Efforts are on to reduce risk of HIV in African American women through a community help group

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is funding a 3 year program called SHE PREVAILS which aims at protecting the health of African American women, so as to reduce the spread of HIV amongst them. The program screened 1600 women in 15 counties. Out of them 280 women who have been diagnosed with substance abuse will get a 6 month follow up guide to help them get rid of the problem. As Stepleman, the program Director says that "If you are not treating substance abuse and you are uninfected, you are at risk for making poor choices that could get you infected and, if you are infected and untreated, you are likely making poor choices that could infect someone else." Black women have been diagnosed with HIV infection 12 times more than white women. The program saw most women coming back for treatment. It gives women access to health care, information session on HIV. It also takes care of their housing needs and informs them about unhealthy sexual practices. They are now thinking of expanding their services with a second treatment navigator to be out in place soon.