The History of KC CARE and our HIV Services

KC CARE Health Center was founded in 1971 as the Westport Free Health Clinic, operating out of the lobby of the Alcazar Hotel. Volunteers provided no-cost care for anyone in the community, and there was a particular need among veterans, senior citizens, and hippies. That’s where they came up with their first motto: “A healthy hippie is a happy hippie!”

In the 1980s, a disease with no name began devastating the United States. What began on the east and west coasts quickly moved inland, and it wasn’t long before Kansas City saw people becoming ill in large numbers too. Most of the impacted people were young, gay men. Fear and misinformation prevailed in the media, and people experiencing symptoms of the mysterious new disease had few places to turn. KC CARE, known at the time as Kansas City Free Health Clinic, became the first place in western Missouri where people could receive anonymous testing and counseling for what was later identified as: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

In 1992, KC CARE leaders joined forces with leaders from SAVE, Inc., the Good Samaritan Project, and HARCMart to create the AIDS Service Foundation of Kansas City. Together, the groups developed a cooperative funding strategy to ensure reliable care remains available for all people with HIV in the community.

In the years since, KC CARE’s HIV education, testing, prevention, peer navigation, linkage to care, case management, and medical services have been supported by additional sources of funding. KC CARE became a Ryan White recipient in 1993, receiving federal funds dedicated to caring for people with HIV. KC CARE continues to be a national leader in HIV prevention and treatment, and we are the largest HIV services provider in Kansas City.