New Hope Provides Compassionate, Comprehensive Care for People Living with HIV
The New Hope program has quietly transformed lives across Central and Eastern Washington for more than two decades. Serving patients at our clinics in Yakima, Walla Walla, and Kennewick, New Hope provides access, dignity, and whole-person care for those living with HIV.
Marissa Pickett, Public Health Nurse, and Alejandra Mendoza, Case Manager, discuss a patient at the New Hope Clinic in Yakima.
HIV treatment is highly specialized, and patients often face barriers beyond accessing their medical needs. This is where New Hope stands apart. The program combines expert clinical care with a personalized, wraparound approach and helps approximately 350 patients a year stay healthy, stable, and connected to the resources they need.
“Our role isn’t just to treat HIV,” said Andrea Carriedo, Public Health Nurse at New Hope in Yakima. “It’s to remove every barrier that could prevent someone from living a long, healthy life.”
New Hope nurses and case managers work closely with each patient to address challenges like transportation, housing instability, food insecurity, and access to medications. Patients can also call and speak with a New Hope nurse at any time. They are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to answer any questions a patient may have.
The program also plays a critical role in public health by helping patients stay on their antiretroviral therapy. The goal is to ensure they achieve an “undetectable” viral load, which prevents the virus from being transmitted to others. This not only improves individual health outcomes but also helps prevent the spread of HIV in the broader community.
Adam White, Public Health Nurse, listens as Ichnic Gonzalez, Certified Medical Assistant, asks him a question about a patient at the New Hope Clinic in Yakima
Patients are referred to New Hope by health providers, public health departments, and word of mouth. For many, the program is a trusted, judgment-free space that works to reduce the stigma and misinformation that still surrounds HIV today.
“We meet patients where they are,” said Kristie Campbell, Regional Nurse Supervisor. “There’s no judgment here, only support.”
Education is another cornerstone of the program. Whether helping a newly diagnosed patient understand their condition or working to correct misconceptions, the staff of New Hope works to empower patients and their families with knowledge and compassion.
New Hope also ensures HIV care is accessible regardless of a patient’s background or insurance status. Through partnerships and programs like the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, patients receive treatment and medications, often at little or no cost. This removes the financial barriers that might otherwise stand in the way of care.