Cascade AIDS Project

Cascade AIDS Project
Name	Cascade AIDS Project
Founded	1983
Location	Portland, Oregon, United States
Focus	HIV/AIDS services, prevention, advocacy

Cascade AIDS Project Cascade AIDS Project is a nonprofit HIV/AIDS service organization based in Portland, Oregon that provides testing, prevention, care, and advocacy for people living with HIV/AIDS. Founded in the early 1980s during the North American AIDS crisis, the organization has partnered with municipal, state, and national entities to expand services across Multnomah County and the Pacific Northwest. CAP operates in conjunction with health departments, community clinics, and national networks to deliver integrated prevention and support programs.

History

The organization emerged amid the early response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States and the regional mobilization that included actors such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, local public health agencies like the Multnomah County Health Department, and community groups influenced by the LGBT rights movement. In the 1980s and 1990s CAP developed programs alongside institutions like Oregon Health & Science University and collaborated with national organizations including AmFAR and the National Institutes of Health for outreach and research. During the 2000s CAP adapted to shifts driven by scientific advances such as antiretroviral therapy and prevention strategies promoted by the World Health Organization. Through the 2010s and into the 2020s CAP expanded services in response to policy developments like the Affordable Care Act and public health campaigns involving the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Programs and Services

CAP’s service portfolio includes HIV testing and counseling, linkage to care, case management, housing assistance, and prevention education delivered in partnership with providers such as Planned Parenthood of the Columbia Willamette and community clinics affiliated with Oregon Health Authority programs. The organization provides rapid testing in settings comparable to mobile clinics used by Red Cross responses and harmonic outreach models seen in collaborations with Pride Portland events. Health navigation and Ryan White–style services align CAP with federal initiatives administered by entities like the Health Resources and Services Administration. CAP’s prevention work includes needle exchange coordination similar to programs endorsed by the Harm Reduction Coalition and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) counseling consistent with guidance from the Food and Drug Administration. Mental health referrals and substance use supports reflect cooperative links to institutions such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness and regional behavioral health systems.

Advocacy and Public Policy

CAP engages in policy advocacy on issues such as access to treatment, nondiscrimination protections, housing stability, and harm reduction, interacting with policymakers at the Oregon State Legislature and municipal offices in Portland, Oregon. The organization’s advocacy strategies have paralleled national campaigns by groups like ACT UP and policy coalitions that influence federal programs overseen by the Department of Health and Human Services. CAP has participated in statewide coalitions to affect legislation concerning syringe access and Medicaid expansion, coordinating with legal and civil rights organizations such as the ACLU and public health coalitions modeled on networks like the National Coalition for LGBT Health.

Funding and Partnerships

Funding for CAP historically combines private donations, grants from foundations such as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Kresge Foundation, contracts with governmental agencies including the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and fundraising events similar in scale to campaigns organized by The Red Ribbon Foundation. Partnerships have included collaborations with academic institutions like Portland State University for evaluation and training, alliances with healthcare systems including Legacy Health and Providence Health & Services, and cooperative programming with community-based organizations such as El Programa Hispano Cristiano and advocacy groups modeled on National Black Justice Coalition initiatives. CAP has also engaged corporate sponsors and philanthropic networks associated with foundations like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for technical assistance and capacity building.

Organizational Structure and Leadership

CAP is governed by a board of directors and led by an executive director, with operational divisions for client services, prevention, development, and policy—structures comparable to those at peer nonprofits such as The Trevor Project and Lambda Legal. Staff roles include case managers, outreach coordinators, counselors, and administrative officers who coordinate with regional public health officials from Clackamas County and Washington County, Oregon. Volunteer engagement and internship programs often connect CAP with student groups at institutions such as Lewis & Clark College and University of Portland, and advisory relationships have been formed with clinical experts from Oregon Health & Science University.

Impact and Recognition

CAP has been recognized regionally for contributions to reducing HIV transmission and supporting people living with HIV through awards and commendations from municipal bodies like the City of Portland and endorsements from statewide health authorities including the Oregon Health Authority. The organization’s outcomes—measured in linkage-to-care metrics, testing volume, and housing placements—have been cited in local public health planning documents and reports developed with partners such as the Multnomah County Health Department and academic collaborators from Portland State University. CAP’s community role is reflected in participation in regional events like Portland Pride and inclusion in collaborative initiatives led by statewide coalitions addressing infectious disease and social determinants of health.

Category:HIV/AIDS organizations in the United States Category:Non-profit organizations based in Portland, Oregon