Central Florida HIV Outreach

Grant Information
Categories	Community , Healthcare
Location	United States
Cycle Year	2022

Organization Information
Organization Name (provided by applicant)	LGBT Plus Center Orlando, Inc.
Organization Name (provided by automatic EIN validation)	Lgbt plus center orlando inc.
EIN	59-1884445
Website	http://www.thecenterorlando.org

Contact Information
Contact Name	Mrs. Tommi Pritchett-rodriguez
Phone	407-228-8272
E-mail	tommi@thecenterorlando.org
Address	946 N Mills Ave Orlando FL 32803-3230

Additional Information
Used for	An award of $5000 would enable The Center to host at least 2 HIV testing and prevention education events in high-risk areas of Central Florida. The funds would cover the cost of venue rental, marketing, and incentives. The events would educate locals about the risk factors in contracting/spreading HIV, prevention methods, and enable attendees to get a free HIV test on site.
Benefits	These outreach events would bring education, prevention, and treatment into the communities that are at the highest risk and most vulnerable where there are multiple barriers to accessing care. The hope is to break the stigma surrounding HIV and remove barriers such as transportation and cost by bringing the information and resources into the communites with the highest need. This is achieved through mutual aid partnerships between The Center and other health services organizations.
Proposal Description	The LGBT+ Center Orlando, Inc. (The Center) seeks to provide at least two community health education events in neighborhoods that are most vulnerable to new HIV infections. Central Florida ranks third in the nation for new HIV infections, affecting primarily men who have sex with men (MSM), transgender individuals, cis-gender black women, and Hispanic/Latinx men. While The Center's mission is to reach the LGBT+ community and its allies, The Center serves the entire community and operates the busiest HIV testing site in Central Florida, averaging more than 700 screenings a month. With this funding, The Center will: Rent community meeting spaces and host a community health event in two high-risk neighborhoods. The events will include healthcare vendors and feature a professional facilitated information session about PrEP/PEP (pre/post-exposure prophylaxis medication to prevent HIV transmission through sex). Conduct a minimum of 50 HIV tests and educate a minimum of 100 community members through these two events Recruit volunteers who can be ambassadors for The Center and continue sharing important HIV and health information within their communities. Create targeted, culturally competent marketing materials to advertise the events and to address stigma associated with HIV, PrEP/PEP, and the LGBTQ+ community Distribute at least 2000 of these marketing materials and information to businesses and neighborhood community centers that serve the target populations