COLLABORATIONS AND INTERVENTIONS

The mission of HIPP is to reduce HIV transmission among high-risk groups and improve HIV/AIDS care and support through health education and risk reduction programs at individual, group and community levels. We are dedicated to informing all people of their right to know the far reaching impact of HIV and AIDS.

Programs and services consist of:

1. Group and individual level intervention: women, faith-based, youth, and prison populations.
2. Community interventions: annual interdisciplinary conference and radio broadcasts.
3. Information and Referral: phone contact, health fairs.
4. Collaborations: working with other health and service organizations.

Why did we implement HIPP?

1. The HIV/AIDS epidemic is growing among underserved and hard-to-reach populations, especially youth.
2. The quality of emerging HIV/AIDS therapies can make a difference in the lives of people living with HIV.
3. To train adult and youth peer educators who assist people infected or affected by HIV through outreach, education, and advocacy services.

To be effective, we collaborate with other organizations with similar goals in order to reach more residents, avoid unnecessary duplication of services.

For our Hispanic sisters:

Si. En 1997, las mujeres conformaban el 22% de todos los casos de SIDA en los EEUU. La categori­a de riesgo mas frecuente sucede por contacto heterosexual (38%), y el 29% de estos por contacto heterosexual con Usuarios de Drogas Inyectadas (UDIs). Los usuarios de drogas inyectadas conforman el 32% de todos los casos.

Una de las poblaciones en la que los casos de VIH aumenta mas rapidamente es en las mujeres, y los casos de SIDA en esta poblacion aumentan invariablemente cada ano. Las menores de 30 conformaron el 22% de los casos de SIDA en 1996. Debido al lapso de tiempo que transcurre desde la infeccion con VIH hasta el desarrollo del SIDA muchas de estas mujeres contrajeron el VIH antes de los 20 anos. 

El SIDA ha afectado a la mujer afro-americana y latina en forma desproporcional. Los indices de SIDA en la mujer afroamericana y latina son de 17 y 6 veces mayor respectivamente a la de la mujer anglosajona. En 1997, el 60% de los casos femeninos de SIDA eran afroamericanas, 20% latinas y 19% anglosajonas.

 

Courage Unlimited's staff and volunteers put together great presentations and group interventions targeting high-risk women of color. The topics include HIV/AIDS facts, figures, ethnic pride, risk reduction, nutrition, and dispelling some of the myths associated with HIV. Groups consist of HIV survivors, cancer survivors, health educators, HIV advocates, and interested women from the local community.  All women, regardkless of age and ethnicity are welcome to attend.  Contact our offices for the next scheduled sessions: 702-453-3855.

On February 7, 2004, HIPP staff collaborated with Clark County Health District Office of AIDS and other community-based agencies to promote Black AIDS awareness. Second Baptist Church hosted a Health Forum from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.  The guests, predominantly women and children of color, participated in a panel discussion and Q & A about barriers to promoting healthy behaviors, refusal of both men and women to wear condoms, teenage risk factors, and how to spread the word about prevention.  HIPP sponsored the continental breakfast.

Various members of the media attended the Health Forum at Second Baptist Church. That evening, Channel 13 featured an interview with Sandra Jackson, Executive Director of Courage Unlimited on the 6 p.m. news.

Cheryl Ballard, Program Director of HIPP, began an intervention with a quiz to find out how educated HIV positive women were on HIV and AIDS. From that point, condom use and injection drup use were explored. Materials used were gender-specific and ethnic-specific.  In our interventions, we are careful to match the materials we use with the target audience for optimal results in prevention.

Courage Unlimited is a member of the Coalition, an association of agencies, organizations, and informal groups in Clark County, Nevada, that provide services for the benefit of persons living with and/or affected by HIV/AIDS.

Its mission is to act as 1) a networking catalyst for its members and assist its members in the delivery of HIV/AIDS services in the community, and 2) the unified force of its members regarding HIV/AIDS services in the community.
The overall goal is to reduce the incidence and mortality rates of HIV/AIDS cases in the state of Nevada. Collaborating and teamwork are the key.

HIPP (HIV Impact & Prevention Project) in collaboration with CAMINAR, Las Vegas FACT, and Southern Nevada Area Health Education Center presents a unique workshop for parents and their teens. This dynamic and interactive seven (7) hour workshop provides an overview of health and social challenges experienced by middle and high school students that lead to risky behaviors. Continental breakfast and lunch are served, and there is no cost to the participants.

Pictured left, the January 2004 workshop participants participated in hands on exercises, intense discussions, and individualized attention. Parents and teens were introduced to a variety of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and STD (Sexually Transmitted Disease) intervention and prevention strategies and skills. Both learned what communication and negotiation skills work for them and why, and take away a treasure chest of tips and materials they can use as a team working together in the home environment.