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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Fulfilling a pledge and a top budget priority, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today announced that $2 million has been awarded to organizations throughout the state to fund HIV/AIDS prevention efforts targeting minority communities.
“HIV is not an epidemic of the past. It continues to devastate families and communities across Illinois – especially minority communities. In order to stop the spread of the disease, it is imperative that we reach out to people in areas that are experiencing the highest rates of infection,” Blagojevich said
Statistics indicate that HIV/AIDS is having a profound effect on communities of color. African Americans and Hispanics represent less than a third of the state’s population, yet they comprise more than 60 percent those diagnosed with AIDS and 61 percent of all HIV cases.”
In his first state budget, the Governor included a $2 million HIV/AIDS appropriation specifically intended to improve services and address the escalating number of cases in communities of color. Blagojevich’s fiscal year 2005 budget plan, not only maintains the previous commitment, but increases spending to $3 million.
The Governor’s total budget this fiscal year for HIV/AIDS prevention, counseling, testing and treatment stands at $55 million, with $35 million of that for the state’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program, which provides more than 70 life-saving drugs to about 3,000 clients a month who meet income eligibility requirements.
Illinois has recorded a total of 30,845 cases of AIDS since 1981 and, of those diagnosed with the disease, 16,715, or 54 percent have died. Of those cases, 18,449 are either African American (14,936) or Hispanic (3,513).
Through the Illinois Department of Public Health’s Center for Minority Health, awards were made to fund community prevention pilot projects overseen by community-based and faith-based organizations, one-time grants for HIV/AIDS prevention special events programs, development
of an education campaign and building capacity for those currently providing prevention services in minority communities.
“For many years, the traditional model for HIV/AIDS education and outreach reflected how the
disease initially spread,” said Dr. Eric E. Whitaker, state public health director. “With HIV and AIDS now disproportionately impacting the African American and Hispanic communities, we have to develop new models and ways to reach those most at risk. The grants announced today provide the foundation for that effort and something we will continue to build on.”
Those receiving grants were:
Abundant Faith Christian Center, Springfield 10,000
Access Community Health Network, Chicago 5,000
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Springfield 15,000
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Springfield 5,000
Archdiocese of Chicago 5,000
Aunt Martha’s Youth Services Center, Inc., Park Forest 4,000
Better Existence with HIV, Evanston 5,000
Bridging the Tys to Jordan, Inc., Chicago 14,000
Carepoint Adult, Child and Family Association, Evanston 10,000
Cass County Health Department, Virginia 30,000
Center on Halsted/Horizons, Chicago 5,000
Centro Communitario Juan Diego, Chicago 5,000
Centro Romero, Chicago 7,000
Centro San Bonifacio, Chicago 5,000
Chambers and Associates, Grand Chain 5,000
Chicago House and Social Service Agency, Chicago 5,000
Christian Community Health Center, Chicago 5,000
Community Health Improvement Center, Decatur 9,500
Community Health Partnership, Chicago 40,000
Community Wellness Project, East St. Louis 95,000
Cook County Department of Public Health, South Suburbs 100,000
Crusader Clinic, Rockford 5,000
Douglas County Health Department, Tuscola 40,000
Emmanuel Temple Church of God in Christ, Springfield 4,100
Evanston Dept. of Health and Human Services, Evanston 49,000
Faith, Youth and Family Services, Aurora 60,000
Fifth Street Renaissance, Springfield 5,000
Gift House, Inc., Chicago 4,000
Greater All Nations Tabernacle Church of God in Christ, Spfld. 5,000
Greater Community AIDS Project, Champaign 9,000
Greater Open Door Church, Oak Park 5,000
Greater Westside Development Corporation, Chicago 35,000
Haymarket Center, Chicago 5,000
Healthcare Alternative Systems, Inc., Chicago 4,000
Human Resources Development Institute, Inc., Chicago 400,000
Illinois Association of Minorities in Government, Springfield 5,000
Illinois Migrant Council, Chicago 60,000
Imani, Inc., Springfield 5,000
Jelani United Men’s Project, Chicago 75,000
Jo-Ray House, Inc., Chicago 4,000
Keeping Hope Alive HIV/AIDS Ministry, Chicago 10,000
Kendrick Memorial Missionary Baptist Church, Chicago 3,000
LaVoz Latina, Rockford 5,000
Let’s Talk, Let’s Test, Chicago 2,500
Lester and Rosalie Anixter Center, Chicago 4,500
Martin Temple AME Zion Church, Chicago 5,000
Men and Women in Prison Ministries, Berwyn 5,000
Mexican Fine Arts Museum, Chicago 60,000
Minority AIDS Awareness Council, Peoria 5,000
Mississippi River District United Methodist Church, O’Fallon 104,000
NAACP – Springfield Branch, Springfield 5,000
Phoenix Center, Springfield 15,000
Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church, Springfield 5,000
Pilsen-Little Village Community Mental Health Center, Chicago 10,000
Planned Parenthood – Springfield Area, Springfield 5,000
Power Circle Congregation, Chicago 5,000
Prayer Wheel Church of God in Christ, Springfield 3,341
Renz Addiction Counseling Center, Elgin 15,000
San Lucas United Church of Christ, Chicago 10,000
Sisters and Brothers Helping Each Other, Gardner 8,000
South Central Community Services, Inc., Chicago 10,000
South Side Help Center, Chicago 10,000
Southside Health Association, Chicago 5,000
Spanish Center, Inc., Joliet 2,500
Springfield Community Federation, Springfield 115,000
Springfield Urban League, Springfield 25,000
St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church, Springfield 5,000
TaskForce AIDS Prevention, Chicago 5,000
Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago 5,000
University of Illinois at Chicago, Mile Square Health Center 5,000
University of Illinois at Springfield, CPV-163 4,500
Vision House, Chicago 94,000
Wellness Ministry of Second Baptist Church, Centralia 2,500
Working for Togetherness, Matteson 91,978
Writers Planners Trainers, Inc., East St. Louis 5,000
Youth of Distinction, Chicago 40,000
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