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The organizers and presenters of the NorCal AIDS Challenge
are fully committed and work proactively to ensure
all communities of color are represented in our efforts
to end the AIDS pandemic. The following is some information
concerning the diversity of our beneficiary staff and
their clients.
Center for AIDS Research Education and Services [CARES]
CARES had an annual caseload of approximately 1600
clients, providing over 10,400 medical service visits
and over 12,000 social service and education contacts.
CARES saw, on average, one new client per day. One
of CARES' most notable recent achievements was establishing
the Community Care Network for People of Color as a
viable effort to reach out to those segments of the
population most at risk.
In 2003, 25% of CARES' clients self-identified as
African-American and 13% as Latino. Another 5% identified
as Native American, Pacific Islander, Other, or Unknown.
The remaining 57% identified as Caucasian. In 2001,
66% of all female clients self-identified as women
of color, primarily African American and Latina. African-American
women constituted 44% of all female clients.
Breaking Barriers Community Services Center
Breaking Barriers Community
Services Center recruits and trains community volunteers
to serve people with
catastrophic illnesses such as breast cancer and HIV/AIDS,
and educates our community about these conditions.
Their services are developed and designed through a
community process, initiated by suggestions or recommendations
by clients or people in the community. Breaking Barriers
is a founding member of the Community Care Network
for People of Color, which has a mission of expanding
access to HIV care and social services for under-served
African-American and Chicana, Chicano, Latina, and
Latino individuals and families. One of the key activities
listed on the Breaking Barriers website is the People
of Color Project. This is a project that trains men
and women in the community to reach out and educate
other people of color, conducting case finding, HIV
testing and counseling. Project members meet every
other week to compare notes, discuss what’s going
on in the community, and determine needed action. Volunteers
with this project be a person of color and over the
age of 21.
AIDS Housing Alliance / Open Arms Project
In the 12 months ending October 31, 2004 the AIDS
Housing Alliance (AHA) served the following populations:
Of the clients served at Avalon, our residential care
facility/hospice, 53% were Caucasian, and 47% were
African American; 5% of total clients self declared
as Hispanic [which includes Black and White]; 58% were
male and 42% female.
Of the clients served in Cornerstone, Steven Place,
Hidden Cove and Open Arms [Shelter, Transitional, and
Permanent Supportive Housing] 62% were African American,
34% were Caucasian, and 2% were Asian/Pacific Islanders;
16% self declared as Hispanic [Black and White]; 60%
male and 40% female.
The numbers of both African
Americans and women were disproportionately higher
than their incidence in the
infected population [29% African American and 22% female]
by a factor of close to 200% and are a measure of both
groups’ regrettable status in the socio-economics
of America. AHA’s staff receives training in
cultural competency and is currently composed of a
majority of minorities. AHA, while not a founding member,
participated in much of the process of forming the
Community Care Network of People of Color. |
