02/23/2007
Institute For Health Protection Cosponsors Symposium On Role Of Church In Combating HIV/AIDS In African American Community
Premier Change Agent Brings Together Coalition of Experts to Participate in Educational Symposium and HIV Testing Initiative
ATLANTA, February, 23, 2007 - In recognition of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on February 7, the Institute for Health Protection (IHP), the premier change agent organization capable of turning evidence based healthcare knowledge into everyday practice at the community level, cosponsored an educational symposium on the role of the Black church in combating HIV/AIDS in the African American Community. The conference for clergy in greater Atlanta was cosponsored by Recovery Consultants of Atlanta, Inc. (RCA), a federally-funded, faith-based, peer-led recovery community service program focusing on helping individuals sustain recovery from addiction.
Following its signature methodology of coalition building, IHP spearheaded a partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the federal Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), a division of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Concerned Black Clergy of Atlanta, the Interdenominational Theological Center, and several local AIDS service organizations, with additional participation by the federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and Abbott Virology. This collaboration brought together leaders from the faith community, academic institutions, federal agencies, private and public organizations, and corporate supporters to work toward the common goal of improving the health status and healthcare outcomes in those communities that need it the most.
In conjunction with the symposium, RCA conducted a major HIV testing initiative simultaneously at three (3) Atlanta-based African American churches and five (5) homeless shelters on February 6. 1105 individuals were tested from among Atlanta’s homeless population, utilizing the OraSure ADVANCE® 20-minute rapid test. This extraordinary event was supported by more than 100 well-trained volunteers serving as HIV pre and post –test counselors.
“We are gratified by the work of our partners and the success of our HIV Symposia and Testing Initiative, said Clyde Evans, Executive Director. “IHP looks forward to continuing to capitalize on our extensive network of experts to improve healthcare outcomes in the communities that need it most.â€
Plans are underway to build on the success of this initiative to replicate similar testing and educational initiatives in other cities. To help accomplish this goal, IHP is establishing a national clergy network of ministers and congregations committed to addressing HIV/AIDS in their communities. This network will provide the backbone for educational activities in multiple communities around the country. This activity will be a joint initiative with the national African Methodist Episcopal Church and is being supported by an educational grant from Abbott Virology. Over time this network of clergy and congregations will be utilized to address additional diseases like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.
The Institute for Health Protection (IHP) is the premier change agent organization capable of turning evidence based healthcare knowledge into everyday practice at the community level. For each educational program, IHP utilizes its extensive network of relationships across a wide spectrum to bring together the right combination of individual and organizational stakeholders to achieve the common goal of improving healthcare outcomes in communities that need it most.
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