Sisters Together and Reaching, Inc.

Sisters Together and Reaching, Inc. (STAR) is a 501(c) 3, non-profit, federally recognized, Community-Based/Faith-Based Organization created in 1991. Created to address inequities in services to African American women and their families living with HIV/AIDS in Baltimore City, STAR has provided support services to HIV infected women and their families in the Baltimore metropolitan area since 1991, and to HIV infected men since 1997.

STAR is located in the heart of Baltimore City. Its primary facility is situated in a predominately low income African American community where HIV/AIDS and other STIs such as syphilis, gonorrhea, Chlamydia, HPV, and herpes, and other diseases are prevalent and complicated by substance abuse, domestic violence, crime, poverty, unemployment, substandard housing and a multitude of other social ills.

Over the last 20 years, STAR has serviced over 40,000 persons who were identified as high risk individuals, 7% of whom were PLWHA. Our relationship in community is solid and we are known throughout the eligible metropolitan area for our Health Education Risk-Reduction (HERR) services, direct services and Counseling, Testing, and Referral Services (CTRS) via the mobile unit and special events that we coordinate and collaborate with the faith communities and AIDS Service Organizations (ASOs).

STAR has developed multiple collaborative partnerships with traditional and non-traditional partners to continue working effectively with the HIV+ and high-risk communities to address not only HIV but also other health disparities associated with HIV. STAR services include nontraditional outreach, customer advocacy, medical case management, prevention case management, youth HIV prevention initiative, capacity building assistance locally and nationally, financial assistance, support groups, street outreach, youth outreach awareness counseling testing and referral services through Project Zawadi and resource information, referrals, art and writing therapy, pastoral and life situational counseling, prevention education, volunteer training workshops, confidential HIV counseling and testing and buddy support to many women, men and community residents. Populations served are general population, incarcerated population, minority women and men.