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The importance of the entire fish – scales and all
October 19, 2026
GREEN BAY – Vivent Health, formerly known as AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin, hosted a ribbon-cutting and grand opening Sept. 23 to celebrate its newly renovated, larger location in Green Bay.
Officials said the 5,486-square-foot center at 417 S. Monroe Ave., Suite 100, brings together HIV and primary medical care, along with behavioral health care, prevention and a variety of social services to support people living with and vulnerable to HIV and sexually transmitted infections, as well as people at risk for opioid overdose, in the Green Bay region.
“People need more than a prescription to stay healthy,” Brandon Hill, Ph.D., president and CEO of Vivent, said. “They need reliable access to clinical care, mental health support, food, stable housing and other essentials. This investment in Green Bay strengthens our ability to connect people with those services and help them stay engaged in care and live well.”
That message was echoed by Carla Washington, vice president of Health Center Operations for Wisconsin, which is home to 10 Vivent clinic locations.
“This larger facility allows us to expand our ability to provide integrative medical care to our patients and clients,” she said, adding that in the new building, they provide a wide range of services, including:
- HIV/primary care
- Behavioral health care
- HIV, STI, hepatitis C testing
- PrEP for HIV prevention
- Harm reduction services
- Case management
- Food pantry, nutrition services
- Housing assistance
- Legal assistance, including estate planning, discrimination issues and help for people who’ve been denied Social Security disability benefits
“We’re here for every patient so we can help them live long, healthy lives,” Washington said. “We currently serve about 500 patients in our Green Bay location, and we always anticipate and hope to serve more.”
Washington said it took about six months and an investment of $1.6 million to renovate the new location to meet Vivent’s ever-growing needs.
Of that amount, she said $1.4 million was used to cover construction and renovation costs, as well as architectural work, relocation, furniture and indoor signage.
Washington said the center builds on Vivent’s more than four decades of HIV care, prevention and advocacy in Wisconsin.
Treating the whole person
Washington said people with HIV/AIDS are living longer today than they once did.
Of note, she said the oldest patient at any of Vivent’s locations throughout the six states where they’re located is 87 years old.
“That tells you that persons with HIV are living much longer today,” Washington said. “For persons with HIV, what we’re doing today is virally suppressing HIV so it’s not detectable and not spreadable to others. We also focus on the prevention part, along with harm reduction.”
Washington said in today’s society, there are different stories being told about HIV/AIDS compared to years ago.
“We’re not hearing so much about the death brought about by AIDS,” she said. “It’s not as deadly as it once was.”
Washington said Vivent’s mission is to end HIV/AIDS, and they try to accomplish this by providing integrated, personalized, judgment-free health care, social services and effective prevention strategies.
“We are a multistate organization, but our approach is community-driven,” she said. “We meet people where they are at, providing access to the personalized care and resources they need.”
Whether it’s HIV or PrEP care, STI/HIV testing and treatment or critical social services, Washington said Vivent is here to help people live their healthiest and longest lives.
“We provide care with dignity and bring together our primary medical care and social services, etc.,” she said.
Vivent’s integrated approach, Washington said, connects medical care with support for everyday needs that can make it difficult to access and stay in treatment.
“We are treating the whole person with a holistic approach we refer to as integrated medical care,” she said.
Washington offered an example of someone who comes in for medical treatment, but while there, tells their medical provider they’re dealing with some bouts of depression, don’t currently have stable housing and are experiencing food insecurity.
“The medical provider can immediately, while the person is still on-site, have them see a case manager or set them up for an appointment with a therapist or mental health counselor,” she said. “We can also give them food right away from our food pantry. It’s treating the whole person because we know if an individual is having difficulties with other [parts of their life], they are not going to stay healthy and virally suppressed.”
Washington said they recognize that patients are sometimes embarrassed to share with staff challenges they may be having, such as housing or food insecurity.
She said that’s why all of their front-line staff are trained in motivational interviewing.
“They’re trained to ask the right questions to appreciate and to meet the person where they’re at – no shame, no judgment, no blaming,” she said. “We share all of the information with them about the various services we offer and allow the patient to let us know what would be helpful for them.”
From there, Washington said patients can discuss those things with their case manager, medical provider, pharmacist or other staff person.
“There is no wrong door, if you will, to getting additional services or assistance,” she said. “That’s why all of our staff need to be aware of our integrated and holistic approach because a patient could talk to any of them at any time about other needs they may have.”
Vivent provides services to anyone 18 years old and older and receives funding for its services from several state and federal resources, as well as private donations.
For more information about Vivent’s services, visit viventhealth.org/locations/green-bay or call (920) 437-7400.
