OUR LIVE BEGIN TO END THE DAY WE BECOME SILENT ABOUT THE THINGS THAT MATTER.”

While African Americans represent just 12 percent of the U.S. population, blacks account for almost half of the more than one million people estimated to be living with HIV in the United States, and nearly half of new HIV infections each year. African American youth are particularly affected. In fact, of the nearly 25,000 infections estimated to occur each year among African American, more than one-third (38 percent) are among young people aged 13 to 29.

The rate of new infections among young black males aged 13 to 29 is seven times as high as that of young white males and three times as high as that of young Hispanic males.

Young black women are far more affected by HIV than young women of other races.

The rate of new infections among young black females aged 13 to 29 is 11 times as high as that of young white females and four times that of young Hispanic females.

Too many young African American lives continue to be claimed by AIDS. In 2006, the majority of youth aged 13 to 24 with AIDS who died were black (63 percent). Today, AIDS is the third leading cause of death among black women aged 25 to 34 and black men aged 35 to 44, many of whom become infected at a younger age.

In Franklin County, African American women are becoming the most impacted group of new HIV infections. Education for this community is accomplished through:

• Educational presentations -SISTA PROJECT
• Individual level risk assessment
• Outreach awareness events

The African American Outreach Team actively represents CATF in the community and is responsible for providing HIV testing, awareness and education to the community. For more information contact: Tanya Motley at tanyamotley@catf.net or 614-340-6733.