BEYOND THE BARRIERS: STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESSFUL OUTREACH TO BLACK Marsha Jones, BS Co-Founder/Executive Director The Afiya Center HIV Prevention & Sexual Reproductive Justice

WHO ARE WE The Afiya Center HIV Prevention & Sexual Reproductive Justice …Transforming women and girls' relationship to their reproductive health & wellness… The Afiya Center is a 501c3 non profit organization and the mission of The Afiya Center: Is to engender empowerment re-educating women and girls, of African descent as well as other marginalized communities decreasing HIV/AIDS prevalence, increasing knowledge of Sexual and Reproductive health and transforming their conception and management of their health and wellness to one that promotes self-love, self-efficacy, and wholeness in a women centered atmosphere

WHO ARE WE CONT’D The Afiya Center is a woman centered organization where we seek to create an atmosphere where women’s experiences are the center of our thinking; addressing the unique needs of women and increasing awareness and advocacy around policy that impact women’s lives. The Afiya Center is very unique in that we are one of the very few reproductive justice organizations in North TX founded and directed by women of color. This organization approaches HIV prevention from a social justice and human rights framework effectively and realistically striving to decrease new infections among women of color. We also empower women living with HIV/AIDS by creating programs that address vulnerabilities encountered in their life prior to acquisition of HIV that increased their risk. We also work to create economic empowerment for women living with HIV/AIDS by way of a micro economics project.

HIV & BLACK WOMEN “In New York City, where AIDS is the number one killer of women between the ages of twenty-five and thirty-four, Black women, with their Latina sisters, account for 84% of the adult female AIDS cases” ……Harlon L. Dalton “AIDS in Black Face” 1989

HIV & BLACK WOMEN HIV/AIDS is a very feminized disease globally…Women make up more than half of people living with HIV/AIDS around the world… In the United States Women make up 25% of people living with HIV/AIDS… “Black Women carry the brunt of that burden”

GOALS & OBJECTIVES After having participated in this session participants will understand HOW  Social determinants such as poverty, social environments, and life skills will need to be considered for incorporating within their programs when implementing said programs  To identify and effectively engage the community such as communities of faith, women service organizations, and community based organizations in creating a holistic approach, which includes a social determents framework, to addressing the needs of black women  To incorporate advocacy or assist our communities in identifying those organizations that advocate to change policy that can address these issues that black women are confronted with that create barriers to them overcoming the challenges they are faced with

HIV & BLACK WOMEN

OUTREACH & BLACK WOMEN

BARRIERS Cultural differences Socio Economics Environment Limited resources Limited funding 

RETHINKING OUTREACH

OUTREACH Historically outreach has had a cookie cutter approach…made have had a different shape but they were still cookies….. Risk Reduction Model Identify your risk Change your risk Reduce your risk

OUTREACH We are now moving toward a different paradigm by which we should be addressing mental and physical health outcomes…. Social Determinants of Health “Social determinants of health (SDOH) are factors and resources essential to the health of communities and individuals. These include income, shelter, education, access to nutritious food, services, community norms and cohesion, and social justice.” Social Determinants of Health Information Sheet

BLACK WOMEN A PRIORITY No other group in America has had their identity socialized out of existence as have black women... When black people are talked about the focus tend to be on black men…When women are talked about the focus tends to be on white women… bell hooks bell hooks

STRATEGIES Re –think our approach to outreach to black women….taking in the nuances that make this population unique. Addressing the social and structural determinants that drive behavior that create risk for black women: Homelessness, intimate partner violence, substandard education, and poverty CREATING ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT

COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS Traditional AIDS Service Organizations must work with Community Based, Faith Based, Women Centered Organizations, and non traditional organizations that’s working to meet these needs. There will need to be more advocating on behalf of meeting the holistic needs of Black women Organizations must start talking and the conversations and strategies will have to expand beyond risk reduction funding

COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS The days of SILOS are over….it will take a collective effort to meet the needs of black women.

DISCUSSION How do we incorporate Social Determinants of Health into a Risk Reduction Model? What are the barriers that we will be faced with when seeking funding to develop the program? How do we get beyond those barriers?

ALMOST THERE!!!

NATIONAL HIV/AIDS STRATEGY Vision for the National HIV/AIDS Strategy “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 unfettered access to high quality, life-extending care, free from stigma and discrimination” President Obama…July 13, 2010

THANK YOU!!!!! Contact information Marsha Jones, Co-Founder/Executive Director The Afiya Center HIV Prevention & Sexual Reproductive Justice