Program Description
The Latina HIV/AIDS Prevention Leadership Ahora! Project is based on a family-centered approach that targets young Latinas; young men who have sex with men (YMSM), their partners, extended family and peers. Emphasizing the importance of reducing homophobia and the stigma of HIV and sexuality in the Latino community, AHORA! works with young Latinas and MSM to address the wide spectrum of sexuality within the Latino community. The project seeks to:

• Generate community partnerships with local and statewide organizations.
• Strengthen the prevention capacity/infrastructure of local community institutions, assist local communities in generating public policies that promote prevention and intervention, medical care and treatment, and research and evaluation of youth health promotion programs.
• Produce an HIV prevention manual with “boiler plate” activities that can be modified by each site, so it can be culturally and geographically appropriate and a Primer for Community Leadership and Program Implementation Guide.

Participating Agencies
1. Mi Casa Resource Center for Women (Denver, CO)
2. MANA de Hidalgo County (Hidalgo County, TX)
3. CHOICES (Los Angeles, CA)
4. Institute for Women & Ethnic Studies (New Orleans, LA)
5. Our Gang, Inc. (Wichita, KS)
6. New Jersey-statewide

Outcomes
AHORA! came to an end in early 2005. During this five-year program, National Latina Health Network was able to provide training and education to 642 youth and has reached at least 1,284 youth and their families.

Visit the Ahora! Project Website

Disclaimer: Since HIV is spread primarily through sexual practices or by sharing needles, prevention messages on this site may address these topics. HIV prevention materials funded by CDC must be approved by local program review panels, however, the materials may be considered controversial by some viewers.