Engaging Religious Institutions to Address Racial Disparities in HIV/AIDS: A Case of Academic-Community Partnership
Szaflarski, M.; Vaughn, L.M.; Chambers, C.; Harris, M.; Ruffner, A.; Wess, Y.; Mosley, L.; Smith, C.
International Journal of Research on Service-Learning and Community Engagement 2(1): 95-114
2014
ISSN/ISBN: 2374-9466 PMID: 28239643 Document Number: 276066
African Americans face the most severe burden of HIV among all racial and ethnic groups. Direct involvement of faith leaders and faith communities is increasingly suggested as a primary strategy to reduce HIV-related disparities, and Black churches are uniquely positioned to address HIV stigma, prevention, and care in African American communities. The authors describe an academic-community partnership to engage Black churches to address HIV in a predominantly African American, urban, southern Midwest location. The opportunities, process, and challenges in forming this academic-community partnership with Black churches can be used to guide future efforts toward engaging faith institutions, academia, and other community partners in the fight against HIV.