§ 40:2018.2 — Community-based AIDS education grants

Louisiana § 40:2018.2

• Jurisdiction: Louisiana
• Title 40: Public Health and Safety

Text

§2018.2. Community-based AIDS education grants
A. The Louisiana Department of Health shall have the power, and its
duty shall be, to make grants available to parishes, municipalities, and
nonprofit organizations for community-based prevention education programs
relating to acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) aimed at one or
more target populations comprised of individuals who are at risk of contracting
and transmitting AIDS and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Where
a parish or municipality has a health department, grants to be made to a
nonprofit organization located in that parish or municipality shall be made in
consultation with the parish or municipal health department.
B. Grants shall be awarded to nonprofit organizations, municipalities,
or parishes, or any combination of these, provided they meet measurable
standards as determined by the department. Awards shall be granted on a
competitive basis. Grants shall be awarded to prevention education programs
who provide the following services:
(1) Individual face-to-face contact between program outreach
personnel and the target population in the areas frequented by such population.
(2) Outreach personnel who are able to communicate effectively with
persons in the target population.
(3) Distribution of written information tailored to and easily
understandable by the target population, explaining how AIDS and the HIV
virus is transmitted and how individuals can reduce their risk of becoming
infected.
(4) A system of referring members of the target population, upon
request, to HIV testing sites, counseling programs, and health care providers
or systems to the extent such sites, programs, or providers exist in that
geographic area.
(5) Initial and ongoing training for all outreach personnel on the means
by which AIDS and the HIV virus are transmitted, how individuals can reduce
their risk of becoming infected and on the program's systems of referrals for
testing, counseling, health care, and drug and alcohol treatment.
C. Grants awarded under the provisions of this Section may be used in
the distribution of materials or items useful in preventing the transmission of
AIDS and the HIV virus.
D. The Louisiana Department of Health, in awarding grants as
provided for in this Section, shall give priority to community-based prevention
and education programs which are geared toward the provision of services to
target populations identified by the department, to include but not be limited
to the following:
(1) Intravenous drug users.
(2) Persons who have numerous sexual contacts with intravenous drug
users or with other persons who are at a high risk of having the HIV virus.
(3) Racial or ethnic minorities, including persons whose primary
language is not English, who are engaged in high-risk behavior.
E. The Louisiana Department of Health shall coordinate with existing
HIV/AIDS related community-based prevention and education programs to
plan for the implementation and expansion of such services through this grant
program. Grants awarded under the provisions of this Section shall be
monitored and evaluated by the Louisiana Department of Health. Ongoing
support for these services shall be contingent upon these programs
accomplishing stated goals and objectives and effectively reaching the target
populations as determined in the measurable standards outlined by the
department.
F. The department shall actively solicit and use federal resources to
fund this grant program. The provisions of this Section shall be applicable
only to the extent that funds are made available from federal sources for this
purpose.

Legislative History

Acts 1995, No. 876, §1, eff. June 28, 1995.