CDC Grants $21 Million to Enhance HIV Prevention in Communities of Color

Regional and national organizations dedicated to preventing HIV in communities of color will receive $21 million from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The awards go to 27 different organizations targeting prevention activities for African-American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian and Pacific Islander and Hispanic/Latino communities at high-risk for HIV infection.

"Minority communities are disproportionately affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic," said Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy G. Thompson. "Partnerships with these communities are critical if we are to get testing and treatment to the people at risk and ultimately reduce the number of new infections."

The grants, which represent an increase of nearly $760,000 over last year’s capacity building funding, will be used by the organizations to strengthen infrastructure, science-based prevention interventions, access to and use of prevention services, and community planning.

“These awards reflect CDC’s continued commitment to reducing the burden of HIV among people of color by building capacity within their own communities,” said Dr. Ronald O. Valdiserri, deputy director of CDC’s HIV, STD and TB prevention programs.

Following are examples of organizations receiving the awards (a complete list of organizations is attached):

Asian and Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) – To ensure adequate support for HIV prevention programs tailored for Asians and Pacific Islanders at high-risk, APIAHF will focus on increasing the participation of Asians and Pacific Islanders in community planning at the state and local levels.

The Black AIDS Institute – To mobilize African-American communities in the fight against AIDS, the Institute will expand its innovative African-American HIV University, a two-year training and internship program for developing HIV prevention educators in those communities.

LLEGO – Through its Avanzando program, LLEGO provides expertise to Latino community-based organizations as they implement and evaluate culturally competent, linguistically appropriate, evidence-based HIV prevention interventions, such as “Community Promise” and “Hermanos de Luna y Sol”.

National Native American AIDS Prevention Center (NNAAPC) – Focusing on Native populations at high-risk for HIV and those living with HIV, NNAAPC will work to improve local organizations’ management and grant-writing strategies and their financial and performance reporting.

Communities of color are a high priority for CDC’s “Advancing HIV Prevention” (AHP) Initiative, the comprehensive strategy to reduce new HIV infections in the United States that CDC launched almost one year ago. Through the AHP Initiative, CDC is working with national and local partners to increase access to early diagnosis and treatment by using rapid HIV testing; to make HIV testing a routine part of the medical care for high-risk individuals; to further reduce the number of infants born with HIV infection in the United States; and to integrate HIV prevention services into the medical care of patients with HIV to reinforce safer behaviors.

For more information about the initiative, including activities related to HIV prevention in communities of color, visit: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/partners/question.htm.

Organizations Awarded Capacity Building Funds Under Program Announcement 04019

Strengthening Organizational Infrastructure for HIV Prevention

These recipients are charged to improve the capacity of community-based organizations to strengthen and sustain organizational infrastructures that support the delivery of effective HIV prevention services and interventions for high-risk racial and ethnic minority populations. Award amounts for this focus area range from $600,000 to $1,775,000.

Asian and Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF); San Francisco, CA; will provide national capacity building services to organizations serving Asian and Pacific Islander communities.

National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC); Washington, DC; will provide national capacity building services to organizations serving African-American communities.

National Native American AIDS Prevention Center (NNAAPC); Oakland, CA; will provide national capacity building services to organizations serving American Indian/Alaska Native communities.

PROCEED, Inc.; Elizabeth, NJ; will provide national capacity building services to organizations serving Hispanic/Latino communities.

Strengthening Interventions for HIV Prevention

These recipients are charged to replicate, adapt, and disseminate to community-based organizations culturally appropriate and science-based behavioral interventions targeted to racial and ethnic minority populations at high risk for HIV infection, and to increase the delivery of HIV testing and referral services in non-traditional settings. Award amounts for this focus area range from $600,000 to $750,000.

Asian and Pacific Islander Wellness Center (APIWC); San Francisco, CA; will provide national capacity building services to organizations serving Asian and Pacific Islander communities.

Arizona/Mexico Border Health Foundation; Tucson, AZ; will provide regional capacity building services in the South to organizations serving Hispanic/Latino communities.

ETR Associates; Scotts Valley, CA; will provide regional capacity building services in the West region to organizations serving African-American communities.

