Christie’s Place Johneisha Jones Aging and Research Program Coordinator
By JP Emerson
My name is Johneisha Jones, I am originally from the San Francisco Bay Area which is where I was diagnosed with AIDS in 2008. I moved to San Diego in 2010 and started advocating with and empowering all women of every cultural background in the community to make sure that they are receiving proper care. I recently lost my son to AIDS in 2020. Prior to working at Christie’s place, I worked for another agency as a Patient Navigator/Trainer for nine years. I have been working at Christie’s Place for three years. I was hired as a Peer Navigator and quickly became a Medical Case Manager. I was recently promoted to the position of Aging and Research Program Coordinator. I also am current chair of the HIV Women’s Care Partnership for women children and youth and families in San Diego.
Would you please tell us your personal journey with Christie’s Place?
Christie’s Place saved my life when I first came to San Diego. They were the first place from which I received services. Through their Peer Navigation Program, I received the support and care that I needed and deserved as a woman living with HIV. The second day that I was in the hospital, a Peer Navigator came to check on me and immediately let me know that I was not alone. I especially liked that she kept letting me know she was not there to pressure me to make an appointment unless I was ready and that she just wanted to come introduce herself and to let me know about the services Christie’s Place provided. Shortly after that I was asked to start volunteering at the office where I was taught a lot about how to navigate HIV services and it also inspired me to want to work in the field.
What do you do as an Aging and Research Program Coordinator?
As the Aging and Research Program Coordinator, I oversee several programs including:
*The We RISE Program, in affiliation with UCSD research department, that teaches the women to take better care of themselves through exercise and mental health strategies.
*The EPIC Program, in affiliation with Ribbon/ViiV Healthcare, that is specifically for African American women living with HIV to help and teach them how to become future Peer Patient Navigators in their communities.
*The FAB Program that teaches women 50 years old and over who are aging with HIV about how to achieve wellness through presentations by licensed and local professionals, empowerment trainings, and isolation- and stigma-reduction activities.
I also have a caseload to assist with any other client’s needs.
What is the importance of Christie’s Place for our community?
I feel Christie’s Place is especially important for the San Diego community because it is the only agency that is dedicated to serving women living with HIV and their families in San Diego. We provide a safe and healthy space for women and their families by offering variety of support groups and supportive services. The Peer Navigation program and the Medical Case Management program are very important to keeping clients in care by assisting them with their doctor’s appointments and connecting them to outside resources such as housing needs and other services in the community.
The WORD is Love Grows Here