Since the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic over 25 years ago, stigma has been a barrier to HIV prevention and care. The effect of stigma on people's ability to access HIV testing, counseling, diagnosis, care, treatment, and prevention messages varies from setting to setting, but when present, stigma can create an environment where people may avoid HIV-related services.
The Initiative
Even though education and awareness of HIV/AIDS has risen dramatically in the United States since the beginning of the epidemic, surveys show that the general public still has less empathy for individuals who acquire HIV infection by having sex and/or injecting drugs.
Therefore, the Academy for Educational Development’s Center on AIDS & Community Health (AED-COACH), with support from the Ford Foundation, is implementing the next phase of our National HIV/AIDS Anti-Stigma Initiative, which originally began in 2003. The Initiative seeks to reduce HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination to protect the human and social assets of those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS through funding and researching promising approaches that can be readily applied by other national and community organizations.
In addition to funding five organizations to implement anti-stigma programs, AED-COACH will provide technical assistance (TA) to our grantees to help implement their activities. The full scope of the Initiative will result in an anti-stigma framework through: (1) assisting organizations in the implementation of replicable anti-stigma programs; (2) compiling background research on the issue to create a database of information, research, and models; (3) creating a TA network for the Initiative’s stigma-related activities; and (4) contributing to the overall knowledge available on effective, replicable programs.
Our Online Community
Join our online community to keep up-to-date on the latest developments in the area of HIV/AIDS anti-stigma and discrimination, to discuss lessons learned about your projects, or ask questions of others working on similar projects.
Stay Tuned!
Watch presentations and expert panels from the HIV/AIDS Anti-Stigma & Discrimination Meeting
Hear the newly funded grantees talk about their projects in their own words
Stay tuned for an updated literature review of new research related to HIV/AIDS stigma
Posted 25/10/07:
On October 29th, AED hosted a meeting highlight five projects to counter HIV/AIDS-related stigma and new research in the field. Videos of these presentations and expert panel discussions are available under the "In their own words" section of the web site.
Posted 01/08/07:
On August 1, 2007, AED funded five organizations to combat HIV/AIDS-related stigma. Click on “Grantees” to read more about the projects.
