Next Step© is a confidential, 5-hour workshop designed for persons newly diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. By educating people about the disease, Next Step© empowers HIV-positive persons to stay healthy and make smart decisions about their medical care. Legacy offers free laboratory tests, including T-cell count and viral load, to all Next Step© participants.

Workshop topics include:
• basics of HIV infection/definitions of HIV and AIDS
• stress management and nutrition
• disclosing HIV status to family and friends
• medical aspects of HIV disease, including an easy-to-understand, illustrated demonstration of how HIV reproduces in the body and how anti-viral medications work against that replication process
• discussion of currently approved medical treatments
• referrals to local community services, including treatment, support groups, case management and more
• discussion of safer sex practices

Legacy welcomes the participant's friends, family, or spouse/partner to attend along with the participant. A follow-up, one-on-one session provides each participant with referrals to local resources, including case management, primary care and support services.

Next Step© is offered in both English and Spanish.

To sign up for an upcoming workshop, contact the Next Step© Coordinator at 713-830-3075. Evening and Saturday workshops available.

This service is free to any HIV-positive person.