Faith-Based Initiative « We Make The Change

Faith-Based Initiative

Florida’s statewide faith-based initiative mobilizes churches and other faith-based organizations to fight against HIV/AIDS. With this program, one of the newer initiatives of the We Make the Change (WMTC) campaign, DOH has partnered with faith leaders throughout Florida’s minority communities to perform HIV testing and education within the church.

The Bureau of HIV/AIDS has partnered with the Eleventh Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church to identify at least one AME church in each of Florida’s 67 counties as an HIV testing site or test location. The Bureau has also partnered with the General Baptist State Convention to establish an HIV ministry with every church affiliated with the association. Currently, the faith network consists of nearly 150 churches statewide.

The Department of Health will work closely with faith leaders to increase awareness of HIV and AIDS in the faith community, reduce the stigma associated with HIV and AIDS within the church and promote the importance of HIV testing and knowing your HIV status. We Make the Change uses community faith-based events for HIV education. Local HIV prevention teams participate in church conferences, concerts, and other events throughout the state.

9 1/2 Minutes

Every 9 1/2 minutes (on average), someone in the United States is infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Before we can stop any epidemic, we first have to recognize the magnitude of the disease. HIV is still a threat across the United States.
click here »

American Indians and HIV/AIDS

Though American Indians and Alaska Native (AI/ANs) represent only 1.8 percent of the United States’ population, they have the 3rd highest rate of new HIV infections. Many unique issues face these communities and their fight against HIV, making HIV prevention particularly challenging. Click here to learn more about how HIV affects this population.
click here »

Greater Than AIDS

Lead by the Kaiser Family Foundation, Greater Than AIDS is a national program that addresses HIV and AIDS disparities among the nation’s minority communities. Florida participates in the Greater Than AIDS campaign via outdoor billboard advertising in Florida’s most affected counties.
click here »

Historically Black Colleges and Universities

HBCUs are institutions founded primarily for the education of African-Americans, although their charters are not exclusionary. Florida is home to four HBCUs that are providing information on HIV/AIDS, STDs and other health-related issues to the student body. Bethune-Cookman University, Edward Waters College, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU), and Florida Memorial University.
click here »

TOPWA

The Targeted Outreach for Pregnant Women Act (TOPWA) program provides women of childbearing age information on HIV prevention, offers them free HIV testing and free pregnancy testing, and assists pregnant women to access prenatal care and other services.
click here »