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Center for Minority Health, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh

Our role in supporting faith-based initiatives to insure their success and viability in their efforts to fight6 HIV/AIDS in communities of color


APHA 132nd Annual Meeting, Washington, DC

Karen L. Reddick, MAProject Director

[email protected]

Angela Ford, MSW Stephen B. Thomas, PhD

Veronica Sansing, BA

130 DeSoto St. (412) 624-5665125 Parran Hall (412) 624-8679

FaxPittsburgh, PA 15261 www.cmh.pitt.edu



In 1998 the Congressional Black Caucus declared In 1998 the Congressional Black Caucus declared that the HIV/AIDS epidemic constituted a “that the HIV/AIDS epidemic constituted a “state of state of emergencyemergency” in the African American community, ” in the African American community, prompting then, President Clinton to announce prompting then, President Clinton to announce that AIDS represented a “severe and ongoing that AIDS represented a “severe and ongoing health crisis” to that community.health crisis” to that community.

From the early days of the epidemic, epidemiology From the early days of the epidemic, epidemiology reports from national, statewide and local levels reports from national, statewide and local levels all indicate that African Americans has been all indicate that African Americans has been disproportionately impacted by the AIDS/HIV.disproportionately impacted by the AIDS/HIV.



The HIV/AIDS Surveillance Quarterly Summary-PA The HIV/AIDS Surveillance Quarterly Summary-PA Department of Health, December 2000 reportedDepartment of Health, December 2000 reported::

Annual incidence of AIDS cases from 1995-1999, for all women diagnosed with AIDS in PA, Black women more than doubled the number of white woman with AIDS and triple the number of Hispanic women diagnosed each year (page 8)

Adult Cumulative AIDS Cases 1980-2000, Black women account for 60% of all women diagnosed with AIDS in PA (page 9)



Adult Cumulative AIDS Cases 1980-2000, Black men account for 47% of all men diagnosed with AIDS in PA (the highest % among men) (page 9)

Adult Cumulative AIDS Cases 1980-2000 for both men and woman, Blacks account for 49% (highest % for all race/ethnicity) of all AIDS cases in PA (page 9)

Cumulative AIDS Cases 1980-2000, of all pediatric cases, Black children comprise 61% of all children diagnosed with AIDS in PA (page 9)



Funding from the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act for the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Initiative became available.

The purpose of the funds were to initiate, modify or expand educational and outreach services for communities of color who are disproportionately impacted by HIV/AIDS to increase participation in ADAP.

Statewide the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) program is call the Special Pharmaceutical Benefits Program (SPBP) in PA and it provides HIV/AIDS related medication to HIV positive people who do not have health insurance or adequate insurance to cover the high cost of multi-drug therapies to treat HIV/AIDS.



Historically, Black churches have played significant roles as instruments of change on social and political issues impacting African Americans.

In recent years, the faith community has acknowledged its lack of effort around the HIV/AIDS epidemic and has made significant strives to promote education and implement faith based HIV initiatives

Two local African American churches heard the call and decided to take action to engage in activities to enroll HIV+ minority individuals into the SPBP



Dominion Full Gospel Church

Life & Liberty, Inc, Life & Liberty, Inc, 761 Merchant St.761 Merchant St.

Ambridge, PA 15003Ambridge, PA 15003

(724) 266-5759(724) 266-5759

Rev. Ken Crumb, Sr.Rev. Ken Crumb, Sr.

