Centers of Excellence

All Centers of Excellence (CoE) are designed to provide a comprehensive HIV care and support services, including primary HIV medical care, case management, outpatient mental health, outpatient substance abuse, and treatment advocacy. Some CoE have additional specialty services. CoE vary in terms of size, location and expertise in the needs of specific populations. Any qualifying client may receive services from the CoE of his/her/their choice. The San Francisco Centers of Excellence network provides a “safety net” for severe need and special HIV populations. Currently, HHS funds seven CoE.

In 2000, HIV Health Services began a Quality Management Program for HIV/AIDS services in San Francisco. As part of this program, HIV Health Services and the HIV Health Services Planning Council (CARE Council) identified a need for service delivery standards in San Francisco.

All HHS standards of care were reviewed and approved by the HIV Health Services Planning Council over 2015, and revised and expanded on by the SF HIV Community Planning Council (HCPC) in 2024.

HOMELESS AGING AND LONG-TERM SURVIVORS (HALT) CENTER OF EXCELLENCE
This CoE focuses on services to men who have sex with men (MSM); Latino, African American, Cisgender and transgender women; immigrants with a focus on undocumented Spanish-speaking persons, justice involved person and people experiencing housing instability and homelessness. Service locations include the Mission/Potrero Hill area, South of Market, Tenderloin, Upper Van Ness and Castro districts. The lead agency is the University of California in San Francisco: Positive Health Program at San Francisco General Hospital.

HIV INTEGRATED SERVICES (HIV-IS)
This CoE focuses on the coordination of care for HIV-positive incarcerated and post-release people and serves five San Francisco County jails. The lead agency is the San Francisco Department of Public Health.

MISSION CENTER OF EXCELLENCE
This CoE focuses on services for Latino/Latina populations, including monolingual Spanish speakers and immigrants, regardless of legal status. Service location is in the Mission District.

BLACK HEALTH CENTER OF EXCELLENCE
This CoE focuses on services for underserved and uninsured African Americans, including women and transgender persons. Service locations are at UCSF, Positive Health Program at San Francisco General Hospital, and at UCSF: 360 at Parnassus.

TENDERLOIN AREA CENTER OF EXCELLENCE
This CoE focuses on people experiencing homelessness and marginally housed persons; active substance users; transgender persons; Asian/Pacific Islander groups; and prison populations. Service locations are in the Tenderloin.

WOMEN’S CENTER OF EXCELLENCE
This CoE focuses on underserved and severe need women. Service locations are located at UCSF, Positive Health Program at San Francisco General Hospital, and at UCSF: Women’s Clinic at Parnassus.