The Department of Health has redoubled its commitment and mobilized its resources to address the disproportionate impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic on minority communities. Numerous innovative interventions, strategies and initiatives, such as those described in this document, reflect measured input from committed community members, legislators and public health officials. Some of the specified activities have already begun to produce results, while others show strong promise for benefits in the near and long term. With the persistence of disparities concerning HIV/AIDS among minorities, the department considers it an urgent priority to seek even further interventions to reverse this unacceptable trend.

The Minority HIV/AIDS Task Force: The Minority HIV/AIDS Task Force was created by House Bill 2125 during the 1999 Legislative Session. Appointed by the Secretary of the Department of Health, the members of the Task Force were commissioned to develop specific recommendations for consideration by the Governor, the Legislature and the department. These recommendations are primarily to address ways to strengthen HIV/AIDS prevention, early intervention and treatment efforts in the state's black, Hispanic and other minority communities.

Eight (8) Regional Minority AIDS Coordinators and One (1) Statewide Coordinator: Four Regional Minority HIV/AIDS Coordinator positions and one Statewide Minority HIV/AIDS Coordinator position were created by the 1999 legislature (House Bill 2125) within the Florida Department of Health. Later, the number of regional minority coordinators was increased from four to eight, expanding coverage to eight geographic areas. The goal of the minority coordinators is to facilitate statewide efforts to implement and coordinate HIV/AIDS prevention, early intervention and treatment programs. The primary responsibilities of this position include providing or coordinating technical assistance to community-based organizations (CBOs) and providing consultation on community planning, treatment and care and prevention specifically as it relates to minority needs and activities.

Reducing Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities: The Department of Health's "Closing the Gap" program provided another source of funding for education, intervention and prevention services. The "Closing the Gap" program is the result of the Patient Protection Act (HB 2339), which Governor Jeb Bush signed into law on June 8, 2000. This Act created an initiative that works to eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities in Florida. HIV/AIDS was one of the six health areas identified in which racial and ethnic groups currently experience serious disparities. "Closing the Gap" provides grants to county health departments and community-based organizations with the intent of increasing community-based health promotion and disease prevention activities. These grants help stimulate the development of community and neighborhood strategies that emphasize broad-based participation and the support of both public and private entities. The Bureau of HIV/AIDS funds twenty-three (23) projects to provide HIV/AIDS education, intervention, and prevention services.

Statewide Minority Media Campaign: On June 1, 2000, the Bureau of HIV/AIDS unveiled the HIV/AIDS Minority Media Campaign. The media awareness program entitled, "We Make The Change," is aimed at increasing awareness about HIV/AIDS throughout Florida's minority populations, including African American, Hispanic and Haitian/Caribbean Americans. The campaign includes television and radio commercials, a public service message, print ads, outdoor ads and a website. The campaign will be expanded to include the AIDS Drug Assistance initiative.

Florida HIV/AIDS Minority Network Capacity Building Efforts: In an effort to address capacity building for minority emerging and existing organizations, the Bureau of HIV/AIDS established the Florida HIV/AIDS Minority Network. The overall mission of the Florida HIV/AIDS Minority Network is to develop a formal linkage between minority community-based organizations to provide advocacy, recommended strategies, and resources that will build the organization's capacity to provide quality services. Specifically, the Network provides peer-based support and mentoring, the exchange of information and ideas between Network Liaisons and minority CBOs as well as expert technical assistance coordinated by the Bureau of HIV/AIDS.

Community Mobilization Meetings: In order to heighten awareness about HIV/AIDS in Florida's communities of color, the Bureau of HIV/AIDS sponsored a series of community mobilization meetings. The purpose of community mobilization meetings is to explore, with the community, the reasons for disparities in HIV/AIDS within their own communities and provide a forum for dialogue, which allows for the assessment and development of solutions by community members. The objectives of the meetings are to enhance the involvement of grassroots/emerging organizations in their communities, to increase awareness of HIV/AIDS-focused activities and organizations, and to support activities of the Florida HIV/AIDS Minority Network at the local level.

Black Leadership Conference on HIV/AIDS: The Department of Health, Bureau of HIV/AIDS conducted the two Florida Black Leadership Conference on HIV/AIDS. This two-day conference brought together community leaders; representatives of faith communities and community-based organizations; business leaders; people living with HIV or AIDS; political leaders; and other partners in the black community. The conference provided a range of opportunities for black leaders to intensify the fight against this devastating disease in the communities where they work and serve. The conference achieved its objective of developing innovative ways to reinforce the black community's primary and secondary HIV prevention efforts through educational plenary sessions and interactive workshops. The diversity of the participants and unique structure of the conference provided opportunities for the Department of Health to compile recommendations to help guide future HIV/AIDS programs and policies.

Hispanic Summit on HIV/AIDS: The Bureau of HIV/AIDS sponsored a Hispanic Summit on HIV/AIDS. During the first Hispanic Summit on HIV/AIDS, 70 Hispanic HIV/AIDS experts, activists, People Living with HIV/AIDS, health department representatives and concerned citizens gathered to delve into the issues that concern Florida's Hispanic and Spanish-speaking communities. The purpose of bringing together these leaders was to foster an environment for open dialogue and discussion on the impact of HIV/AIDS and formulate possible strategies to reduce HIV/AIDS incidence and promote the general community's awareness and involvement. The day's events were structured in such a way that all participants, regardless of their level of knowledge, could begin with a basic understanding of how the epidemic is affecting the Hispanic community in Florida.