Executive DirectorExecutive Director"Rebuilding Lives and Changing Generations"



Church Beaver County, Ambridge, PA Urban, lower socio-economic,

former steel mill town Small African American

population within the county (6% of 181,000 according to US Census)

Small church and congregation High incidences of drug use &

HIV/AIDS

Program Life & Liberty received their 501©3

status within the first months of the project

The first order of business was to establish and set-up an office

The HIV project was their first and only funded program

The pastor of the church also served as the executive director of the agency

Issue of staff retention in key areas Great demand for HIV services Life & Liberty office located 25 miles

from University of Pittsburgh

Key Characteristics



Educated & Heighten Educated & Heighten Awareness of Awareness of HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDS

Conducted HIV/AIDS Conducted HIV/AIDS Street Outreach & Street Outreach & Community Community PresentationsPresentations

Sponsored HIV Sponsored HIV Support GroupsSupport Groups

Provided HIV Testing & Provided HIV Testing & CounselingCounseling

Linked & referred HIV+ Linked & referred HIV+ people to SPBPpeople to SPBP

Project Project ReachReach OUT OUTHIV/AIDS Outreach & HIV/AIDS Outreach & EducationEducation



Macedonia Macedonia FFamily amily aand nd CCommunity ommunity EEnrichment nrichment CCenter, Inc Pittsburgh, PA enter, Inc Pittsburgh, PA

2851 Bedford Avenue Bldg. #3

Pittsburgh Pa 15219

(412) 687-8004

Arlette T. Dolphin, Esq.Arlette T. Dolphin, Esq.

Executive DirectorExecutive Director



Characteristics of the Churches

Church Allegheny County, Pittsburgh, PA

– Hill District Urban intercity, lower socio-

economic, working class Predominately African American

community High incidence of drug use &

HIV/AIDS Mega church, large congregation

– multiple Sunday services Church campus encompasses

multiple buildings independent of the church, many community based programs.

Minister has advanced degrees, large % of parishioners live outside the Hill District

Program Macedonia FACE - 501©3 CBO

& independent of the Church. Had one year experience as a

CBO prior to adding HIV prevention project. Had other projects & funding base.

FACE had a full staff complement & leadership independent of the church. The director reported to the church pastor.

Peer educators received a stipend

FACE office was located less than five miles from University of Pittsburgh

Key Characteristics



• Raised Awareness about HIV/AIDSRaised Awareness about HIV/AIDS• Recruited and trained Peer EducatorsRecruited and trained Peer Educators• Established HIV Counseling &Testing Established HIV Counseling &Testing • Provided support and referrals to People Provided support and referrals to People

Living with HIV Living with HIV • Conducted Street Outreach & Community Conducted Street Outreach & Community

PresentationsPresentations

• Linked & Referred HIV+ People to Linked & Referred HIV+ People to SPBPSPBP



CMH Life & Liberty FACETarget Population: Subcontractors

Life & Liberty and Macedonia FACE

Target Population: African American Substance Abusers

Target Area: Beaver

Target Population: 17-44 African Americans

Target Area: Greater Pittsburgh

Focus: Education, Awareness & Outreach Emphasis: Testing & Increasing awareness in African American Faith Community

Goals: Provide assistance in building the capacity of the subcontractors to reach their respective goals.

Task: Conduct a Peer Outreach Training in Coordination with DPW SPBP for 15 individuals

Task: Conduct a Peer Outreach Training in Coordination with DPW SPBP for 10 individuals age 17- to 24

Assistance: Development of a data collection system for project management

Task: Identify Church partners in the Beaver County area through which outreach & education will be

Task: Conduct a Peer Outreach Training in Coordination with DPW SPBP for 10 individuals age 25 to 44

Assistance: Develop process & formative evaluation; Development of program and client information materials at appropriate literacy levels

Task: Work with the Coalition to collaborate with the Regional Faith Based initiative; Participate in the Balm in Gilead Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS

Task: Identify Church partners in the Hill District and beyond through which outreach & education will be conducted

Assistance: Identification of best practice models

Task: Participate in the Pastors' HIV Education Workshop

Task: Work with the Coalition to collaborate with the Regional Faith Based initiative; Participate in the Balm in Gilead Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS

Assistance: Insure written materials for consumers are written in plan language and easy to read.

