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The Office on Women's Health (OWH) in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is the government's champion and focal point for women's health issues, and works to redress inequities in research, health care services, and education that have historically placed the health of women at risk. The Office on Women's Health coordinates women's health efforts in HHS to eliminate disparities in health status and supports culturally sensitive educational programs that encourage women to take personal responsibility for their own health and wellness.

Women represent a growing number of individuals living with AIDS in the United States. In 2005, women accounted for 26 percent of all AIDS cases reported. Women of color are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. African American women represented 64 percent of women living with HIV/AIDS in 2005, while Latinas accounted for 15 percent of women living with HIV/AIDS. Consequently, HIV/AIDS continues to be one of the leading causes of death for women aged 25-44. In 2004, HIV/AIDS was the leading cause of death for African American women aged 23-34 years.

Events

National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

Contact: Mary Bowers, MSW, Senior Public Health Advisor

This initiative is the launch of an annual: National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day beginning in March 10, 2006 and each year thereafter. The intent is to raise awareness in all sectors of the U.S. of the increasing burden of HIV disease on U.S. women and girls, particularly, but also on women worldwide. In addition, the observance provides an opportunity to discuss and explore the social context of women's lives and those risks and vulnerabilities which are gender specific to women and girls. Also, the observance is a tool to promote discussion, information sharing and the opportunity to provide the facts on how to prevent infection as well as how to live with the disease. The proposed day focusing on women and girls would be patterned after other awareness observances.

For more information, visit www.womenshealth.gov/hiv/NWGHAAD.

Programs

HIV Team Leader: Mary Bowers, MSW, Senior Public Health Advisor

• Intergenerational Approaches to HIV/AIDS Prevention Education for Women Across The Lifespan Pilot Program
• HIV Prevention for Women Living with HIV/AIDS in Puerto Rico
• HIV Prevention for Women Living in the U.S. Virgin Islands
• In Community Spirit - HIV Prevention for Native/American Indian and Alaska Native Women Living in Rural and Frontier Indian Country
• HIV Prevention Program for Young Women Attending Minority Institutions
• The Prevention and Support Services for Women Incarcerated and Newly Released Living with or at Risk for HIV/AIDS/STDs Program
• HIV/AIDS Prevention for Women Living in the Rural South Program
• Prevention and Intervention AIDS-Related Services For Girls at Risk For Juvenile Delinquency

Intergenerational Approaches to HIV/AIDS Prevention Education for Women Across The Lifespan Pilot Program

Contact: Joanna Short, M.Div., Public Health Advisor

Develops and pilots cross-generational approaches to HIV/AIDS prevention education specifically to meet the needs of minority females who are grandmothers, mothers, daughters, aunts, and other female family members. Strategies built upon caring, trusting familial relationships are the bridge linking educational and counseling approaches to reach two to three generations of minority females. As a result, minority females across the lifespan will elect to know their HIV status, increase their knowledge of HIV/AIDS prevention, gain competencies in cross-generational communication and sexual health, and gain knowledge on accessing local HIV care and treatment services.

• Taller Salud, Inc. - Loiza, Puero Rico
• The Women's Collective - Washington, DC
• Jackson Park Hospital - Chicago, IL
• Familes Under Urban & Social Attack - Houston, TX
• The Curators of the University of Missouri - St. Louis, MO

HIV Prevention for Women Living with HIV/AIDS in Puerto Rico

Contact: Mary Bowers, MSW, Senior Public Health Advisor

Gender specific prevention education projects targeting women living with HIV/AIDS to increase access to care, to increase knowledge of protective behaviors, and to reduce isolation of women living with HIV infection.

• Iniciativa Communitaria de Investigacion, Inc. - San Juan, PR
• Puerto Rico Department of Health - San Juan, PR

HIV Prevention for Women Living in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Contact: Mary Bowers, MSW, Senior Public Health Advisor

Gender specific prevention education project providing accurate and comprehensive information on HIV/AIDS prevention and healthy behaviors for women living in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

• Helping Others in a Positive Environment, Inc. - St. Thomas, Virgin Islands

In Community Spirit - HIV Prevention for Native/American Indian and Alaska Native Women Living in Rural and Frontier Indian Country

Contact: Mary Bowers, MSW, Senior Public Health Advisor

Gender specific prevention education integrating the strengths of traditions, values, culture and spirituality indigenous to the targeted communities.

• Navajo AIDS Network - Chinle, AZ (OWH Project is implemented in Gallup, NM)
• The University of South Dakota - Vermillion, SD
• Sault Saint Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians - Sault Saint Marie, MI

HIV Prevention Program for Young Women Attending Minority Institutions

Contact: Mary Bowers, MSW, Senior Public Health Advisor

Gender specific prevention projects targeting  college age minority women to increase their knowledge and self protective behaviors for preventing HIV/AIDS and other STDs; interventions include  understanding how the female body works in relation to their increased vulnerability for acquiring HIV/AIDS; practicing the ABC - Abstinence, Being Faithful, Condoms, etc.

