DC Concerned Providers Coalition (DCCP)

Committed to decreasing HIV/STI rates among young men and transgender women of color who have sex with men.

*Statistics

• Of the young men aged 13 to 24 living with HIV/AIDS in the District of Columbia, 87% are young men of *color.



• In the District of Columbia, 83% of young men of color aged 13 to 24 acquired HIV through men who have sex with men (MSM) behavior.



• More than one in five persons living with HIV/AIDS in the District are black MSM.

Our Mission

DCCP exists to facilitate partnerships among organizations that seek to decrease HIV/STI rates among DC area young men of color who have sex with men (YMSM) and young transgender women of color (YTWOC).

Our Vision

Building upon existing HIV prevention efforts at the community, governmental and individual level, the coalition’s approach is to bring about structural level changes that impact and influence policies, organizational systems, resource availability and even the physical environment for the health and well being of YMSM and YTWOC.

Background

DCCP began in 2001 to bring together a diverse group of young people and organizations who wanted to improve the quality of life for young transgender women of color and young men of color who have sex with men, with a special focus on positively impacting the root causes of HIV/AIDS. Washington, DC has the highest rates of HIV/AIDS of any American city, with the majority of new infections among African Americans. The Department of Health estimates that one in every 100 (1%) youth is HIV positive, a rate that is considered of epidemic proportion.

Coalition Operations

Coalition meetings are held once a month on a Tuesday afternoon and last approximately an hour and a half. Average member attendance ranges from 10 to 15 people. Lunch is typically provided.

The DCCP is led by an executive committee comprised of six coalition members who help coordinate the coalition’s work.

There are a number of ways to be involved in the coalition including the following working groups

• HIV/STI Information Resource Development and Distribution
• Homelessness
• Mental Health Issues
• Parent and Community Support

Youth Advocacy and Peer Education

STIGMA Peer Advocates

The STIGMA Peer Advocates are a team of young MSM and young transgender women of color who provide HIV/STI and sexual health information to their peers through outreach. STIGMA, Spreading Truth Is Gaining Mass Appeal, performs both street and internet outreach. STIGMA serves as the Events sub-committee and the Youth Advisory Board of the DC Concerned Providers coalition.

Recent Achievements

• In 2007 and 2008, DCCP in collaboration with community organizations held a “Provider Conference” to educate service providers on the unique issues of LGBTQ youth.



• In 2008, DCCP created the youth leadership, advocacy, and peer education team of YMSM and transgender women called STIGMA (Spreading Truth is Gaining Mass Appeal!).



• In 2009, DCCP collaborated with the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) to formalize a policy for all DPR staff to be trained on LGBTQ youth sensitivity.



• Annually, DCCP STIGMA peer advocates, in partnership with our member organizations, host the “World Ball”, an elaborate event where "walkers" compete in a series of categories emulating high fashion, style or a way of being geared toward YMSM and young transgender women of color and their allies. The balls have been well received; provide entertainment, HIV information, and testing.

Members as of 2009

American Psychological Association (APA), Children’s National Medical Center (CNMC), DC STD Control Program, Different Avenues, Helping Individual Prostitutes Survive (HIPS), La Clinica del Pueblo, Latin American Youth Center (LAYC), Metro TeenAIDS, Metropolitan Police Department Gay and Lesbian Liaison Unit, Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), National Youth Advocacy Coalition (NYAC), Parent, Families and Friends of Lesbians And Gays (PFLAG), Sasha Bruce Youth Work, Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League (SMYAL), Transgender Health Empowerment, and Us Helping Us.

Join DCCP!

Join DC Concerned Providers in improving the lives of these young people through advocacy, improvement of services, and increased access to needed resources throughout the Metropolitan DC Area.

Contact the DCCP Coalition Coordinator for more information at 202.543.9355 or visit dcconcernedproviders.org.

*Department of Health of the District of Columbia. (2008) District of Columbia HIV/AIDS Epidemiology Update 2008. Retrieved May 5, 2009 from doh.dc.gov. Website: http://doh.dc.gov/doh/lib/doh/pdf/dc_hiv-aids_2008_updatereport.pdf

* Denotes every race except white

*Transgender or transwomen: a term describing persons whose gender identities, expressions, or behaviors are not those traditionally associated with their birth gender or whose gender expression transgresses socially assigned gender roles or expectations. People who do not identify as either of the two sexes as currently defined.