Grants To Prevent HIV/AIDS Among Those at Highest Risk
DATE: November 24, 2004
CONTACT: Communication Office
863-7281
BURLINGTON, VT – The Vermont Department of Health today announced the award of grants totaling $575,000 to Vermont non-profit organizations serving Vermonters at highest risk for being infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
Funding for these grants comes from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This grant program funds evidence-based interventions that have been proven to be most effective in preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS among high risk groups. Vermont high risk groups were defined by the state’s Community Planning Group as people living with HIV/AIDS, men who have sex with men, heterosexuals at increased risk, and people who inject drugs.
With less than $600,000 to grant out, the department received in excess of $1.1 million in grant applications.
“We received many excellent proposals and based on our limited funding, we had to make some very difficult decisions,” said Kurt Kleier, HIV/AIDS chief at the Vermont Department of Health.
The community organizations that receive these grants will employ strategies recommended by CDC to reduce HIV infection among specific populations.
HIV/AIDS Grants:
- AIDS Community Resource Network (ACORN) based in Morrisville - $12,550 to fund services for male adolescent drug users in the Northeast Regional Correctional facility.
- AIDS Project of Southern Vermont (APSV) based in Brattleboro - $145,129 to develop a CDC recommended behavior change program targeting men who have sex with men and women at increased risk and their male partners in Windham County.
- Howard Center (Safe Recovery) based in Burlington - $104,584 to provide prevention case management for people who inject drugs in Chittenden County.
- Imani Health Institute based in Burlington - $11,000 to develop a Red Cross HIV prevention program serving men in the Chittenden Regional Correctional facility.
- Outright Vermont based in Burlington - $38,160 to develop a CDC recommended HIV prevention program targeting gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth in Chittenden County and statewide.
- RU12? Queer Community Center based in Burlington - $63,980 to develop a CDC recommended HIV prevention program targeting men who have sex with men.
- Spectrum Youth and Family Services based in Burlington - $97,015 to develop a CDC recommended HIV prevention program targeting runaway, homeless and street youth in Chittenden County.
- Twin State Network based in Bellows Falls - $35,000 to develop a CDC recommended HIV prevention program targeting men and women with HIV/AIDS and their partners living in the Connecticut River Valley and statewide.
- Vermont Harm Reduction Coalition based in Brattleboro - $69,000 to provide prevention case management for people who inject drugs primarily in southern and central Vermont.