AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts
Encyclopedia
Founded in 1983, AIDS Action Committee (AAC) of Massachusetts is a not-for-profit, community-based health organization whose mission is to stop the epidemic and related health inequities by eliminating new infections, maximizing healthier outcomes of those infected and at risk, and attacking the root causes of HIV/AIDS
.
Based in Boston
, it is New England
's oldest and largest AIDS service organization. In 2010, AAC merged with Cambridge Cares About AIDS into a new agency operating under the AIDS Action Committee name. The organizations joined together after nearly two years of strategic planning and stakeholder-led development. The partnership was motivated by the desire to transform the way AIDS services are delivered in the Greater Boston area.
AIDS Action provides free, confidential services to more than 3,500 men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS as well as prevention services to many thousands of men, women and youth who are not living with HIV or do not know their status.
infections, focusing on HIV
prevention grounded in public health, targeted to specific populations, and not based in shame, guilt, or fear. As part of its prevention efforts, AAC operates the statewide HIV & STD hotline for both Massachusetts and Rhode Island and the Massachusetts hepatitis
hotline.
AAC's community prevention outreach includes the MALE (Men's Action Life Empowerment) Center, a community resource and wellness center that integrates community outreach, life-skills education and empowerment activities, HIV
safer-sex skills-building, and free rapid HIV
counseling and testing for gay and bisexual men.
AAC also works with other community organizations and schools to educate youth about sexual health.
and other entities, AAC diversifies its funding through fundraising events, like the annual AIDS Walk
, Boston's second largest walk. AIDS Action also receives 100% of the funds raised by Boomerangs, its award-winning resale store with locations in Jamaica Plain and West Roxbury and their sister store, Boomerangs Special Edition, located in South End, Boston neighborhood.
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
.
Based in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, it is New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
's oldest and largest AIDS service organization. In 2010, AAC merged with Cambridge Cares About AIDS into a new agency operating under the AIDS Action Committee name. The organizations joined together after nearly two years of strategic planning and stakeholder-led development. The partnership was motivated by the desire to transform the way AIDS services are delivered in the Greater Boston area.
AIDS Action provides free, confidential services to more than 3,500 men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS as well as prevention services to many thousands of men, women and youth who are not living with HIV or do not know their status.
Advocacy
AIDS Action Committee advocates for fair and effective HIV/AIDS policy at the city, state and federal levels, focusing on science-based prevention, racial and ethnic health disparities, privacy and confidentiality, and funding. AAC also works with AIDS Action Council, which advocates primarily on the national level for people living with or affected by HIV/AIDS.Client Services
AIDS Action Committee provides direct services to people living with HIV in Massachusetts, including housing advocacy, legal services, drug & alcohol support and support groups.Prevention
The Prevention Department at AIDS Action Committee provides a range of prevention and education activities designed to reduce new HIVHIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
infections, focusing on HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
prevention grounded in public health, targeted to specific populations, and not based in shame, guilt, or fear. As part of its prevention efforts, AAC operates the statewide HIV & STD hotline for both Massachusetts and Rhode Island and the Massachusetts hepatitis
Hepatitis
Hepatitis is a medical condition defined by the inflammation of the liver and characterized by the presence of inflammatory cells in the tissue of the organ. The name is from the Greek hepar , the root being hepat- , meaning liver, and suffix -itis, meaning "inflammation"...
hotline.
AAC's community prevention outreach includes the MALE (Men's Action Life Empowerment) Center, a community resource and wellness center that integrates community outreach, life-skills education and empowerment activities, HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
safer-sex skills-building, and free rapid HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
counseling and testing for gay and bisexual men.
AAC also works with other community organizations and schools to educate youth about sexual health.
Funding
In addition to grants from the Massachusetts Department of Public HealthMassachusetts Department of Public Health
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health is a governmental agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with various responsibilities related to public health within that state...
and other entities, AAC diversifies its funding through fundraising events, like the annual AIDS Walk
AIDS Walk Boston
AIDS Walk Boston is a walkathon fundraiser hosted annually in Boston, Massachusetts to benefit AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts , New England's oldest and largest not-for-profit AIDS service organization....
, Boston's second largest walk. AIDS Action also receives 100% of the funds raised by Boomerangs, its award-winning resale store with locations in Jamaica Plain and West Roxbury and their sister store, Boomerangs Special Edition, located in South End, Boston neighborhood.
External links
- AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts
- HIV Health Library
- AIDS Walk Boston
- The MALE Center
- Boomerangs Resale Store
- The AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts, Inc. records, 1975-2000 (bulk 1987-1996) are located in the Northeastern University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections Department, Boston, MA.
- The Devenney papers, ca. 1983–1996 are located in the Northeastern University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections Department, Boston, MA.