Hope and Help Center of Central Florida, Inc.

Hope & Help's goal is to stop all new HIV transmissions in Central Florida. HIV is a preventable disease. It is no longer the certain death sentence it was in the 1980's if people begin and remain in medical treatment for the remainder of their lives. There is no cure HIV. While treatment options are vastly improved, it's still a chronic, potentially deadly disease with a huge price tag. Too often we hear, "HIV is no longer an issue". The truth is, Florida is leading the nation in new HIV infections and new AIDS cases. Florida is one (1) of the nine (9) Southern States accounting for nearly 50% of all new infections nationwide. Florida boasts five (5) of the top ten (10) leading Metropolitan areas in the nation, a distinction we do not want to celebrate. The Orlando Metro Area is second in the nation in new HIV infections and new AIDS cases. We intend to do everything in our power to end new infections and provide support to those already infected. Our goals are to: (1) Ensure all Central Floridians know their HIV status, (2) Assist those who are negative with behavioral and medical strategies to keep them negative, such as PrEP and condom use, (3) Provide testing, community outreach and education programs to identify and link to care those infected by HIV, (4) Provide resources to those infected and affected by HIV by linking HIV positive persons to medical care, (5) Provide skilled staff at all levels, from peer mentors to medical providers, to link HIV positive persons to resources they need to ensure they get comprehensive, culturally competent medical care and stay in medical care, (6) Provide a platform for social change, to end stigma, and to change the conversation that HIV is no longer a threat. HIV is a threat and it does not discriminate, (7) Foster coalitions and networks that bring together groups and individuals for broader goals and greater impact Influence policies and legislation by encouraging laws and policies that support a HIV negative community (human trafficking, intravenous drug use and clean needle exchange programs, condom distribution, HIV education in schools).

To achieve our goals, Hope & Help is implementing strategies that focus on addressing the threats and challenges we've identified in our SWOT analysis. The strategies are: (1) Add to and diversify our funding streams - Grant funding is relied on too heavily so additional revenue streams are a risk reduction measure as well as an opportunity to expand our outreach. Partnership opportunities are the first and most impactful method to diversify funding. Shared cost savings, additional service offerings, collaborative bidding and expanded capabilities make it possible to look at higher-level opportunities. Private funding and/or an endowment are other options being explored under this strategy. (2) Rebrand our community message to help raise visibility of Hope & Help and our mission. Stigma is one of the largest and often complex hurdles we face. People still believe HIV is a gay disease, which is far from true. Creative marketing, rebranding to eliminate the red ribbon, more interactive website and social media presence will help us take the sting out of HIV and start a different conversation. (3) Create strategic private and public partnerships. HIV is not a new disease so we will reach out to others for best practices, create partnerships and political alignments to help spur the discussion and inclusion of HIV in health considerations. (4) Develop a cohesive service location plan to best serve our clients and reach those in need of service. Ideally, all staff would be in one main location; however, we have contractual partnerships in offsite locations requiring offsite Hope & Help support. Our goal is to ensure that all staff are supported and connected to the main location so we can create synergy around the strategic location(s). (5) Develop Agency Talent to attract and keep excellent employees. Hope & Help strives to be an employer of choice and we will create career opportunities, facilitated trainings, create a 401K matching program, explore college tuition reimbursement programs, and maintain transparency and strong communications. With a happy, healthy, motivated staff we will provide best in class services to our clients and patients.

Our internal resources include a trained and experienced staff that promote HIV/AIDS care and education and an empowerment model for clients. Coupled with a strong board of directors that is well-connected, influential in the community and committed to our mission, we have the right people to accomplish our goals. Our executive-level board brings a wide array of expertise in strategic development, financial services, human resources, communications and governance, and their expertise and involvement has been instrumental to our success. Externally, our community partnerships include other HIV/AIDS service organizations, health care providers, pharmaceutical partners, law enforcement agencies, and county and state health departments. Our collaborations with other agencies again strengthen our ability to affect change. By communicating the same message about HIV testing and care from other trusted organizations, we are maximizing visibility in our community and pushing the issue to the forefront of the societal discussion. We will build our capabilities through partnerships to address service and knowledge gaps. For example, we are working with Central Florida Cares Health System to start our mental health program and we refer to other providers for services we do not currently provide inhouse. Our memorandum of agreement provides a seamless transition for any client we identify with mental health needs. Our capability is expanded without additional cost impacts.

As a result of our efforts we have started partnerships with nine (9) medical providers providing PrEP, PEP, HEP C, and STD services in Central Florida. We are in discussions with two (2) additional strategic partners that will add services and capabilities resulting in revenue diversification. We relocated to a larger facility that offers a generous amount of space for offices, meeting rooms, and community programs and includes seven (7) exam rooms for our three (3) medical providers. Additionally, we have developed a brand ambassador program to better connect with the youth. Model students from local high schools and colleges are selected to be influencers at their place of study to share our message about HIV awareness, prevention, and treatment. All activities focused on increasing awareness of HIV, education, and outreach which is starting to change the conversation. Public awareness is a key component to ensuring our message is both far-reaching and resonates with targeted populations. We are delivering our targeted messaging to the right people through the right channel at the right time. This includes targeted materials for our diverse, multicultural population and outreach efforts with key messaging developed specifically for those populations. We need to change the conversation about HIV and AIDS and discuss healthy sexual relationships and health knowledge before another generation is impacted. There is no shame in being HIV positive so let's help people get the care, education and support needed to stop the spread. We have more work to do!

Our near-term actions include: (1) Board Development and Recruitment, (2) Exploration of additional revenue generating programs, (3) Development of a faith-based program so congregations can become support systems for their parishioners with HIV, (4) Find a way to educate school age children on sexual health and what it means to protect themselves. An age appropriate, youth prevention program needs to reach every school aged child in Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Brevard and Lake Counties, (5) Find a way to educate college freshman at every local college (UCF, Valencia, Full Sail, Rollins, etc.) and their parents so they know the risks involved with unprotected sexual encounters and how to protect themselves, (6) Expand our volunteer training so volunteers can help us with testing, outreach, and education by having a conversation in their circles of influence about HIV risks and prevention, and (7) Expanding our Business Response to HIV/AIDS program which currently has 38 businesses involved. In order to help stop the spread of HIV in communities most at-risk, we need the business and religious organizations involved. Lastly, we need funders and concerned individuals to join us to eliminate this 100% preventable disease. It’s our 21st Century polio and we all need to work together to make this happen.