About Us

Our Story

Founded in 1987 as a volunteer coalition, The Project has grown into a key part of a community health center offering comprehensive services for people living with HIV and those at risk of HIV.

We provide confidential, free, or low-cost HIV care to help patients navigate every stage of their medical journey. From diagnosis to ongoing treatment, our dedicated team connects patients to essential resources, ensuring the best possible health outcomes. We also focus on HIV prevention, offering outreach programs and access to the latest tools to reduce the risk of infection.

The resources available include a prevention testing and educational outreach program, HIV and primary medical care, dental care, case management, mental health services including support groups, medication management, and assistance with health insurance and prescription coverage.

Timeline

1980s - 1990s
  • (1987) A volunteer coalition began addressing HIV in the Des Moines area. The All Iowa AIDS Benefit is held for the first time — a grassroots fundraising event organized in the basement of a Des Moines bar. It quickly becomes a staple in Iowa’s response to the HIV/AIDS crisis, growing into a large annual variety show raising money and awareness for people living with HIV across the state.
  • (1988) Primary Health Care was funded to provide HIV medical services and became a Ryan White Title 111b provider in 1990.
  • (1990) The Mayor’s Task Force on AIDS, recommended opening a social service agency.
  • (1991) The AIDS Project of Central Iowa was founded in response to the HIV/AIDS crisis, initially offering testing and support services for individuals living with HIV.
  • (1993) After opening its doors in 1991 the AIDS Project of Central Iowa (The Project) became a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
2000s
  • Moved to 711 E 2nd St, Des Moines, in the heart of the east side to better serve our community. This location was chosen for its easy access by public transit and walkability for clients. The site also included a food pantry to support people living with HIV, recognizing that nutrition is a key part of care.
  • Expanded case management and medical services to better support clients living with HIV.
  • (2002) The AIDS Project of Central Iowa hosts its first AIDS Walk/Run to raise awareness and support services for people affected by HIV. The annual event brings together community members, clients, healthcare workers, and allies to walk or run in solidarity.
2010s
  • (2010) Integrated with Primary Health Care, allowing for expanded resources, care coordination, and access to wraparound services.
  • (2013) The Project merged with Primary Health Care, to form The Project of Primary Health Care. The expansion brought medical and social services under one roof, reduced overhead costs, and expanded resources available to clients.
  • (2014) Expanded services to include PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) consultations and awareness initiatives through Project HIM, enhancing HIV prevention efforts among gay and bisexual men.​
  • (2016) Began routine HIV screening at PHC clinics, normalizing testing as part of primary care.
  • (2019) Began participating in Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U) awareness campaigns to reduce stigma and promote treatment adherence.
2020s
  • (2020) Pivoted services during the COVID-19 pandemic to include telehealth and virtual support, ensuring uninterrupted HIV care and PrEP access.
  • (2021) Launched youth-focused HIV prevention and testing efforts with community partners and schools.
  • (2023) Redesigned and relaunched phctheproject.org to improve digital access to services and health information.
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