AIDS Alabama, Inc.

Mission

AIDS Alabama devotes its energy and resources statewide to helping people with HIV/AIDS live healthy, independent lives and works to prevent the spread of HIV.

History

AIDS Alabama was incorporated as a nonprofit in 1986 with the mission of serving persons with HIV. In 1988 AIDS Alabama was awarded a grant from the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) to perform a needs assessment and trend analysis for persons living with HIV in the greater Birmingham area. This comprehensive research involved the University of Alabama at Birmingham, persons living with HIV, health care and mental health providers, social service agency directors, city and county representatives, bio-statisticians, social workers, volunteers, and more. The exercise provided the foundation for many of the relationships and resources still held by AIDS Alabama today and also served as the basis for the formation of methodologies to prevent the spread of HIV.

The organization has been providing housing and supportive services to HIV-positive Alabamians since 1993. AIDS Alabama is the largest HIV/AIDS service provider in the state and helps to fund the other nine AIDS Service Organizations (ASOs) in an effort to cover all 67 counties of the geographically large state. In 2012, AIDS Alabama provided more than 170,000 nights of safe and affordable housing to over 600 low-income, HIV-positive individuals and their families. AIDS Alabama also runs the state’s only facility for persons living with HIV disease who are also diagnosed with a severe mental illness. Another key program is our residential substance abuse program that allows participants to move through an intensive, three-part program that includes follow-up care upon graduation.

The State of Alabama awarded AIDS Alabama the first state funds related to HIV disease focused on prevention. AIDS Alabama quickly emerged as an experienced grant administrator for federal and state funds and as a lead provider of prevention education services to the State of Alabama. AIDS Alabama’s prevention education and outreach efforts reach thousands of people across the state each year and includes free, confidential HIV testing and connection to care, education, services, and housing. AIDS Alabama also dedicates resources to improving federal and state policies impacting persons living with or at risk for HIV/AIDS in Alabama.