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Show GROWTH AND EDUCATION FOCUS OF UTAH AIDS FOUNDATION In 1985, the Utah Department of Health reported a total of 17 persons living with AIDS in the state. The state of Utah and much of the community was unprepared to address the HIV/AIDS issue. The unmet need for public HIV/AIDS information and for assistance for persons living with HIV/AIDS forced a community-based response which has become the Utah Aids Foundation. As the AIDS crisis grew, the Utah Aids Foundation and its volunteers began a vigorous campaign to offer information to the public along with a targeted prevention outreach effort designed and developed for people at high risk. Concurrently, practical support and advocacy for persons living with AIDS was initiated. It is this two-fold approach, prevention education and direct client services, that comprises the basis for Utah AIDS Foundation current programs and services. The Utah AIDS Foundation has grown rapidly. They began with 17 clients and educational efforts that reached less than 5,000 people. In 1993, the client load was over 525 and HIV/AIDS prevention efforts reached over 27,000 people, a 45% increase over the previous year. The demand for UAF services continues to grow. As of May 27, 1994, 1,688 Utah's are known to have contracted HIV/AIDS. This number does not include persons with HIV/AIDS who tested anonymously or individuals who were tested elsewhere and have returned to Utah. The Utah Department of Health estimates there are between 4,500 and 6,500 cases of HIV infection yet undiagnosed. A study released this past summer indicated that AIDS is now the leading cause of death among young men, ages 24 to 45 in Salt Lake City and the incidence of HIV/AIDS among Utah women is increasing faster than in men. Utah Department of Health also projects that by the year 2000, at the current infection rates of infection, there could be as many as 25,000 to 40,000 Utah's infected with HIV. In 1993 the Utah Aids Foundation direct client services programs served over 500 clients with HIV/AIDS providing them with an assigned case manager; assistance with applications for Social Security benefits, Medicaid and government Title Programs; and referral and direct assistance for housing, medication, home utilities and transportation. The Health at Home program delivered over 4,000 hot meals to home-bound clients and 64,000 pounds of food and personal care items were distributed through the food bank. The Utah Aids Foundation "Sub for Santa" project delivered over 254 gifts and holiday food boxes to clients and their families. Utah Aids Foundation staff and volunteer therapists provided emotional support through individual and group counseling and support groups. Since there is not yet a cure for HIV/AIDS, education to prevent the disease is doubly important. In 1993, prevention education efforts reached 27,000 Utah's, in addition 11,000 people attended the Names Project AIDS Memorial Quilt display hosted by the Utah Aids Foundation. Targeted outreach distributed nearly 10,000 condoms and provided unique safer-sex workshops to high risk populations in bars, clubs, beaches, parks, on the street and at social events. Over 3,400 hotline calls were answered and 172 volunteers were trained to work in the agency program. As the epidemic continues to grow in Utah the demands on the Utah AIDS Foundation increase. In Client Services the Foundation is looking at ways to meet the demands of clients. New psycho-educational groups will be formed to address issues such as grief, care giving, nutrition, medication and stress management. A new support group for women with HIV and a bereavement group and a support group for caregivers will be designed and implemented. In addition a program designed to give respite care givers will be established all in an effort to provide a wide range of support to all persons impacted by HIV disease and AIDS. Finally the Utah AIDS Foundation will continue to work in a collaborate effort to establish new low cost housing for people living with AIDS and their families. The community education program plans to narrow its focus and target its education efforts on those members of the community most likely to be forgotten or disregarded by the mainstream (i.e. youth at risk, prison populations, men who have sex with men, and women of color). Consequently Utah Aids Foundation will be referring many requests for education presentation to other agencies, Utah Department of Health, Utah State Office of Education, University of Utah's Project ShowMe, American Red Cross and Utah AIDS Education and Training Center. Utah's Health: An Annual Review 1994 125 |