Late in 1991, a group of community volunteers decided to create a volunteer-run work referral service through which they would match people with HIV/AIDS who were not working with opportunities for part-time, temporary jobs in the community. Today, their spirit, creativity and compassionate response to a changing epidemic continue to characterize the agency that grew out of their efforts — the Positive Resource Center (PRC), which serves people living with HIV/AIDS in the San Francisco Bay Area.
In 2010, PRC partnered with University of California San Francisco's Center for AIDS Prevention Studies to deepen understanding about what employment services mean for people living with HIV/AIDS. A research study is now underway to evaluate the employment program as a risk reduction/structural intervention strategy.