April 3, 2014
WASHINGTON—On April 1, the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) began two five-year projects funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide capacity building assistance to help prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS in communities across the U.S. and its affiliated territories. APIAHF is among 21 organizations selected by the CDC for the competitive grants.
Building on its 20-year history of providing HIV prevention-related capacity building, APIAHF’s Capacity For Health Project will focus on supporting community-based organizations (CBOs) and health departments to best align their HIV prevention efforts with federal policies and priorities, including the White House Office of National AIDS Policy’s National HIV/AIDS Strategy and CDC’s Community High Impact HIV Prevention approach. APIAHF will provide technical assistance, training and other support to also assist CBOs and health departments to effectively implement newly developed approaches in HIV prevention.
“We are so greatly appreciative of the continued opportunity to partner with CDC to help reduce HIV transmissions across all communities,” said Kathy Ko Chin, APIAHF’s president and CEO. “With these awards, APIAHF will be able to enhance our work around the country to strengthen CBO’s and health department’s infrastructure and program effectiveness.”
To ensure the project’s broad geographic reach, APIAHF has established diverse partnerships with several organizations for both projects. These include the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, University of California Berkeley School of Public Health, Primary Care Development Corporation, AIDS Project Los Angeles, Community Wellness Project, Life Foundation and National Native American AIDS Prevention Center.
APIAHF’s Vice President of Community Strategies Edward Tepporn noted, “The science of HIV prevention and treatment continues to evolve. So do the needs of communities impacted by HIV/AIDS. CBOs and health departments must anticipate and plan for ongoing shifts in political, social and funding environments that will impact their sustainability and efforts. APIAHF’s 20 years of experience as a CDC-funded capacity building assistance provider will inform how we can best help agencies adapt to these significant changes.”
For more information about APIAHF and its HIV/AIDS-related work, visit www.apiahf.org.