HISTORY:

As large as Central Florida is within the context of the infected and affected HIV/AIDS populations in the state, HIV/AIDS care in Central Florida has many challenges including the absence of university medical centers and public health hospitals. These two factors along with other characteristics of existing care systems have contributed to the lack of a highly coordinated network of service providers for the PLWH communities. However, funded community based and AIDS service organizations have risen to the challenge through consistent efforts to bridge gaps in care delivery and continuity. HIVCareNet.net^© was the result of longstanding observations of these and other health care issues. It was felt that the PLWH community would benefit from a single resource for HIV/AIDS information and networking in the effort to overcome barriers characteristic of geographic, cultural, educational, financial, and domestic boundaries. For the broad range of providers involved in the care of the PLWH community, a single site that can serve their needs in an efficient manner was critically important. The development, expansion and maintenance of a web-based community health HIV / AIDS resource for Central Florida resulted from the effort to meet these challenges.