CDC-funded Fenway project aims to combat HIV/AIDS using "Respect"

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently awarded a $2.2 million 5-year grant to The Fenway Institute at Fenway Health to support the development of "Boston Respect," a new program to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS in the local community.

The grant enables The Fenway Institute, along with its partner, the Multicultural AIDS Institute (MAC), to launch the new initiative, which is designed to help gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) respect themselves and one another by promoting good sexual health.

"'Boston Respect' as adapted by Fenway and MAC with community input is something we have a lot of faith in, but it is only as strong as the support programming around it," Jon Vincent, Program Director for Prevention and Education at The Fenway Institute, said. "By coupling it with a revised HIV counseling and testing model, access to STD services, and linking it with our state- and city-funded services, we are looking to create a holistic prevention, education, and screening program."

A key aspect of "Boston Respect" will involve a two-session individual level intervention for men who have sex with men designed to provide patients with the tools and support they need to stay healthy.

"In the past, we haven't always had the resources to create comprehensive prevention programming for MSM, especially gay and bisexual men of color," said Gary Daffin, Executive Director of the Multicultural AIDS Coalition. "This federal support will allow us to bridge some of the existing gaps and take a holistic approach to individual and community health."

Participants in "Boston Respect" will encounter a clear and accessible source for HIV testing, STD screening, hepatitis screening and vaccinations, insurance enrollment, access to a specialized medical provider, access to an array of support groups, and one-on-one mental health counseling.

"The timing is excellent," said Rodney VanDerwarker, Administrative Director of The Fenway Institute and the Project Director for "Boston Respect." "By providing a continuum of behavioral interventions in connection with HIV and STD testing services and a strong connection to care, we will be able to provide at-risk men with the information and resources they need to make healthier decisions for themselves and their partners. And The Fenway Institute's role in biomedical prevention research like pre-exposure prophylaxis and microbicides allows us to keep on top of potentially emerging new prevention tools."

For more information, please visit www.thefenwayinstitute.org.