Our Services

Medical Case Management – This encourages clients’ engagement and retention in medical care. It is done by case coordination with medical staff, advocating for where necessary, reducing any barriers, counseling treatment adherence, and other client support and education as needed. This program has expanded greatly as our PLWHA population has aged and is now facing numerous health challenges such as cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, diabetes, osteoporosis, and depression.

Non-Medical Case Management – This helps provide a range of consumer-centered services that link and retain clients in medically appropriate levels of healthcare and supportive services. Our objective is to reduce and/or remove both real and perceived barriers to medical compliance and a healthy way of life.

Substance Abuse –Our comprehensive program contains three major elements: Care and Treatment; Relapse Prevention; and facilitated Peer Support. Each of these elements is supported with individual counseling and addresses the special complication of being dually diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. Licensed by N.J. Department of Human Services, Division of Addiction Services.

Mental Health – Individual counseling and treatment services are made available to any client at Buddies of NJ seeking to improve mental disposition. Quality counseling is provided by a LCSW for a variety of mental health issues including but not limited to: Addiction, Aging, Anger Management, Anxiety, Career Issues, Depression, Grief, Health (HIV/AIDS), Relationship Issues, Self image, Stress, Suicide and more…

Oral Care –Equally important in maintaining overall health, dental care is a key to staying healthy and adherent. Referrals are made to private, high quality, professional dental practices in the area.

HOPWA –Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS – Homelessness is a major factor in people falling out of care. Services offered under the HOPWA program are all targeted to preventing homelessness, resulting in keeping people in care. Click here for more HOPWA information.

Housing – The Robert A. Harrison House, on the grounds of Bergen Regional Medical Center, provides an assisted living facility for six full-time residents who are HIV-positive.

Community Outreach & Education – We engage the community by providing education, resources, and material to help stop the spread of HIV and stop HIV progression to AIDS. Have us come speak to your group, school, organization, business, or house of worship. We do tabling, health fairs, and cultural awareness days.

Community Health Worker – Helps identify out-of-care and newly diagnosed patients and smoothly restores competent care in a stigma-free way.

Peer Support Groups –The challenges of fear, stigma, loss, loneliness, disclosure, and compliance can be a struggle for some living with HIV/AIDS. These groups are designed to share resources and information to help life feel a little more manageable. Support groups are a key aspect of the consumers ability to deal with and stay in care and adherence with their drug protocols and stay healthy! See a here.

Transportation – transporting consumers to all needed medical services throughout Bergen & Passaic counties. NJB runs two vans, 52 weeks a year.

Food Bank – supplementing and/or meeting client nutritional needs as well as basic hygiene and household necessities. The food bank provides non-perishable canned or dry goods. (Monday – Friday 9am to 4pm)

Translation – Provides Spanish translation services in order to assist Spanish-speaking clients in navigating the systems of health care and social services.

Helpline – Toll-free telephone service to provide assistance to any caller, Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm. (800-508-7577, NJ only).

HIV Testing – We offer FREE Rapid HIV Testing with completely confidential results in under 15 minutes. Ask about our Mobile Testing Unit.

PrEP – (FREE Counseling & Linkage) – Pre-exposure prophylaxis (or PrEP) is when people at risk for HIV take daily medicine to prevent HIV. PrEP can stop HIV from taking hold and spreading throughout your body. When taken daily, PrEP is highly effective for preventing HIV from sex or injection drug use.  Ask if it is right for you!

Social Justice Coordination – Working to keep all services equally accessible to everyone regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious affiliation, mental / physical ability and/or way of life.

Youth Safe-Space – Working to keep all services equally accessible to youth of 13 -28 with a status neutral approach