The HIV/AIDS Health Promotion and Education Cooperative Agreement Program is administered by the Office of Minority Health (OMH), located within the Office of Public Health and Science of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The OMH was created in December 1985 with a mission to improve the health of racial and ethnic minority populations through the development of policies and programs that address disparities and gaps. Consistent with its mission, the role of OMH is to serve as the focal point within HHS for leadership, policy development and coordination, service demonstrations, information exchange, coalition and partnership building, and related efforts to address the health needs of racial and ethnic minorities.

The purpose of the HIV/AIDS Health Promotion and Education Cooperative Agreement Program, initiated in fiscal year 2004, is to improve the health status, relative to HIV/AIDS, of targeted minority populations by engaging national minority-serving organizations in educational and outreach efforts that are broad in scope to address the HIV/AIDS crisis. The OMH intends to demonstrate the vital role of national minority-serving organizations in the development and implementation of national model HIV/AIDS programs that effectively reach and educate hardly-served minority populations. Expected project outcomes include reduction in high risk behaviors, adoption of health promoting behaviors, increased knowledge about the impact of HIV/AIDS and methods, such as abstinence, by which the transmission of HIV/AIDS can be prevented; increased counseling and testing services; connecting high risk individuals to a continuum of care; increased patient knowledge on how to best access care and participate in treatment decisions; and improved access to health care.

This fact sheet describes the 20 projects funded in fiscal year 2004, for the period

September 30, 2004 through September 29, 2007. The grantee organizations, located in seven states and Washington, DC, carry out activities at the national, regional and local community levels in partnership with chapter and affiliate organizations, community and faith-based organizations, health centers, and others. Examples of various activities implemented to address the purpose of the HIV/AIDS Health Promotion and Education Cooperative Agreement Program include: local, regional and national media campaigns; community educational forums; public service announcements; toll free national hot lines; technical assistance for local community-based and youth organizations, and health care providers; peer and promotore training; outreach and referral; testing and counseling, information workshops; health educational training; training on the A-B-C Method (Abstinence, Be Faithful, and Condoms); coalition building; and development and dissemination of health educational materials.

For additional information, please contact the Division of Program Operations, Office of Minority Health.

For a list of the grantees for the 2004 fiscal year, please click here.

October 2005