The Source LGBT+ Center in Visalia to receive a $600K grant from CA Dept. of Public Health
A South Valley LGBT+ organization is the newest recipient of a state grant worth hundreds of thousands of dollars aimed at offering support and services prevent The Source LGBT+ Center in Visalia, California, has been awarded a $600,000 grant by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) for its efforts to prevent the spread of HIV. The grant will be distributed over three years and will be used to provide same-day comprehensive services to members of the LGBTQ+ BIPOC, and non-English speaking communities in Tulare, Kings, and Fresno Counties. The money will also go towards an innovative program that aims to increase access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exexposure post-epetal (PEP) among those at highest risk for HIV, which can reduce the risk of HIV transmission by to 99 percent when taken as prescribed. The Source hopes this will eliminate the stigma associated with HIV and educate communities with a significant gap in education.
نشرت : من 3 اسابيع بواسطة Christina Lopez, http://www.facebook.com/kmphfox26 في Health
A South Valley LGBT+ organization is the newest recipient of a state grant worth hundreds of thousands of dollars aimed at offering support and services preventing the spread of HIV.
The Source LGBT+ Center in Visalia is one of two dozen organizations set to receive a $600,000 grant. It is part of an initiative from the California Department of Public Health that will award over $19 million in grants to 24 organizations across the state.
According to The Source, the money will go toward an innovative program to help stop the spread of HIV. The grant part of CDPH's PrEP and PEP Initiation and Retention Initiative. The initiative is focused on increasing access to and use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) among those at highest risk for HIV.
"Extremely manageable," said Dean Jackson, Director of HIV Services for The Source. "I do try to speak to every new client who's diagnosed with HIV. I myself am living with HIV, so it's good to kind of show them hope and show that, you know, you can live long, healthy, happy life just like everyone else."
The grant will be disbursed over the next three years to the non-profit. Funds will allow the The Source LGBT+ Center to provide same-day comprehensive services to members of the LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and non-English speaking communities in Tulare, Kings, and Fresno Counties.
The project focuses on three areas:
• Increase retention by removing barriers associated with transportation challenges
The prescribed medication is highly effective HIV prevention strategies that can reduce the risk of HIV transmission by to 99 percent when taken as prescribed.
"It doesn't matter if you're sexually active," said Gwyn Reniers, Clinical Manager at The Source. " You have the capability, the possibility to get HIV or an sexually-transmitted illness (STI)."
Reniers hopes through this grant it will provide awareness, support, and education to eliminate the stigma often associated with HIV. She describes many communities in the Valley with a "huge gap in education".
She is also a licensed phlebotomist, a service The Source will begin offering at its community events including the nonprofit's upcoming Rainbow Run, a 5K Walk and Run on Saturday, June 22 at Mooney Grove Park in Visalia.
For more information including resources and support, visit The Source LGBT+ Center.
المواضيع: Social Issues, LGBTQ