In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, in 2005, women represented 26 percent of new AIDS diagnoses, compared to only 11 percent of new AIDS cases reported in 1990. Most women are infected with HIV through heterosexual contact and injection drug use.
March 10, 2009 marks the fourth annual National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. The purpose of this day is to raise awareness of the increasing impact of HIV/AIDS on women and girls and encourage women and girls to take action.
“South Jersey AIDS Alliance recognizes the unique challenges women face in regards to HIV prevention. We have HIV programs designated specifically for women,” says Rosalind Williams, MSW, Quality Assurance Officer for South Jersey AIDS Alliance (SJAA).
SJAA’s SISTA Project is a prevention program that is designed to empower high-risk or HIV positive women of color. SISTA consists of group sessions where coping skills, negotiation and additional topics are discussed.
SISTA is a critical program for women of color since according the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, these women are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. AIDS is now the leading cause of death for women of color ages 25 to 34.
Women who have HIV or who are at high-risk of becoming HIV find the relaxed atmosphere of SJAA’s many programs and services to be a ‘safe haven.’ All programs and services are designed to encourage individuals to maintain a healthy lifestyle through interaction with SJAA support staff. Incentives are used throughout all its programming.
In addition to SISTA, women can participate in many other programs and services. According to Williams, “In 2008, approximately 1,450 women participated in about 6,500 SJAA programs and services.” As with SISTA, the following programs and services are offered with respect, compassion and without prejudice to all who seek them.
Prevention Case Management
HIV testing, prevention education and prevention case management are provided to individuals who are either at risk of contracting HIV or are HIV positive in order to help reduce the transmission of HIV.
Safety Counts
This prevention program offers an intervention for drug using individuals. It enables them to define their own risk reduction goals and provides supportive reinforcement for their risk reduction efforts. Community sessions are held regularly.
Healthy Relationships
This program is for men and women who are living with HIV and/or AIDS. The focus is on developing decision-making and problem solving skills to enable participants to make safe decisions about disclosure and behavior.
Oasis Drop-in Center
Oasis is a drop-in center providing assistance to individuals who are either HIV positive or at risk of becoming HIV positive and living in Atlantic City.
Oasis services are designed to encourage the individual to comply with their specific treatment plan and to maintain a healthy life style through intensive interaction with our support staff and system of incentives.
Services include: intensive case management, prevention case management, peer companions, clothing closet, emergency food, transportation, support groups, FREE HIV testing, syringe exchange, bilingual services and community outreach.
“As an agency, we are very fortunate to be able to meet the needs of the women in our communities,” says Georgett Watson, Chief of Program Operations for South Jersey AIDS Alliance.
South Jersey AIDS Alliance (SJAA) is a board-driven, fully incorporated, 501(C)(3) non-profit human services organization dedicated to being a caring, compassionate multi-service regional organization providing direct services to support and assist persons living with HIV/AIDS, their families and caregivers. SJAA serves the southern-most counties of New Jersey—Atlantic, Cumberland and Cape May.The agency was established in 1985 by a group of Atlantic City business people and private citizens who recognized and became concerned over the growing national HIV/AIDS epidemic. Today, with forty-five employees providing nearly twenty separate but integrated programs across a 1,300 square mile area, SJAA stands as one of the state’s leaders in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
SJAA currently serves around 2,500 people living with HIV/AIDS and/or a very high risk for HIV through a wide variety of care and treatment support services; prevention interventions and counseling and testing efforts each year. SJAA’s support centers are located in Atlantic City, Bridgeton, Vineland, Millville and Wildwood.
www.sjaids.org