A driveway that leads to the front entrance of Cares Sexual Wellness Services. With a sign th

We are Cares

Cares is community based organization operating in Southwest Michigan with offices in Benton Harbor and Kalamazoo. We were established in 1985 by a group of volunteers looking to make a difference. We started by offering peer support to people living with HIV.

We’ve stood the test of time to become the only community-based non-profit AIDS organization that serves 10 counties in Southwest Michigan. Cares is the second largest HIV/AIDS service provider in the state and is well-respected by state departments and other non-profits.

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Our History

1981

June 5, 1981. The U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) publishes an article in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) on the recent infections of individuals with what would be later discovered to be HIV and AIDS.

1985

A group of volunteers established C.A.R.E.S. (Community AIDS Resource & Education Services) a living-room rotary phone line in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The mission of C.A.R.E.S. at the time was to simply crowdsource to share healthcare information and organize services for those who were sick and dying.

1990s

The early 1990s were a time of tremendous change in response to the growing AIDS epidemic. Our Client Care program, dedicated to assisting people with HIV in obtaining medical care, housing, etc., doubled in size within one year and the buddy and support group programs grew to 75 volunteers.

1991

A new HIV education project had begun and a speakers’ bureau was organized that reached 1,600 people in 1991 alone. Risk reduction efforts involved sessions with over 700 people each year. Educational sessions were held with over 1,000 human service professionals to promote understanding and optimal care for people living with HIV.

2002

CARES expanded services by opening a location in Benton Harbor to provide services in lower Michigan assuring continued services for those with HIV in Berrien County. This transition to a truly regional operation with multiple office locations expanded the HIV care and prevention programs.

2004

Since 2004, CARES has been the only community-based AIDS service organization serving Kalamazoo County and Southwest Michigan; we are the second largest HIV service provider in the state of Michigan.

2022

CARES rebrands as Cares Sexual Wellness Services to encompass all added health and wellness services over the years. Cares also begins mailing free at-home, self-administered STI testing kits to Michigan residents.

Board of Directors

 

President, Amy Campbell

Vice-President, Andrew Chaponda

Treasurer, Orville Richardson III

Secretary, John Austin

Director, Charles R. Tomlinson

Director, David Gysin

Director,  Katie Eaton

Director, Dr. Chris Buckley

Director, Kelly Doyle

View Our Staff!

View allBenton Harbor StaffIridescent HealthKalamazoo StaffManagement Team
Cassandra Stopczy
Cassandra Stopczy (She/They)

Medical Case Manager

cstopczy@caresswm.org

I enjoy the arts, music, and comedy in my spare time and I am a fiercely passionate advocate for my fellow human all of the time.

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Ketlove Gray (She/Her)

Medical Case Manager

kgray@caresswm.org

I’m a caring and genuine person who loves making meaningful connections and being there for the people I care about.

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Oso Cares Unofficial/ Official Director of Comfort
Oso (He/Him)

Director of Comfort

A little spice with your morning coffee. Enjoys watching Murder, She Wrote and cuddling with my dad. Most days you’ll find me wrastlin’ with my ducky.

Matthew Marble (He/Him)

Office Coordinator

mmarble@caresswm.org

Sunshine, vintage decor, my pups Chico & Myla, and my husband Ryan just a few of my favorite things (with iced coffee in hand, of course).

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Rachel Payton (She/Her)

Medical Case Manager

rpayton@caresswm.org

I’m a cat mom, book lover, and coffee addict.

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Sean Jennings (He/Him)

Medical Case Manager

sjennings@caresswm.org

I love laughter and the feeling that I can make a positive difference in the lives of others.

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Vanessa Stadel, NP (She/Her)

Nurse Practitioner

vstadel@caresswm.org

I think of myself as a quiet, introverted, optimistic, lifelong learner, book enthusiast, gardener (though my plants may tell a different story), and lover of 80s music.

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Christine Babcock (She/They)

Clinic Care Coordinator

cbabcock@caresswm.org

I’m a creative, queer human who values collaboration, community, and equity. I love animals, crafts, and coffee.

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Raymond Falkiewicz (They/He)

HIV/STI Prevention Specialist

rfalkiewicz@caresswm.org

I’m a sexual healthcare enthusiast who also enjoys reading, drawing, and bird-watching.

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Danielle Herwig (She/Her)

Marketing & Fundraising Specialist

dherwig@caresswm.org

I’m an animal-loving, outdoor-romping girl who loves to travel and try new things.

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Braiden McEachern: Office Coordinator at Cares
Braiden McEachern (They/Them)

Manager of Prevention

bmceachern@caresswm.org

I’m a lifelong learner, musician, and loving cat owner.

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JW_7.23
Jason Wilkinson (He/Him)

Chief Operating Officer

jwilkinson@caresswm.org

I’m a tech enthusiast and a foodie.

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Shaea Leflore-Swindle (She/Her)

Housing & Administration Specialist

sleflore@caresswm.org

I’m a feisty, family-oriented jack of all trades who embodies resilience.

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Tricia Kelly (She/Her)

Director of Housing

tkelly@caresswm.org

I’m a kind, loving, understanding person with a passion for public health!

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Love Chambers, RN (She/Her)

Nurse

lchambers@caresswm.org

Connecting with people is one of my favorite parts of being a human—I also love coffee, dogs, chocolate, sunshine, glitter, and flowers.

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Kaitlin Martin

Lead Case Manager & Trainer

kmartin@caresswm.org

I am deeply passionate about social justice, love the outdoors, and the arts.

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Debbie ResRouches: Early Intervention Specialist
Debbie DesRoches (She/Her)

Non-Medical Case Manager

ddesroches@caresswm.org

I’m courageous, compassionate, dedicated, advocate, problem solver, and lover of animals.

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Colleen Kelly, HIV/STI Prevention Specialist at Cares
Colleen Kelly (She/Her)

Medical Case Manager

ckelly@caresswm.org

I like animals and plants.

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Vera Holmes: Medical Case Manager at Cares
Vera Holmes (She/Her)

Medical Case Manager

vholmes@caresswm.org

I’m a resilient, no-nonsense, caring, family-oriented person.

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Pam Hatcher: Non-Medical Case Manager at Cares
Pam Hatcher (She/Her)

Non-Medical Case Manager

phatcher@caresswm.org

I am a self-advocate.

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Nick Foster, Non-Medical Case Manager at Cares
Nick Foster (He/Him)

Non-Medical Case Manager

nfoster@caresswm.org

I’m a glass-half-full kind of person.

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Beth Haire_Lewis: Quality Mgmt. & Training Team Lead
Beth Haire-Lewis (She/Her)

Benton Harbor Care Program Manager

blewis@caresswm.org

I’m fun, lovable, brave, survivor with a love for the soul of music and community.

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Jose Calderon (He/They)

Director of Prevention

jcalderon@caresswm.org

I’m an extraverted introvert with a kind soul.

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Keegan Zoll, LMSW (She/Her)

Director of Case Management

kzoll@caresswm.org

I’m a dog and chicken mom who loves spending time in nature.

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Kelly Doyle - Chief Executive Officer
Kelly Doyle (She/Her)

Chief Executive Officer

kdoyle@caresswm.org

I’m a Southside Irish community fighter who loves being a beagle mom and spending time with friends, reading about history, and going to museums.

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