Para Español

Haga Click Abajo

 

Brownsville

956-541-2600

Harlingen

956-428-2653

McAllen

956-668-1155

Mission & History

About Us:

Valley AIDS Council (VAC) is the primary provider of HIV prevention, education and testing services and the only Ryan White funded agency providing HIV medical care and supportive services in the 3-county area that stretches from the lower Rio Grande Valley on the US/Mexico border.

Mission Statement:

VAC is a non-profit HIV service organization that delivers culturally appropriate sexual health and wellness services in South Texas and advocates for the Latinx population at the local, state and national level.

Organizational History and Milestones:

In 1987, health care leaders from the Cameron and Hidalgo County Departments of Health and from Planned Parenthood met with representatives from the Texas Department of Health in response to the growing incidence of HIV/AIDS. That visionary meeting led to the founding of the Valley AIDS Council (VAC), and its growth from a small, collaborative, grassroots response into a comprehensive, multi-site, one-stop, community-based response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

In 1988, VAC secured funding to hire its first staff member – an HIV/AIDS community health educator funded by the Texas Department of Health. In 1989, a grant from the Texas Tech University Health Science Center funded a research position that helped secure one of two national grants under Ryan White Part C program funds in 1993.

The agency opened a primary health care outpatient clinic in Harlingen in June 1994, and offices in Brownsville in 1994 and McAllen in 1995.

VAC is the only Ryan White funded agency providing medical care and supportive services for people living with HIV/AIDS in the lower Rio Grande Valley on the US/Mexico border.

For more than 35 years, VAC has offered wraparound services including HIV/STI diagnosis, treatment and case management and HIV prevention and testing.

Today, VAC provides a comprehensive list of status-neutral services across the HIV continuum - including health promotion and community engagement, community mobilization, HIV/STI testing, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), linkage to care, retention in care, case management, support services, support groups, community advisory board, housing, pharmacy, lab, dental care, behavioral health care, gender affirming care, and medical care.

VAC provides testing and health promotion services onsite, special events, schools and other organizations, as well as home testing by mail. Health promotion services also include CLEAR (Choosing Life: Empowerment, Action, Results!) and sin buscar escusas, interventions to reduce likelihood of transmission.

VAC co-created Drag Out HIV, a program of drag performers that are trained to go out and speak about safe sex, importance of knowing your status, PrEP and nPEP. This program trains participants to address stigma, provide HIV testing information, and build leadership skills. 

Condoms are distributed at numerous community partner sites across the RGV, by mail, or for pick-up at all VAC sites and events.

VAC provides health promotion including social media and advocacy that address health inequalities and social determinates of health. VAC works closely with several media outlets which allows the consistent reach to the 1.4 million people in the area. (Please note that does not include the 2 million living on the border - in Mexico - who also share our news outlets). Not every person receives their information the same way. Information is shared in both English and Spanish. Stories are presented in a status-neutral approach and promote VAC services. Staff have presented on regional and national panels including the Texas HIV Medication Advisory Committee and The Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA)

VAC’s work is important to South Texas. By reducing our HIV positive patient’s viral load (the amount of active virus in the blood stream) our patients are now much less likely to infect others. And, by increasing their CD4 count (the amount of cells fighting the infection), they are more likely to stay healthier longer and less likely to acquire opportunistic illnesses.

VAC is proud to provide to the people of South Texas its exceptional medical care, treatment and prevention services.

Brownsville Location
857 E. Washington Suite G, Brownsville, TX, 78520, US
Phone: 956-541-2600 | Fax: 956-541-9202

Harlingen Location
2306 Camelot Plaza, Harlingen, TX, 78550, US
Phone: 956-428-2653 | Fax: 956-428-0056

McAllen Location
300 S. 2nd Street Suite 101, McAllen, TX, 78501, US

Phone: 956-668-1155 | Fax: 956-668-1150

Our Locations

Brownsville

Monday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am-8:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Thursday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

Harlingen

Monday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am-8:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Thursday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

McAllen

Monday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am-8:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Thursday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed