EDUCATION
AHI provides HIV prevention, education, outreach, and testing programs targeting high risk populations throughout the Keys under two major grants: a federal grant from the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Adminstration (SAMHSA) under Health and Human Services; and a state grant from the Florida Department of Health via the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Under terms of our grants, the education department participates in health fairs, street fairs, workshops, forums, nationally proclaimed days for HIV/AIDS awareness, community-wide celebrations and festivals, as well as bar and guesthouse outreach. AHI also offers anonymous/confidential HIV testing at locations in Key West, Stock Island, and Marathon and in 2006 provided HIV counsleing and testing services to 512 individuals.

In 2006, the Education department distributed approximately 54,000 safer sex packets each contain 3 condoms, lubricant and a safer sex message.  We also provided one-on-one HIV prevention intervention sessions to over 2000 Monroe County residents.

News articles written by Education staff are featured in local newspapers highlighting HIV risk factors, trends in HIV transmission and treatments, and government involvement in the AIDS epidemic. This media program is complemented by production of HIV risk reduction PSA’s (public service announcements), which run on local cable networks, through a grant from Cable Positive.
Outreach and education at the Monroe County jail are made possible by the SAMHSA grant. Bilingual Hispanic and African American staff serves those communities experiencing disproportionately high rates of HIV transmission. A research project and targeted outreach to Monroe County tourists rounds out the array of services and programs that the AHI education department provides for our community.

Read our Role Model Stories which are part of our internet chat room intervention program.
Travis
Trent
Mick
Reekay
Tommy
Kendall
Tristan
Gregg
Mike
Toby
Joshua