Community Initiatives
The AFC leverages resources beyond traditional grantmaking to convene forums and trainings, coordinate community-wide programming, and support agencies in responding to, planning, for, and staffing large-scale initiatives. Prioritizing the health of key populations and increased delivery of and access to effective HIV prevention, our initiatives are often conceived and led by the AFC in partnership with the community.
Community Planning
The AFC participates in community advisory and planning groups and works in collaboration with agencies whose activities and interests overlap with those related to the AFC’s mission.
- Cleveland PrEP Working Group
- Collaborative for Comprehensive School Age Health
- Cuyahoga Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) Advisory Council
- Cuyahoga Regional HIV Prevention & Care Planning Council
- Ohio Department of Health Combined Community Planning Group (CCPG)
- Ohio Department of Health COVID-19 & HIV Ad Hoc Committee
- Philanthropy Ohio Health Initiative (POHI)
Forums and Trainings
Each year, the AFC convenes a community briefing on proceedings of national HIV/AIDS-related conferences of the previous year. Members from the community are invited to hear from local conference attendees about emerging and best practices in HIV prevention and care, cutting edge research, current public policy and advocacy targets, and more.
To meet local training and professional development demands, the AFC co-convenes trainings with partners, often in coordination with other community-based initiatives and offering continuing education credits through the ADAMHS Board of Cuyahoga County. Dynamic local and national trainers share their expertise, provide critical updates, and facilitate learning for frontline staff, clinical providers, and community advocates.
Outreach
The AFC organizes grassroots HIV awareness in partnership with HIV/AIDS service and community based organizations on both National HIV Testing Day and World AIDS Day.
In partnership with the Cleveland PrEP Working Group, Equitas Health and Little Jacket media and supported by Cleveland Department of Public Health and the Elton John AIDS Foundation, the AFC launched a local awareness campaign to improve local knowledge of HIV pre exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and drive traffic to OhioPrEP.org.
