AmASSI Health&Cultural Centers

Programs: UJIMA COALITON- UMBRELLA OF JOINT INITIATIVES TO MINIMIZE AIDS (UJIMA)

Facts:

In Los Angeles more than 52,000 people are living with HIV/AIDS. Approximately 1 million people in the United States are infected with HIV.
In Los Angeles 1 in 5 people with HIV do not know that they are infected.
Half of all new HIV infections occur among people under age 24.
In the United States AIDS is the #1 killer of African American women ages 25-34.
In the United States AIDS kills more African American & Latino men ages 25-44 than any other disease.
Out of the 4 million Americans infected with hepatitis C, 880,000 of them are African Americans.
As many as 30-40% of people with HIV may also be co-infected with hepatitis C.

Target Population:

Heterosexual men, men who have sex with men (MSM), women, re-entry population, and youth in South Los Angeles. All target groups are of African decent.

Purpose of UJIMA: African Americans are disproportionately affected by HIV, substance abuse, and hepatitis.

To provide better access to prevention services and community resources.
To improve interagency coordination & service delivery.
To influence policies related to HIV, substance abuse, and hepatitis.
To assist community based organizations in understanding culturally specific prevention needs of high-risk African Americans.
To assess the level of knowledge of service providers and community members around HIV, substance abuse, and hepatitis.
To increase the level of education & services around HIV, substance abuse, and hepatitis.
To reduce the onset of HIV, substance abuse, and hepatitis.
To facilitate healthier choices & reduce risky behavior through community outreach (i.e. health forums).

Benefits of Membership:

A strong coalition will attract more funding to Los Angeles County.
Members will have the opportunity to interact with the Center for Substance Abuse & Prevention, which may facilitate funding opportunities for participating agencies.
Participating agencies will have access to all relevant data and findings relating to HIV, substance abuse, and hepatitis.
Coalition members will receive specialized training.
Ability to share information, resources, and referral information amongst coalition members.

Expectations of members:

Attend quarterly meetings.
Share agency's expertise to expand coalition's capacity relative to HIV, substance, and hepatitis.