This program is funded through the State of Wisconsin Division of Public Health AIDS/HIV Program. The African American HIV Program was established in 1998 as a response to the alarmingly high numbers of HIV infections within the African American community. Over the years the HIV program addressed HIV in the African American Community through the following efforts:
African American HIV/STI Taskforce
Consumer Issues Committee
Youth Leadership Committee
Data Committee
Faith-Based Committee: Black Church Week of Prayer - HIV State Certification Pastoral Workshops - Balm Sunday Worship Service
HIV Prevention Counseling & Testing
Social Networks Prevention
HIV Prevention at the Alliance School of Milwaukee
Various Social Media Platform Outreach
The Statewide African American HIV/STI Task Force (AATF). The AATF is comprised of healthcare professionals, politicians, clergy, community leaders, community based organizations, fraternities and sororities, volunteers, people infected/affected by HIV working to address the issue of HIV in the communities of color in the state of Wisconsin. We believe that the community must play a leadership role in creating solutions in the challenges it faces. Sub-committees of the Taskforce include: Consumer Issues Committee and Youth Leadership Council. The HIV Program also has a Faith-Based response to the issue of HIV as it coordinates the Black Church Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS that is modeled after the successful, innovative Harlem Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS which was established in 1989 by The Balm of Gilead in New York City. The Week of Prayer was designed as a bold act of community outreach to Harlem’s religious leaders to address the community’s devastation by HIV/AIDS.
Annually, during the first week of March over 10,000 black churches across the U.S. will use the power of the black pulpit to educate their communities about HIV/AIDS and to heal hearts and minds of denial, silence, and stigma that continues to block effective interventions for the prevention, treatment and testing of HIV in the black community. The black church continues to be the cornerstone of African American life. Given this, and considering the proliferation of HIV in black communities it is essential that religious organizations lead the struggle to stop the seemingly uncontrollable spread of the disease and deliver and demand more services and resources for people and families infected or affected in the areas of HIV Prevention, Counseling & Testing. The BHCW also engages the Faith-Based community through the coordination of a Certification Program for faith Leaders. The HIV Certification Pastoral Workshop whose purpose is to certify a pool of Faith Leaders who would be knowledgeable and sensitive counselors, mentors and shepherds to those living with or affected by HIV/AIDS.
