My name is Matt Buracker, and I am a Prevention and Testing Specialist at ARE in Winchester. ARE stands for AIDS Response Effort and was started in the early 1990’s by a group of concerned citizens to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Since then, it has blossomed into the many programs we have today.
We provide medical and non-medical case management services to folks living with HIV including HIV medical care, medication access, insurance enrollment, food, transportation, referrals to support services, mental health and wellness and housing services. We also have several housing assistance programs for the community at large such as rapid rehousing, homelessness prevention, rental and utility assistance and more. The prevention team offers free HIV/HCV/STI testing, free condoms, classes on methods of protection and STIs,
gender diversity trainings, PrEP and nPEP assistance, and risk reduction counseling. We are also working towards expanding services and starting an LGBTQ+ program.
We serve the entire Lord Fairfax Health District (Winchester City, Frederick, Warren, Clarke, Page and Shenandoah Counties). ARE joined the Warren Coalition several years
ago because we admire the amazing work being done by the coalition to support the community. I personally live and grew up in Warren County and being that it is a
county that we serve, we love to partner and work with the Coalition anyway we can.
I want to highlight our work in substance use. We work with the local treatment centers, jails and clinics to provide HIV and Hepatitis C screening to the community. We partner with UVA to ensure the clients that test positive for Hepatitis C receive treatment. We provide wound care kits, Naloxone and (thanks to the Warren Coalition!) now offer Fentanyl test strips to those who inject drugs. We are currently waiting for approval from the State Health
Commissioner to start our syringe services program. When this final approval comes through, we will be providing sterile syringes, safe injection kits, safe snorting kits and safe smoking kits in addition to our wound care kits, Naloxone and fentanyl testing strips.
Matt Buracker, Prevention and Testing Specialist
Laura Arellano, Outreach and Education Coordinator, pictured above with Matt
To access any services listed on this page, or for more information, please contact Matt:
Cell: (540) 539-6142 (call or text)
Office: (540) 536-5147
Email: mburacke@valleyhealthlink.com