Task: Participate in the Pastors' HIV Education Workshop



Projects Lack of culturally specific and literacy appropriate brochures & postersProject staff received conflicting information from SPBP office staffDelays in processing contracts and subcontracts caused serious financial hardship for the projects. Staff & volunteer retentionStigmatization of HIV/AIDS



No involvement in church selection Overcoming resentment- building trust Recognizing bias Meshing Systems (Foundation, University,

Faith-based, AIDS Coalition) Prevention Messages (Abstinence vs.

Condoms) Advocacy



Technical assistant provided on key programmatic issues:

Program management, reporting & data collection Evaluation Prevention and Education Standards Training curriculum for their peer outreach workers Developing prevention models & outreach programs including

safety protocols Funding, budgetary & invoicing Supervising staff & volunteers Provided Journal articles (on-line and hard copy) on HIV related

topics detailing latest research findings Hired a consultant with experience in HIV testing to assist with

National testing day and testing site set-up



The CMH provided or sponsored the following trainings for the project staff:

Health Literacy HIV/AIDS 101 Special Pharmaceuticals

Benefit Program (SPBP) Act 148

Life & Liberty, Incand

Macedonia FACEstaff at the

HIV ACT 148 ConfidentiallyTraining

February 2003



Basic Principles of Harm Reduction & Implications for HIV Prevention

Developing Effective Marketing Materials Mid Year ReflectionHIV Testing Procedures & the Use of

OraSure Needle Exchange Program



To insure outreach workers had proper program identification, CMH took photos of the staff and designed their ID badges.

CMH purchased sweatshirts and tee-shirts specific to each project. The front of the shirts had the project’s name and logo and the back were identical – the Church window pane with the Red Ribbon.



The significance of the shirts Provided uniformity and a level of professionalism to overall

project and to the Outreach Workers Increased credibility and community awareness about the

project and HIV/AIDS Increased workers’ morale and confidence in project Shirt design was culturally relevant to the people



CMH purchased 13 cases of chocolate Hershey’s candy bars.

The bars were rewrapped with a innovative design and a message about the programs’ activities and SPBP.

The candy bars were used as giveaways at outreach events.



CMH Featured:

The projects in a Poster Session at our 3rd Annual Minority Health Leadership Summit. The Summit was attended by 300 people.



To insure continuity the CMH designated a project director to serve as point person to work closely with the subcontractors and monitor their efforts. Multiple ways of communicating with the Projects were used to stay abreast of their activities.

Monthly Projects Meetings (MPM)Site VisitsOn-Line via e-mailsPhone contacts



Project updates Trouble shooting and

problem solving Program planning &

evaluation Training & skill

development HIV/AIDS prevention

research updates

The purpose of the MPM was to insure the subcontractors reached their perspective project goals. The meeting agendas included:

Macedonia FACE host MPM



Health Disparity Working Groups (WG)

One strategy used by African American Health Promotion Campaign is to bring together lay people and professionals from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines to plan activities for National Minority Health Month.

The strength of the Working Group process is grounded in the CMH philosophy of inclusion.

• Working Groups are open to any adult, regardless of race, ethnicity, religious affiliation, gender, sexual orientation,

socio-economic status, or educational background.

The Center’s activities are closely tied to the National Initiative to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health and the Nation’s health promotion and disease prevention agenda established in Healthy People 2010:



HIV/AIDS is the first of the 7 Working Groups to be convened by CMH.

The WG provided networking opportunities & information sharing

Both projects were invited to join and one project continues to actively participate. HIV/AIDS WG Meeting April 2003



CMH facilitated the interface with state CMH facilitated the interface with state governments and their requirementsgovernments and their requirements

Provided technical support on program Provided technical support on program

development, implementation and development, implementation and management, evaluation and latest management, evaluation and latest research on HIV/AIDS prevention research on HIV/AIDS prevention strategies and capacity building.strategies and capacity building.

The two organizations (Churches and The two organizations (Churches and CMH) worked together are the kind of CMH) worked together are the kind of partnership which can have positive partnership which can have positive outcomes, it this case increasing the outcomes, it this case increasing the enrollment of HIV+ African American enrollment of HIV+ African American people into the SPBPpeople into the SPBP

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