Program RISE (Updated March 3, 2023)

To reschedule or make an appointment, please call 508-935-2960. If you call outside of our hours of operation, please leave a voicemail with your name, phone number and responsible staff member or service you're looking to speak with.

Register for a COVID booster and/or MPOX vaccination appointment at Program RISE. Appointments can also be made by calling 508-935-2960 on Mondays and Fridays between 8 AM and 4 PM and Tuesday through Thursdays between 8 AM and 6:30 PM.

Beginning Thursday, August 18, 2022, all first and second doses for MPOX will be administered via an Intradermal (ID) route injection. This approach could increase the number of available JYNNEOS vaccine doses by up to five-fold. The results from a clinical study showed that the lower intradermal dose was immunologically non-inferior to the standard subcutaneous dose.

For more information about MPOX, please visit https://www.mass.gov/mpox

For more information about COVID-19, please visit https://www.mass.gov/covid-19-updates-and-information 

The team at Program RISE hopes that you and yours are staying safe and finding joy in these challenging times. RISE is a division of JRI Health that provides services to people in the Metro West area, Framingham. Our services include free confidential HIV counseling, testing and referrals, STI and Hepatitis testing, HIV Case Management, Housing Search & Advocacy, Peer Support Services, LGBT services,  Overdose Prevention and Education, Needle Exchange, community education programs on HIV, STIs, viral Hepatitis, harm reduction, and LGBTQ cultural competency. We believe that all people –of all races, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, education levels, ages, languages, religions, and geographic locations – should have the opportunity to live healthy lives.

At RISE, we continue to support our clients and remain open five days a week (M-F). Our current service hours are: Monday 8:30am-3:30pm, Tuesday 8:30am-6:30pm, Wednesday 8:30am-6:30pm, Thursday 8:30am-6:30pm, and Friday 8:30am-3:30pm. As we have provided services throughout the response to COVID-19, it is clear that the changes implemented to maintain everyone’s safety by applying additional OSHA standards and supplying employees and clients with the necessary tools to stay safer during this pandemic have proven to be effective to prevent COVID transmission.  

Clients walking/dropping in are asked to call ahead (if possible) and will be scheduled and seen as long as an appointment is available. In many cases, walk/drop-ins will be accommodated based on the client’s needs and appointment availability.

All clients entering the space are required to wear a mask covering the nose and mouth. If you do not have a mask, one will be provided. Hand sanitizer is provided throughout the space, and surfaces are regularly disinfected. 

Providers or clients with general questions or looking for additional information can reach our office at (508) 935-2960.

FREE Safer Sex and Harm Reduction Materials. We will continue to provide access to safer sex and harm reduction materials to people in the MetroWest via mail for people unable to come to RISE. Please complete and/or share the following online form to request materials: http://tiny.cc/risesupplyrequest.  

HIV, STI, Viral Hepatitis, and Sexual Health Services. For questions about HIV, STI, and Viral Hepatitis sexual health services, including to schedule HIV testing, Viral Hepatitis testing, STI screening and treatment or PEP & PrEP services, please email Aron Thiim (he/él), Program Manager at athiim@jri.org or call 508-935-2960. If you need to speak with the Nurse Practitioner, need a prescription refill, or have insurance questions, please email Patti Parker (she/her) at pparker@jri.org. When emailing, please provide your name and number for a call back or return email.  If you have symptoms of acute HIV infection or believe you’ve had a potential HIV exposure, please call 508-935-2960 within 72 hours to access PEP. If you need safer sex materials (e.g., barriers and lube), please complete this request form: http://tiny.cc/risesupplyrequest or come to our office to pick up materials.  

Case Management. Case managers are in constant contact with all their clients and continue to deliver services virtually, via phone and by appointment. They are making arrangements for in-office appointments only (no home visits). However, if you’re a new client (or looking to refer a new client), please call 508-935-2960 ext. 2562 or e-mail Nancy Rivera (she/her/ella), Program Manager, at nerivera@jri.org to coordinate the intake process.

Harm Reduction Services. Our Harm Reduction staff are working hard to help minimize unintentional overdoses and continue to provide syringe services and Narcan to our community in person at our office, via home or program doorstep drop off, and via online request (http://tiny.cc/risesupplyrequest). Harm Reduction staff are providing substance use prevention and harm reduction counseling sessions for enrolled clients by phone and via video chat. Transportation assistance is available for in-person visits. If you are in need of tools to support overdose prevention and harm reduction practices during the outbreak, please call 508-935-2960.

LGBTQ+ Services (Framingham GLASS). Activities for LGBTQ+ youth have been moved online. Please follow GLASS on social media (@framinghamglass on Facebook and Instagram) to stay connected to ongoing services and conversations.  

Peer support services. Individual one-on-one check-ins are available to community members living with HIV.  Call 508-935-2960 ext. 2557 or email Claude Joseph (he/him) at cjoseph@jri.org, Donald McKay (he/him) at dmckay@jri.org, or, for Spanish speakers, Angel Machicote (he/él) at amachicote@jri.org.

Housing Case Management. Housing Case Managers will continue to meet one-on-one with existing clients via phone, through video chats or in-person appointments in the office when necessary.  Please reach out to your case manager directly or call 508-935-2960 to schedule an appointment.

Medical transportation. If you need medical transportation, call your case manager at least 24 hours before your scheduled appointment. Leave a message with pick-up time, pick-up location, destination, expected return time, and your phone number. You may also call 508-935-2960 for Uber Health rides. We will contact you once transportation with JFK Taxi or Uber Health is confirmed.

For information about Coronavirus and COVID-19, how to protect yourself & others, and what to do if you are sick, go to the following link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Please e-mail Izzy Rivera (he/él) at irivera@jri.org directly if you’d like to donate clothing, masks, personal hygiene items, snacks, gift cards, personal protective equipment, hand sanitizer, etc. Financial donations to Program RISE are also welcomed.