Utopia

LGBTQ Health & Wellness Program

WHAT IS UTOPIA?

The Utopia LGBTQ Health & Wellness Program is an initiative created by the ARBGMF to directly address health issues that are prevalent in the LGBTQ community.

This program will focus on:

• Reducing HIV transmission from persons living with HIV/AIDS

• Increasing & documenting the number of HIV-Positive persons with suppressed viral loads

• Increasing the number of partners of HIV-Positive persons raising their awareness of their risk factors; and providing testing to determine their HIV status

• Increasing the number of High-Risk Negative persons who receive PrEP and/or nPEP services

• Increasing access to culturally appropriate care and improved health outcomes for HIV-Positive and High-Risk Negative persons

• Increasing the number of HIV-Positive and High-Risk Negative persons who use condoms consistently and correctly

UTOPIA GOALS

A primary goal of this program is to provide support services that would advance HIV testing while identifying linkage-to-care gaps and resources for the traditionally underserved Black LGBTQ residents of Central Arkansas. Although there are other community resources focusing on assistance to the greater community, our marginalized residents have fewer choices and support. Add to this the socialized stigma many of our Black Gay men and Transgender women – in particular – are forced to deal with when attempting to seek simple medical care or treatment. One of the atrocities caused by this reality, results in an entire segment of our vast community being deprived of the professional care and treatment services they desperately need, based on the fear of being treated disrespectfully and without any regard for their privacy.

Health & Wellness Program – is comprised of all the persons in our target service population, we share a deep, compassionate, understanding of the fears, anxieties, and despair of many of the men and women we are in contact with. These feelings of hopelessness have been our experience as well, at some point in our lives, which enables us a unique perspective in developing and providing culturally competent education, prevention, care and treatment services.Our executive leadership team and BGM Forum membership are comprised of a highly skilled and talented group of men and women who are representative of the LGBTQ community we serve. Their expertise in nonprofit community services, social justice, public education, and mainstream healthcare (collectively) totals more than 50 years of organizational capacity.