Southern REACH Grant Announcement

a VIBRANT PARTNERSHIPS initiative  

AIDS United, in collaboration with Ford Foundation, has awarded the Health Planning Council of Northeast Florida a Policy Advocacy Grant of $28,875 through the Southern REACH initiative to build and enhance HIV/AIDS policy advocacy in Volusia & Flagler counties.  

The Florida Department of Health now estimates that approximately 2026 persons, or roughly .4% of Florida's population, are currently living with HIV infection in Volusia & Flagler counties as of the end of 2010. Volusia County was ranked 11th in the number of presumed People Living with HIV/AIDS in the county at 1,912 while Flagler was ranked 41st at 141. 

Funds received from this grant will be used to advance the organizational capacity and message of a young grassroots campaign, The Positive Champions Speakers Bureau.  This group is dedicated to raising the awareness, knowledge and understanding of HIV and AIDS in the communities of Volusia & Flagler counties.

The members of this group share their stories of living with and being affected by HIV/AIDS in an effort to educate others and to put a real face to the disease. They promote the idea that those living with HIV/AIDS need understanding and compassion and that no one "deserves" this disease.

Campaign goals include:

• Ending the fear, stigma & myths associated with HIV/AIDS
• Promoting healthier relationships and behavior changes
• Educating the wider community on the issues and facts of living with HIV & AIDS