Resources
Knowledge is power—and support makes it easier. Find bite-size guides, practical tools, and local help to move from "not sure" to "I've got this".
Browse Community Resources
Safe Sex Guide
Basics that protect you and your partners:
- Condoms and dental dams reduce the risk of HIV and many STIs. Use a new condom every time and the right size for comfort.
- Lube (water- or silicone-based) can help prevent breaks and irritation.
- Talk to partners about testing and boundaries—it gets easier with practice.
- Private, 3-minute risk assessment to help you decide your next step.
- Tips to reduce anxiety before, during, and after a new partner.
For more on condom use and prevention, see CDC condom basicsExternal site.
Take the risk assessmentExternal site Find testing locations
PrEP info and assistance
- How PrEP works, how to start, and what follow-ups look like.
- Programs that lower your costs—even without insurance.
- Daily pills vs. long-acting shots: what fits your routine.
Coverage and costs
- Free and low-cost testing options in Delaware County
- Insurance basics, patient assistance programs, and how to ask about costs up front.
- What to bring: ID (if you have it), insurance card (if applicable), meds list, and any questions you have
Harm reduction
- Safer injection tips and how to find syringe services (where available)
- Safer tattoos and piercings: choose licensed shops, sterile needles, sealed inks.
- Don't share razors, nail clippers, or toothbrushes —tiny amounts of blood can carry viruses.
Find Local Care & Clinics
What to expect at your visit
- How testing works, how long it takes, and when you'll get results.
- Privacy and confidentiality: what's shared and what stays between you and your provider.
- Your voice matters: you can ask for a different provider, bring a friend, or take a minute if you feel anxious
Read FAQs on privacy and costs
Community and support
- Local clinics, community health centers, and support groups that listen and help—without making it awkward.
- Hotlines and trusted resources if you need someone to talk to.
HIV
Resources
- CDC HIV overview: Covers transmission, prevention (PrEP, PEP, condoms), testing, and living with HIV. External site
- Getting Tested for HIV: Everyone aged 13–64 should be tested at least once, and individuals at higher risk more frequently. Free or low-cost options available. External site
- HIV Nexus (Clinicians): Clinical tools, guidelines, continuing education, and patient materials on screening, prevention, PEP/PrEP, treatment, and partner services. External site
- Treatment & Care Guidance: Information on antiretroviral therapy (ART), viral suppression, linkage to care, prevention benefits of maintaining undetectable viral load, and psychosocial support. External site
Hepatitis C
(HCV) Resources
- Hepatitis C basics & prevention: How HCV spreads, prevention strategies, risk factors, and the absence of vaccine but availability of highly curative treatments. External site
- Clinical Screening & Diagnosis Guidelines: CDC recommends universal HCV screening for adults aged ≥18 and all pregnant women during each pregnancy, with periodic testing for high-risk individuals. External site
- Resources for Health Professionals: Fact sheets, training modules, testing flowcharts, clinical workflows, guidelines, and free continuing education. External site
- Clinical Care & Treatment: Treatment protocols, curing over 95% of patients with 8–12 weeks of direct-acting antivirals, and recommendations for follow-up care, HCV monitoring, and vaccination for hepatitis A/B. External site
HPV
Resources
- HPV overview: HPV is the most common STI; many infections resolve spontaneously, but persistent infection can lead to warts or several cancers. Vaccines prevent most HPV-related cancers. External site
- HPV Vaccination Guidance: Recommended for ages 11–12, started as early as 9, and catch-up vaccination up to age 26. Clinician tools available to communicate benefits and boost vaccination rates. External site
- Resources & Educational Tools: Provider fact sheets, posters, continuing education courses, "Talking to Parents" handouts, outreach tools for both clinicians and office staff. External site
ST I Testing &
General ST I
Resources
- Getting Tested for STIs: Includes guidance for talking with your provider, finding free or low-cost confidential testing, what to do if diagnosed, and how to locate local services. External site
- STI Clinical Guidance & Training for Providers: Includes comprehensive training programs, clinical management courses, online seminars, slides, and picture/education cards. External site
- STI Treatment & Screening Guidelines: CDC's 2021 STI Treatment Guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations, including screening algorithms by disease group. External site
- Communication Resources & Fact Sheets: Ready-to-use social media graphics, infographics, anti-stigma messaging and plain-language Q&A fact sheets on STIs. External site
- STI Program Resources for Public Health: Tools for outbreak management, modeling impacts, health alert templates, and program evaluation. External site
