Nationals HIV/AIDS Strategy and how the mission of Women Accepting Responsibility, Inc. is helping to meet this goal. By She’kell Hutchinson Program Director, Supportive Housing Services Women Accepting Responsibility

The United States will become a place where new HIV infections are rare and when they do occur, every person, regardless of age, gender, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or socio-economic circumstance, will have access to high quality, life-extending care, free from stigma and discrimination

CDC estimates that more than one million people are living with HIV in the United States. One in five (21%) of those people living with HIV is unaware of their infection.

Miguel Gomez, AIDS.gov Director stated “An important component of the HHS National HIV/AIDS Strategy Operational Plan is what is known as “the 12 Cities Project.” Comprehensive HIV/AIDS planning is needed cross-agencies to respond and support efforts to decreasing the 12 U.S. jurisdictions that bear the highest AIDS burden in the country.

Estimates Rates of New HIV Infections, By Race/Ethnicity, 2006 Content Source: Divisions of HIV/AIDS Prevention National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention Divisions of HIV/AIDS Prevention National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention

 Reduce The Number of New HIV/AIDS Infections  Increase access to care for people living with HIV/AIDS  Reduce HIV related Health Disparities

Implementing the National HIV/AIDS Strategy does not fall to the Federal Government alone. Success will require the commitment of all parts of society, including state, local, businesses, faith communities, the scientific / medical communities, educational institutions, people living with HIV, and others.

What We’re Doing

CTR (Counseling Testing & Referrals) Shelter Plus Care & Supportive Housing Permanent Housing (form women with children that are chronically homeless) Opening Doors (provides financial assistance, for medical care, drug treatment & Mental Health with intensive Case management) Knowledge is Power (Adolescent male & female) Beautiful Me Trans Women (individual and group level intervention) Growing Up (Adolescent Females)

 Increasing office hours for providing HIV testing and services known to reduce the risk associated with HIV/STI infections  Volunteering testing through Street Outreach, offering prophylactics – and other safer sex tools  Expand targeted efforts to prevent HIV infection using a combination of effective, evidence-based approaches in schools, transitional programs, churches, in office day & evening  Support people living with HIV with co-occurring health conditions and those who have challenges meeting their basic needs, such as housing, food, & clothing

 Offer routine testing & education on treatment and care  Partner collaboration with Pharmaceutical companies (Bristol Myers Squibb/ Vertex )  Collaboration with THC ( Mental Health Treatment, Primary Care & Substance abuse Treatment )  Encouraging Viral load Suppression through Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy adherence/medical guidance

 Reduce stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV  Engage new partners in HIV prevention, care, treatment and stigma-reduction efforts to strengthen our collective efforts and reach more people  Encourage highly impacted communities to seek treatment and encourage routine testing in high prevalence areas