This week, representatives from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) made a two-day site visit to the Baltimore City Health Department’s (BCHD) Bureau of HIV/STD Services. The visit focused on the Bureau’s progress regarding BCHD’s new CDC HIV prevention grant targeting African American MSM and transgender individuals. Presentations included an overview of HIV in Baltimore, HIV stigma and mistrust, innovative social media tools and campaigns and community engagement.

Three Peer Navigators spoke on a panel about their experiences working through BCHD’s partner providers to reach black MSM and women, the most at-risk communities for HIV. Peer Navigators advocate for their clients and support them throughout their engagement with providers, helping with everything from maintaining doctor appointments to attaining insurance.

Another highlight was HopeSprings, a faith-based community initiative in Baltimore, who presented their OpenTable program. OpenTable is an anti-poverty initiative where members from faith communities rally around at-risk or HIV-positive people to support them in formulating life plans and achieving their full potentials. The CDC and BCHD heard testimonials from a ‘brother’ and a ‘sister’ who participated in OpenTable’s family-structured program.

They commended HopeSprings for recognizing that the city-wide HIV battle must include at its forefront these groundbreaking approaches to alleviating poverty.