The Peer Education Program: The Peer Education Program began as a pilot (1998-99) in Broward and Dade Counties. The Department of Health, Bureau of HIV/AIDS, based on the success of the pilot, decided to support a statewide program. The goal of the program is to increase consortia membership through an understanding of the process and to alleviate the tension and confusion that often accompany a new experience. The program is also expected to enhance consumer and minority participation in their local consortia.

Collaboration with the NAACP: The Bureau of HIV/AIDS works closely with the NAACP to address HIV/AIDS disparities among blacks. The bureau helps to organize health fairs, participate during annual statewide conventions and consult the President of the NAACP on statewide HIV/AIDS issues as it relates to blacks.

The Black Leaders Consultation: The Bureau of HIV/AIDS hosted Florida's Black Leaders Consultation in Tallahassee. The Florida's Black Leaders Consultation was composed of a small group of African American HIV/AIDS leaders from across the state. The purpose of the consultation was to adopt an action plan in order to increase the ability of the Bureau of HIV/AIDS to eliminate barriers that impede the progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Florida's black communities. The bureau agreed to explore the recommendations that were suggested by the group.

The Black MSM Consultation: The Bureau of HIV/AIDS and Aplomb Consulting hosted the Black men who have sex with men (MSM) Consultation in Tallahassee. The Black MSM Consultation was composed of a small group of African American men from across the state. The purpose of the consultation was to develop an action plan that will increase the ability of the Bureau of HIV/AIDS to reduce HIV transmission and to increase health outcomes for men who have sex with men. The bureau agreed to explore the recommendations that were suggested by the group.

The Florida Classic: The Orange County Health Department AIDS Program, STD Program and the Bureau of HIV/AIDS coordinate with several local community-based organizations to conduct HIV/AIDS awareness activities for the Florida Classic Weekend in Orlando. The Florida Classic is the annual football game between Florida A&M University and Bethune Cookman College. This event is labeled as the largest black event in the country. Staff from the Department of Health and staff from community-based organizations distributed thousands of condoms, educational materials and promotional items at several major events during the weekend.

National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Teleconference: The Bureau of HIV/AIDS, sponsored a 90 minute teleconference entitled "Making the Change: Mobilizing Florida's Black Communities in the Fight for Our Live." The telecast was planned in recognition of the second annual observance of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. The telecast was based on the bureau's ten community mobilizations meetings that were held throughout the state. The purpose of the community mobilizations meetings was to explore, with the community, the reasons for disparities in HIV/AIDS within their own communities. Through the dialogues, community members were able to use the structured dialog and questions to talk about the community response to HIV/AIDS. The teleconference discussed lessons learned and next steps in continuing these structured dialogs.

Minority AIDS Initiative: The Bureau of HIV/AIDS received $1.1 million to fund eight minority community-based organizations, in order to increase minority participation in AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP).

Building Organizational Proficiency Projects (BOPP): The Bureau of HIV/AIDS provides $50,000 in funding to two minority community based organizations, which provide services on a voluntary basis and may have applied for grants, but have been unsuccessful in securing funding. The funds will allow the establishment of infrastructure, including securing a location, office furniture and other office supplies, and funds for the hiring of qualified applicants into key positions. Both CBOS have and will continue to receive intensive one-on-one capacity building assistance and technical assistance from the Bureau and county health department staff.

Cultural Competence Training: The Bureau of HIV/AIDS has sponsored ongoing cultural competence trainings to help increase the skills and knowledge necessary for staff to work with culturally diverse individuals and communities.

Faith-Based Initiatives: The Bureau of HIV/AIDS has contracted with two Churches to help educate and mobilize pastors and churches in addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Florida's black communities.

Church as a Change Agent Seminar: This is an initiative to invite black clergy to become partners with the department for HIV/AIDS prevention initiatives.

HIV Counseling and Testing Initiatives: The Department of Health and community partners have performed more than 270,000 HIV tests in 2001, with a large percentage among at-risk minorities. These test are performed during community street outreach, jail screenings, at county health departments and health fairs. The continued promotion of HIV counseling and testing in the black community, including the use of OraSure testing, has increased the proportion of at-risk blacks who are aware of their HIV serostatus.

Targeted Outreach for Pregnant Women Act (TOWPA): As part of a legislative requirement, the Bureau of HIV/AIDS has funded 13 community-based organizations to identify high-risk minority pregnant women through outreach and link them with prenatal care and other services. TOPWA providers also offer pregnancy and HIV testing and provide education about the benefits of prenatal care and the use of AZT to reduce the risk of transmitting HIV to infants.

HIV Prevention Contracts: More than 70% of the HIV prevention contracts are targeting racial ethnic minorities. The Bureau of HIV/AIDS innovative Concept Paper process made funding more readily available to many emerging minority organizations.