Where is Shanti located?

Shanti Orange County is located at 23461 South Pointe Dr, Suite 100 · Laguna Hills, CA 92653

Please click here for a map.

What does “Shanti” mean and why was Shanti Orange County chosen as your name?

Charles Garfield, the founder of the Shanti model in San Francisco in 1985 used the word Shanti, meaning “inner peace” in Sanskrit, to describe the model of volunteerism providing emotional support and assistance to people living with life- threatening illnesses. Our founders patterned our agency after this Shanti model, the first of its kind.

What services does Shanti offer?

At Shanti, our services include case management, home delivered meals, transportation, individual and couples counseling, therapy groups and support groups. We also offer extensive educational and HIV prevention programs.

Who is eligible to receive these services?

Services are available to persons in all stages of HIV disease living in Orange County. Educational programs and seminars are available to anyone living with HIV disease as well as the general public. Eligibility for services varies depending on their diagnosis and financial situation. Please contact Bruce Vancil for more information regarding eligibility for our any of our services.

Are these services free?

Fee’s for our services are determined by a number of factors including a person’s financial situation. Depending on your income level our services may be free or of minimal cost. Our Educational Programs and Seminars are completely free and open to anyone interested in attending. Please contact Bruce Vancil for more information regarding costs for our services.

Where can I get an HIV test?

There are a number of free or low-cost HIV testing sites throughout Orange County. Please visit our HIV testing sites page, or contact us at (949)452-0888.

I just tested HIV positive, what should I do now?

First you will want to get a referral to see a doctor who specializes in HIV/AIDS treatment. Based on your insurance you may have to work within a network to select one of their doctors. If you have no insurance, local community based clinics can provide care at no cost to you. Your HIV doctor will recommend a course of care that meets your needs. If you do not know which doctor to contact please contact Bruce Vancil at Shanti and he will provide you with a list of doctors specializing in the treatment of HIV disease.

You are not alone, there are many people in the OC that can assist you in navigating through this community of care, we are a phone call away! It is advisable to open a case management file with a local AIDS Service Organization (ASO). Shanti has Case Management and an intake appointment is all that is needed to assess your situation and determine what services exist from which you could benefit.

If you feel scared and alone and upset over this diagnosis please contact Bruce at Shanti and he will be glad to meet with you to discuss different options for support. Appointments are available with Bruce Vancil, Shanti’s Case Manager. Call or email at (949) 452-0888 / bruce.vancil@shantioc.org

Can I receive services if I do not live in Orange County?

Yes. Our Educational Programs and Seminars are open to anyone interested in attending regardless of the county you call home. Our Counseling Services are also open to anyone infected or affected by HIV disease. Please contact Bruce Vancil for more information regarding costs for services for non Orange County residents.

I don’t have any experience with HIV/AIDS, can I still be a volunteer or intern?

Of course! We welcome all types of volunteers and would love for you to join the Shanti Family regardless of your past experience with HIV. Please visit our Volunteer page for more information about volunteering.

If I make a donation to Shanti, how my donation will be used?

We are proud to report that 89 percent of Shanti Orange County’s annual budget goes directly toward running our programs. We encourage you to make a donation directly to a program that you feel lead to or a donation to go to all our programs. Please visit our Giving to Shanti page for more information.