after diagnosis usually leads to HIV viral suppression in a shorter time frame. HIV viral suppression is the goal of ART. Viral suppression is when the levels of HIV in the blood are very low. Faster viral suppression means slower disease progression, such as fewer opportunistic infections (infections that occur when someone has a weakened immune system) and higher CD4 counts, which are white blood cells that are important for a healthy immune system.

Getting to an undetectable viral load faster also helps people living with HIV stay in care. Studies1 have shown that people who start ART right away are more likely to stay in medical care at the beginning and later on.

An Undetectable viral load equals Untransmissible HIV, or U=U. This means that when a person has a viral load that cannot be detected through lab testing, that person is unable to transmit the HIV virus to a partner. Getting to an undetectable viral load quickly means less time for a person to be able to transmit HIV to s*x or needle sharing partners. Undetectable viral loads are an important part of HIV prevention in communities.

Who is Rapid Start ART for?

Rapid Start ART is for anyone newly diagnosed with HIV who has not previously taken medication for HIV treatment. A person may be able to start Rapid Start ART if they meet the following:

A confirmed HIV diagnosis
No prior ART treatment, also known as being treatment naïve (this excludes the use of PrEP or PEP before HIV infection)
No medical conditions or opportunistic infections (such as CMV retinitis, cryptococcal or TB meningitis) that would require ART to be delayed until those conditions are treated.
What happens after you begin Rapid Start ART?

Further laboratory testing is needed for anyone starting ART. Rapid Start ART allows a person to begin HIV treatment while waiting for these results. Continuation of the initial treatment depends on the results of these tests. Your provider may change your medication to work better for you or lower side effects. ART medication does require regular visits with your healthcare provider and periodic lab testing.

Taking ART is crucial for people living with HIV. Rapid Start ART is one more option for people newly diagnosed with HIV to achieve a state of wellbeing even faster.

*Thank you, Tracey V. for sharing this article.

Go take the quiz if you haven't :) - It's for a good cause!

For more information and article references, please visit:

12/15/2025

✨ The Carver Center’s annual Winter Wonderland Fundraising Gala is just ONE month away! ✨

Join us on Saturday, January 10, 2026, for Winter Wonderland: A Night in Whoville! ❄️

A Night in Whoville celebrates the love, generosity, and togetherness that our supporters bring to the Peoria community. All proceeds from this magical evening will directly benefit our Early Childcare Program, which serves children as young as six weeks old and provides affordable, high-quality childcare to families facing financial challenges. These early years are essential to a child’s development and with your support, we can help build a strong foundation for their future. 🩵

Click the link below to view event details:

https://givebutter.com/WinterWonderland2026

🎟 Individual tickets, group tables, and sponsorship opportunities are available

We can’t wait to celebrate this joyful night with you in Whoville! ✨❄️

12/12/2025

Warming Centers
Below are some primary locations in Peoria, Pekin, and Canton. Please visit this link for the larger list across a more extensive territory or call HOI 211 (309-999-4029) 24/7; you may also text your zip code (even if it's not tied to a residence) to 898211 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

*All Peoria Fire Department Fire Stations are open to the public from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., every day of the week, but those seeking help go to any Fire Station at any time. It’s important to note that if the crew is sent on a call, anyone using the station as a warming center will have to temporarily leave during that time. Locations of fire stations can be found here: https://www.peoriagov.org/DocumentCenter/View/1505/Fire-Station-Map-PDF?bidId=

*The Peoria Police Department headquarters lobby, 600 SW Adams Street, serves as a warming center Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m .

*Pathway Ministries-Men's Residential Center (601 SW Adams St) can be used as a warming center 24/7 for single men, as well as during the day for anyone.

*Pathway Ministries-Women's Residential Center (6847 N. Allen Road, Peoria) can be used as a 24/7 warming center for single women. If women with children show up, arrangements will be made to get them to the Dream Center.

*The Dream Center (714 Hamilton Blvd, Peoria) serves as a 24/7 warming center for its eligible populations (the only population the Dream Center does not focus on is single men--men who do not currently have a child or a significant other with them, or are not otherwise part of a family unit).

*The Salvation Army of Pekin: Open as a warming center when the temperatures fall below freezing. The Salvation Army's building is at 243 Derby St. in Pekin, and The Pekin Outreach Initiative is housed on the East Side of this building. The Pekin Outreach Initiative portion is open from 11am-4pm, Monday through Sunday, for people to drop in and warm up. The Salvation Army shelter in the gym at the same location is open overnight 5pm-10:30am, Monday through Sunday, for warming. Usually limited to 10-15 people at most for this purpose.

As announced-
*The Salvation Army 360 Life Center at 176 S.1st Ave in Canton serves as a warming centerwhen announced via their page. As with all counties, a larger list of sites across Fulton County can be found on the HOI 211 site
=====================================

Emergency Shelters

The Salvation Army-Safety Net
Eligibility: Single men
309-655-7272

414 NE Jefferson St.
Peoria 61603

Pathway Ministries-Men's Residential Center
Eligibility: Single men
309-676-6416
601 SW Adams St.
Peoria 61602

Dream Center Peoria

Eligibility: Serves all populations except single men (men who do not currently have a child or a significant other with them, or are not otherwise part of a family unit)

309-839-1810

714 Hamilton Blvd.

Peoria 61603



Pathway Ministries-Women's Residential Center

Eligibility: Single women

309-689-0915 (Shelter is 24/7 but formal intake hours are Monday through Sunday, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.)

6847 N. Allen Road

Peoria 61614



The Salvation Army-Family Services Shelter

Eligibility: Serves all populations but single men (men who do not currently have a child or a significant other with them, or are not otherwise part of a family unit)

309-655-7272

417 NE Adams St.

Peoria 61603
Please call first



The Salvation Army-Pekin Rust Transitional Shelter

Eligibility: All populations

309-478-7878

309-346-3010

235 Derby St.

Pekin, IL 61554
Please call first.

Woodford County Heart House

Eligibility: Single women or women with children (male children up to age 14)
Must be a resident of Woodford County or the city of Washington for at least 30 days.
309-467-6103 (Please call and speak with Program Manager)
300 Reagan Drive
Eureka, IL 61530

Center for Prevention of Abuse

Eligibility: Anyone fleeing abuse/domestic violence

Has a Peoria and a Pekin location

309-691-0551

1-800-559-7233

Both lines are 24/7

12/12/2025

REMINDER: City buildings are available as warming centers!

🚓 Peoria Police Department lobby, 600 SW Adams Street, open Monday-Friday from 9 AM- 5 PM
🚒 Peoria IL Fire Department stations, open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. everyday. Please note that anyone using a fire station may have to leave during an active call.

For a complete list of warming centers and resources available in the area, please call 211 or 309-999-4029, or visit: bit.ly/3W2wuMQ

12/10/2025

We had such an amazing time having breakfast with Acorn Equality Fund, Spending time with new and old friends supporting our future with the scholarships and hope.