Harm Reduction Coalition; New York City, NY; will provide regional capacity building services in the North to organizations serving African-American communities.

Jackson State University (JSU); Jackson, MS; will provide regional capacity building services in the South to organizations serving African-American communities.

JSI Research and Training Institute; Denver, CO; will provide regional capacity building services in the Mid-West to organizations serving Hispanic/Latino communities.

Latino Commission on AIDS; New York City, NY; will provide regional capacity building services in the North to organizations serving Hispanic/Latino communities.

National Black Alcoholism and Addiction Council (NBAAC); Orlando, FL; will provide regional capacity building services in the Mid-East to organizations serving African- American communities.

National Native American AIDS Prevention Center (NNAAPC); Oakland, CA; will provide capacity building services to organizations serving American Indian/Alaska Native communities.

National Latina/Lesbian Gay Bisexual Organization (LLEGO); Washington, DC; will provide regional CBA services in the West to organizations serving Hispanic/Latino communities.

PROCEED, Inc.; Elizabeth, NJ; will provide regional capacity building services in the Mid-East to organizations serving Hispanic/Latino communities.

St. Louis University; St. Louis, MO; will provide regional CBA services in the Mid-West to organizations serving African-American communities.

Strengthening Community Access to and Utilization of HIV Prevention Services

Recipients of these funds are charged to build inter-systems collaborations and public/private partnerships to change institutional policies in favor of HIV testing and referral services; influence community norms to reduce stigma against people living with HIV/AIDS; and increase access to and use of HIV testing and referral services. Award amounts for this focus area range from $365,000 to $400,000.

Asian and Pacific Islander Wellness Center; San Francisco, CA; will provide national capacity building services to organizations serving Asian and Pacific Islander communities.

Balm in Gilead; New York City, NY; will provide national capacity building services to faith organizations working in African-American communities.

Black AIDS Institute; Los Angeles, CA; will provide national capacity building services to organizations working with at-risk African-American communities.

Colorado State University; Fort Collins, CO; will provide national capacity building services to organizations serving at-risk American Indian/Alaska Native communities.

Community Health Outreach Workers, Inc.; Detroit, MI; will provide national capacity building services to organizations working with people living with HIV/AIDS high-risk youth and men having sex with men in African-American communities.

Council of Community Clinics; San Diego, CA; will provide national capacity building services to organizations serving Hispanic/Latino communities.

Metropolitan Interdenominational Church; Nashville, TN; will provide national capacity building services to faith organizations serving African-American communities.

My Brother’s Keeper; Jackson, MS; will provide national capacity building services to organizations working with high-risk men who have sex with men in African-American communities.

National Association of People With AIDS; Washington, DC; will provide national capacity building services to organizations serving people living with AIDS and at-risk Hispanic/Latino communities.

National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS; New York City, NY; will provide national capacity building services to organizations serving African-American communities.

National LLEGO; Washington, DC; will provide national capacity building services to organizations working with lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender and lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender/queer youth in Hispanic/Latino communities.

National Minority AIDS Council; Washington, DC; will provide national capacity building services to organizations working with prison and African-American communities.

National Youth Advocacy Coalition; Washington, DC; will provide national capacity building services to organizations working with LGBTQ Youth and young MSM in African-American communities.

US/Mexico Border Health Association; El Paso, TX; will provide national capacity building services to organizations serving Hispanic/Latino communities.

Strengthening Community Planning for HIV Prevention

Recipients receiving these funds are charged to increase parity, inclusion, and representation of racial/ethnic minority populations at high risk for HIV infection in the community planning process and also enhance the knowledge and skills of community-based organization staff and community members to participate in the community planning process. The award amount for this focus area is $300,000.

Asian and Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF); San Francisco, CA; will provide national capacity building services to organizations serving Asian and Pacific Islander communities.

Inter Tribal Council of Arizona (ITCA); Phoenix, AZ; will provide national capacity building services to organizations serving American Indian/Alaska Native communities.

National AIDS Education and Services for Minorities, Inc. (NAESM); Atlanta, GA; will provide national CBA services to organizations serving African-American communities.

US/Mexico Border Health Association; El Paso, TX; will provide national capacity building services to organizations serving Hispanic/Latino communities.

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