Latino Community Services, Inc. receives federal funding to expand HIV prevention services

Hartford, CT—August 16, 2010 – Latino Community Services, Inc. is pleased to announce it has been selected to receive funding from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) to implement programming for people living with HIV/AIDS. These new programs will focus on limited English proficient and monolingual Spanish speaking individuals to prevent the transmission of HIV and build skills to reduce stress and self-efficacy. Over the five year length of funding, approximately 250 individuals will participate in the interventions called “Healthy Relationships” and “Comprehensive Risk Counseling Services.” 

 “Healthy Relationships” provides HIV-positive individuals with a group setting that over five sessions aims to help them with disclosing HIV status to family, friends, sex partners and needle-sharing partners, as well as to build healthier and safer relationships.  “Comprehensive Risk Counseling Services” offers intensive and individualized one-on-one support to help HIV-positive individuals adopt and maintain HIV risk-reduction behaviors.  These programs will complement existing supportive services offered at Latino Community Services for people living with HIV/AIDS, including medical case management, transportation, medication adherence, and medical interpreting.

 Although Latinos represent about 11% of the state’s population, in 2009, Latinos accounted for 29% of reported HIV/AIDS cases in Connecticut and 43.1% in Hartford.  Of the total population living with HIV/AIDS in Connecticut, Latinos represent 32%; of the total in Hartford, Latinos represent 50.8%.  While the rates of infection for Latinos have decreased, Latinos continue to face significant barriers in accessing quality health and social services.

 In 2011, Latino Community Services, Inc. will celebrate its 25^th anniversary of providing care and supportive services for individuals living with HIV/AIDS and prevention services for those at-risk.  Executive Director Yvette Bello said, “This new programming fills an important gap in services for monolingual Spanish speaking and limited English proficient Latinos living with HIV/AIDS – the need for effective secondary prevention services.  Latino Community Services will continue to be a leader in culturally competent HIV/AIDS programs for many years to come.”

 For more information about Latino Community Services, please visit www.lcs-ct.org