Medical Advocacy and Outreach of Alabama (MAO), formerly Medical AIDS Outreach and Montgomery AIDS Outreach, is a private, non-profit, Rural Health and Wellness Organization and Community Based AIDS Service Organization that was established in 1987. In 1994, after being awarded Ryan White Care Act Part C funds, MAO transitioned from a volunteer education and service organization to a full-time, health care facility. Today, MAO operates the Copeland Care Clinic, the largest HIV-specific health care facility by geographic area served, within the state of Alabama. MAO also provides an array of comprehensive services and care for persons living with HIV/AIDS These services include: medication assistance, pharmacist consultations, housing services, an on-site food pantry, mental health counseling/case management, patient education, prevention education, free HIV and Hepatitis C testing, PrEP (Pre –Exposure Prophylaxes) and interpretation services for Spanish-speaking individuals (through MAO’s full-time Hispanic Outreach Worker) and the hearing impaired.
Mission
MAO educates the public about HIV/AIDS and related illnesses and how to prevent transmission of infection. MAO provides culturally competent education, medical and social services to those living with and affected by HIV/AIDS and related illnesses.
Vision
HIV/AIDS will be eradicated; until that is accomplished, MAO will ensure that all people in its service area living with HIV/AIDS and related illnesses can live a healthy life filled with dignity and respect.
Our Services
MAO, with its medical component Copeland Care Clinic, is a nonprofit organization serving individuals living with HIV/AIDS. Currently the agency is providing services to over 1600 patients who live in Montgomery and 28 surrounding counties in Southeast Alabama. Available services are:
- Copeland Care Clinic provides complete primary health care that includes physician visits, laboratory tests, clinical pharmacist counseling, etc.
- MAO-Dothan, a second permanent clinic site, provides primary HIV specific health care five days per week.
- 10 rural medical clinic sites include: Barbour County – Clayton; Escambia County – Brewton; Conecuh County – Evergreen; Covington County – Andalusia; Henry County – Abbeville; Marengo County – Linden; Lowndes County – Hayneville; Dallas County – Selma; Perry County – Marion; and Pike County – Troy.
Patients at these sites receive services primarily through telemedicine. - Social services provide case management, assistance in housing, securing medications, financial and support counseling and community referrals.
- Nutritional assessments and counseling assist patients in developing healthy eating habits.
- Prevention education and outreach is available to make the community aware of exposure risk factors. Prevention education programs are held in public housing communities, community centers, public and private schools and local churches/synagogues. AIDS in the workplace programs are provided to businesses and city/county/state agencies.
- A licensed professional counselor provides mental health counseling on a sliding fee scale.
- The organization collaborates with three area substance abuse treatment centers to provide prevention education and HIV testing to this high-risk population.
- MAO also houses the Alabama AIDS Education and Training Center, a continuing education program serving healthcare providers and professionals statewide.