Press Release: Identity awarded CDC funding for HIV prevention

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced this week that it has awarded $42 million to 133 community-based organizations (CBOs), under Funding Opportunity Announcement PS10-1003, to help implement HIV prevention efforts among populations at greatest risk for HIV infection.  Identity, Inc. a nonprofit community-based organization that serves Latino youth and their families in Montgomery County will receive an annual award of $335,248 for five years. Identity was the sole recipient of direct CDC funding in Maryland under this funding opportunity.

Maryland continues to be a hot-spot for HIV in the United States with 2,579 new HIV diagnoses reported in the state in 2008.  This is the fifth highest total in the entire country.  The Suburban Region, which includes Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties, accounted for 39% of those diagnoses, the highest share in the state.

Identity will use CDC funding to provide free, bilingual HIV Counseling and Testing at several sites in Maryland, including Gaithersburg, Takoma/Langley Park and at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility.  Identity will also operate a mobile unit that will target high risk communities across Montgomery and Prince George’s County. Identity has also been funded to implement two Effective Behavioral Interventions (EBI’s) that will target high risk Latino youth and inmates at risk for HIV infection.

Contact:Eyal Bergman
            HIV Program Manager
            Identity, Inc.
            301-422-1272
            ebergman@identity-youth.org