Rural Communities
As the HIV epidemic continues, it is shifting from an urban health crisis to a rural one. In response, Alabama Rural AIDS Project (ARAP), a federally funded program began in 1999. This program was designed to reach rural persons at risk for HIV infection and to link these persons to available services. The thirty-five rural counties were chosen through an analysis of surrogate markers, such as high rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), teenage pregnancy, and poverty rates. Those counties with low rates of HIV infection and high rates of other STDs, teen pregnancy, and poverty were targeted by this program. Seven Community Resource Specialist (CRSs) are assigned five counties each. Within these counties the Community Resource Specialist networks with existing service providers, establishes connections in rural communities, gains rapport with homeless populations, offers testing for HIV, and links persons with HIV to available services. ARAP maintains ten affordable, permanent, independent single family dwellings across the State.
WAAO’s ARAP program serves Bibb, Pickens, Fayette, Sumter, Greene and Hale counties.