Women and HIV/AIDS Programs 

Staff: 

Joanna Short, Program Analyst 

Mary Bowers, Public Health Advisor 

Dalana Johnson, Service Fellow 

Frances E. Asshe-Goins, Director-Division of Policy and Program Development 

Women represent a growing number of individuals living with AIDS in the United States. In 2000, 

women accounted for 25 percent of all AIDS cases reported. Women of color are disproportionately 

affected by HIV/AIDS. African American women represented 63 percent of all HIV/AIDS cases reported 

among women in 2000, while Latinas accounted for 19 percent of new AIDS cases.1 Consequently, 

HIV/AIDS continues to be one of the leading causes of death for women aged 25-44. In 1999, HIV/AIDS 

was the third leading cause of death for African American women aged 25-44.2 

Office on Women's Health (OWH) 

OWH's mission (www.4woman.gov) is to improve the health and well-being of women across the 

lifespan by coordinating women's health programs, promoting health education and disease prevention, 

and leading efforts and fostering partnerships to eliminate health disparities. To that end, OWH has 

developed the following programs to address HIV/AIDS as a national health priority. 

OWH Collaborative Group on Women and HIV/AIDS 

Formed in 1997, the OWH Collaborative Group on Women and HIV/AIDS is a broad cross-section of 

HIV/AIDS service providers in public, private, and nonprofit sectors and consumers. This group meets 

annually to explore issues critical to women infected and impacted by HIV/AIDS, and to propose 

potential collaborations and partnerships to address the ongoing epidemic of HIV/AIDS in the lives of 

American women. The work of the Collaborative Group focuses on prevention and education, care and 

treatment, young women, and research. 

OWH HIV/AIDS Programs 

OWH funds the following: 

HIV/AIDS and Women in the Rural South Program - this program funds demonstration projects 

for women-based organizations to provide HIV/AIDS prevention education services to women living in 

the rural South. In FY2002, this program awarded three programs. 

Columbus Wellness Center (Columbus, GA) 

HEROES (Columbia, LA) 

South Carolina African American HIV/AIDS Coalition (Columbia, SC) 
HIV/AIDS and Young Women Pilot Program - this program is a national HIV/AIDS/STDs and 

violence prevention education program targeted at minority women ages 18-25 years to increase HIV 

and violence prevention knowledge and reduce the risk of contracting HIV. To initiate this program in 

FY 2002, OWH has collaborated with the National Black Women's Health Project, Inc., Washington, DC 

www.nbwhp.org 

Evaluation of OWH Women and HIV/AIDS Programs 

REDA International, Inc. (Wheaton, MD) 

OWH received funding from the Minority AIDS Initiative to develop the following two demonstration 

projects to address persistent gaps in the HIV/AIDS health care needs and services for women: 

The Model Mentorship Program for Strengthening Organizational Capacity Program funds 

demonstration projects for mentorship between minority health organizations and women's 

organizations and/or community based organizations delivering HIV/AIDS services, particularly to 

minority women. Both mentoring partners receive funding. Programmatic, administrative, fiscal, and 

technical assistance is provided to expand organizational capacity for improved delivery of HIV/AIDS 

services. Through mentoring, small organizations become better prepared to operate their agencies and 

implement successful HIV/AIDS programs independently. In FY 2002, this program awarded nine 

programs. 

Mentors: 

Los Angeles Shanti Foundation (Los Angeles, CA) 

Center for Health Policy Development (San Antonio,TX) 

Institute for Successful Leadership (Orlando, FL) 

Mentees: 

New Visions Community Development Corporation (Darlington, SC) 

Pathway Behavioral Health Services (Miami, FL) 

Women's Resource Center (Columbia, SC) 

Mujeres Unidas (San Antonio, TX) 

The Incarcerated and Newly Released Women with HIV/AIDS/STDs Program funds 

demonstration projects to build a continuum of healthcare and suport services provided for incarcerated 

and newly-released minority women living with HIV/AIDS/STDs. In FY 2002, this program awarded 

three programs. 

The Empowerment Program (Denver, CO) 

Blacks Assisting Blacks Against AIDS (St. Louis, MO) 

Action for Boston Community Development Corporation (Boston, MA) 

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. [National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention, 

Division of HIV/AIDS website]. 2002. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pubs/facts/women.htm 

2. National Center for Health Statistics. Health, United States, 2002 With Chartbook on Trends in the 

Health of Americans. Hyattsville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2002. 

Publication No. 1232. 

 

Women and HIV/AIDS Programs – Page 2 of 2