HIV/AIDS Overview

A.W.'s Story

A.W. was living on the East Coast when he was diagnosed with HIV. His family urged him to come back to California to see if CARES could help him. Here’s what A.W. has to say about CARES:

“I feel so fortunate that I found CARES. I had been treated so poorly on the East Coast that I figured that is how it would be at CARES. But instead of being treated like a number and not being able to get a doctor’s appointment for six weeks, at CARES I was treated like a real person. Everyone I’ve met has listened to me, has been friendly, has been helpful and has given me hope. Everyone has been positive and has treated me with respect.

I was very depressed when I was diagnosed with HIV. I thought my life was over. But now I have a whole different way of seeing myself. I have people who support me in making the decisions that are the best for me. They don’t judge me, they let me express myself. Sometimes I’ll worry about problems but I come to CARES and find a way to solve them.

I’m no longer ashamed of myself. I get tools to stand up for myself and feel proud of who I am. I no longer think I’m going to die from this disease. I can live a good healthy life because I get good advice here on how to take care of myself. My outlook on having HIV is totally different than when I first came here.”

HIV/AIDS Overview

Schedule an HIV or STD Test

CARES offers free and confidential walk-in and appointment HIV & STD testing Monday through Friday, 9:00am - 5:00pm, and Thursday, 9:00am - 7:00pm. Call 916.443.3299 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information, and visit us at 1500 21st St. Sacramento, CA, 95811.

What is HIV?

HIV, or the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, is the virus medical researchers believe causes AIDS. Since the vast majority of researchers believe that HIV is the sole cause of AIDS, we often refer to HIV as "the AIDS virus."

Like other viruses, HIV attacks cells in the body. But what makes HIV different is that the immune system can never fully get rid of HIV because the virus attacks the immune system itself--the very mechanism that would normally get rid of a virus.

Today there are medical treatments that can slow down the rate at which HIV weakens the immune system and that can prevent or cure some of the illnesses associated with advanced HIV disease. As with other diseases, early detection offers more options for treatment and preventive care.

What is AIDS?

The term AIDS applies to the most advanced stages of HIV infection. AIDS severely weakens the body's ability to fight infections and certain cancers. People diagnosed with AIDS may have opportunistic infections, which are caused by microbes such as viruses or bacteria that usually do not make healthy people sick. The immune system of a person with AIDS is threatened to the point that medical intervention may be necessary to prevent or treat serious illness.

Ways in which HIV is Transmitted

HIV is transmitted in the following ways:

Unprotected sexual contact; vaginal, anal or oral sex
Direct blood contact; including injection drug needles, blood transfusions, accidents in health care settings or certain blood products
Mother to baby; before or during birth, or through breast milk

FREE HIV and STD Testing

CARES offers free and confidential walk-in and appointment HIV & STD testing Monday through Friday, 9:00am - 5:00pm, and Thursday, 9:00am - 7:00pm. For more information, call 916.443.3299 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information, and visit us at 1500 21st St. Sacramento, CA 95811.