Faith Community Working to Prevent


HIV/AIDS and Substance Abuse


By Sibyl K. Bowie


Closing the Gap, Substance Abuse Prevention:What’s Working to Keep Our Youth Drug Free?


June/Jul

I

n 1990, Greater Mount Calvary Holy Church, Washington, D.C., 

decided to confront the HIV/AIDS epidemic. It was a time when 

many churches had not yet begun to deal with the issue. The 

HIV/AIDS Ministry was received negatively at first. “You see, at that 

time HIV/AIDS was thought of as a homosexual disease,” explained 

Bishop Alfred A. Owens, church pastor. 

“But some of the members of our congregation had HIV/AIDS, 

and other community members began to come to the church seeking 

help—because at that time, there wasn’t much information available 

on HIV/AIDS in the African American community. I was more concerned about the sheep of my pasture, and the community, than any 

opposition to our HIV/AIDS Ministry,” he continued. 

Initially, the HIV/AIDS Ministry provided voluntary caregiver 

assistance to HIV-infected District residents who did not have adequate support systems. Today, the Ministry has expanded its range 

of services to include: spiritual support, counseling, case management 

services, community outreach partnerships, HIV education, and peer 

educator training and certification. 

Bridging the Gap 

y 2001


Mount Calvary’s Alternative to Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program (CATAADA House) has been working to serve both the congregation and the community at-large since 1983. Bishop Owens’ vision 

for the CATAADA House was born at a time when crack cocaine, 

marijuana, and alcohol had a chokehold on many young adults in the 

metropolitan area. 

“The church was located right in the heart of a crack-addicted 

community,” says Bishop Owens. “Prayer works, but we realized that 

people need rehabilitation also,” said Dr. Kim M. Johnson, consultant to Mount Calvary’s Women’s Prevention and Counseling Program (WPCP). 

While some of the program participants are church members, 

many of the individuals who participate in the CATAADA House 

Program have been ordered by the court to enroll into a substance 

abuse rehabilitation program. “Some of the participants are referred 

from area transitional homes that help homeless individuals and people 

in substance abuse recovery programs make the change to independent living,” explained Natalie Bloodsworth, LGSW,WPCP. Others 

simply walk in. 

The six-month program emphasizes spiritual growth and clinical 

counseling, while providing free, confidential alcohol and drug intervention services. Program participants receive an individualized treatment plan that focuses on relapse prevention and balanced living. 

Weekly Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings 

are also provided. 

Strengthening the Link 

In 1999, the HIV/AIDS Ministry and the CATAADA House 

began working together to develop a program that targets African 

American women between the ages of 25 and 44 who have a history 

of substance abuse. As a result, WPCP was formed to provide this 

much-needed HIV prevention program for the city. “The numbers 

that we have now indicate that one in 47 African Americans in the 

District of Columbia has AIDS—and we don’t have a clue as to how 

many are HIV positive because unfortunately, the District doesn’t 

track that information,” said Dr. Johnson. 

WPCP is designed to address the needs of participants during 

treatment and recovery from alcohol and drugs. Recognizing that 

individuals with a history of substance abuse are at higher risk of 

contracting HIV/AIDS, WPCP participants receive 10 weeks of prevention case management services, HIV education, and participate in 

self-esteem enhancement rap groups that offer a venue to address 

behavior change strategies. 

“We designed a curriculum that uses a holistic approach with a 

spiritual component to educate and empower women. This model 

helps women understand themselves as a whole being,” explains Dr. 

Johnson. “We’re not just a body, so our curriculum recognizes the role 

of the mind as it relates to the body, soul, and spirit—and how that’s 

connected to God.” 

WPCP is funded by the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, 

a component of HHS’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 

Administration. Congress appropriated funds for this initiative as a 

result of collaborative efforts between the Congressional Black Caucus and Congressional Hispanic Caucus in response to the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS on communities of color. 

“To date, this program has served almost 1,000 District residents,” according to Tonia F. Gray, executive director for HIV/AIDS 

Services at Mount Calvary, and project director for WPCP. “Since its 

inception, the CATAADA House has become a recognized source for 

substance abuse treatment in the District of Columbia, and now, 

WPCP has become a model for faith-based HIV prevention programs.” 

For more information on faith-based HIV/AIDS programs, contact 

Tonia F. Gray, executive director, HIV/AIDS Services and project director, 

WPCP, Greater Mount Calvary Holy Church at (202) 832-8291.

Office of Minority Health Resource Center U.S. Department of Health and Human Services