Historically Black Colleges and Universities:

• Grambling University - Grambling, LA (Center for Health Training, Austin, TX)
• Virginia State University - Richmond, VA (Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA)
• Edward Waters College - Jacksonville, FL
• North Carolina Central University - Durham, NC (O.R.A.N.E. (Office for Research and Empowerment, Durham, NC)
• Norfolk State University - Norfolk, VA
• Southern University and A&M College - Baton Rouge, LA

• San Antonio Community College - Austin, TX
• The University of Texas at San Antonio - San Antonio, TX
• Florida International University - Miami, FL
• New Jersey City University, Jersey City, NJ (National Latina Health Network, Washington, DC)

• Salish Kootenai College - Pablo, MT
• Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute - Albuquerque, NM

The Prevention and Support Services for Women Incarcerated and Newly Released Living with or at Risk for HIV/AIDS/STDs Program

Contact: Mary Bowers, MSW, Senior Public Health Advisor

Gender specific demonstration projects for HIV/AIDS continuum of care and prevention services for incarcerated and newly-released women disproportionately impacted by HIV/AIDS

• AIDS Foundation Houston, Inc., - Houston, TX
• Women Accepting Responsibility - Baltimore, MD
• Action for Boston Community Development Inc. - Boston, MA
• Hyacinth AIDS Foundation - New Brunswick, NJ
• Greenhope Services for Women, Inc. - New York, NY
  
• Center for Health Justice, Inc., - West Hollywood, CA

HIV/AIDS Prevention for Women Living in the Rural South Program

Contact: Mary Bowers, MSW, Senior Public Health Advisor

Gender specific demonstration projects to provide accurate and comprehensive HIV prevention education that addresses false information, stigma, self-protection behaviors and denial.

• Columbus Wellness Center Outreach and Prevention Project - Columbus, GA
  
• HEROES - Columbia, LA
  
• Southern AIDS Commission, Inc. - Greenville, MS
  
• Health Horizons of East Texas, Inc. - Nacogdoches, TX
  
• Regional HIV/AIDS Consortium - Charlotte, NC

Prevention and Intervention AIDS-Related Services For Girls at Risk For Juvenile Delinquency

Contact: Aleisha Langhorne, MPH, MHSA, Health Scientist

This program addresses the development of prevention and intervention programs for girls at high risk for gang involvement and STD/HIV infection. The contractor will implement a new program focusing on girls putting themselves at greater risk of STD/HIV infection and incarceration because of their participation in gang-related activities. These programs will emphasize skills for building self-esteem and coping with adverse situations. The program will also enhance these skills by engaging girls in positive activities; thereby, assisting them in becoming model citizens. Unless otherwise noted, this contract defines girls as persons who are aged 9-16 years.

Current Contractors:

• Behavioral Assessment Inc.
  Richard Cervantes
  291 South La Cienega Blvd, Suite 308
  Beverly Hills, CA  90211         
  Phone: (310) 652-6449           
  Email: bassessment@aol.com
  

• ENSYNC Diversified Management Services, Inc.
  Christine McMillon
  225 Waymont Court, Suite 111
  Lake Mary, Florida 32746
  Phone: (407) 936-1515
  Email: ensyncdms@aol.com
  

• Family Services Unlimited
  Chelette Holden
  2601 Line Ave, Ste A
  Shreveport, LA 71104
  Email: Fsu2421@aol.com

• Granato Group
  Laura Granato           
  1608 Spring Hill Road, Suite 300
  Vienna, VA 22182
   Phone: (703) 636-1200 ext. 522        
  Email: dr.laura@granatogroup.com

• Innovative Strategic Solutions         
  Babanina James
  1542 Tremont Street
  Roxbury, MA 02120-2929
  Phone: (617) 541-1800
  Email: babaninaj@aol.com

• International Black Women’s Initiative
  La Francis Rodgers-Rose
  645 Church Street, Suite 107
  Norfolk, VA 23510-1712
  Phone: (757) 625-0500
  Email: BlackWomensInc@cs.com

• Sage Associates
  Deborah Scott
  6220 West Park #103
  Houston, TX 77057-7386
  Phone: (713) 861-6667
  Email: dsscott@sageways.com
  

• Messages of Empowerment Productions    
  Quinn M. Gentry
  280 Highland Lake Trace
  Atlanta, GA 30349-3916
  Phone: (404) 494-9370
  Email: QuinnGP@aol.com

• Research and Evaluation Solutions, Inc. (REESSI)
  Laverne Morrow Carter
  6281 Franconia Rd., Suite 277
  Alexandria, VA 22310
  Phone: 703-313-4934
  Email: lmcarter@reessi.com
  

• Visionary Vanguard Group, Inc
  Lauren L. Josephs
  1025 S. Semoran Blvd.
  Winter Park, FL 32792
  Phone:(407)496-6945
  Email: ljosephs@vvgroup.net
  

Content last updated December 1, 2006.
External links reviewed January 25, 2008.