PO Box 360
Trenton, NJ 08625-0360

For Release:
March 20, 2012

Mary E. O'Dowd, M.P.H.
Commissioner

For Further Information Contact:
Office of Communications
(609) 984-7160

DHSS Commissioner to Visit Henry J. Austin Health Center To Announce Grants to Support Those Living with HIV/AIDS

DHSS Commissioner Mary E. O'Dowd will visit the Henry J. Austin Health Center in Trenton tomorrow to announce several million in grants to community-based organizations across the state that provide care and treatment for those living with HIV/AIDS in New Jersey.

The Commissioner will announce two sets of grants. The first set of grants are federal Ryan White funds, which are used to provide health care services, home health care, transportation, substance abuse treatment, mental health counseling and other social services to those with HIV/AIDS.

The second set of grants are funded  by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and will be awarded to allow clinics in five cities to buy HIV testing kits and hire patient navigators to help those who test positive for HIV/AIDS enroll into treatment.

The Announcement of Grant Awardees Will Take Place At:

The Henry J. Austin Health Center

March 21, 2012

1-2 pm

The Henry J. Austin Health Center is located at:

321 North Warren Street, Trenton, NJ 08618

http://henryjaustin.org/

More than 45,000 people are living with HIV/AIDS in New Jersey. The state ranks 5th nationally in the percentage of women diagnosed with HIV/AIDs, third in the percentage of pediatric cases and 7th in the overall number of cases.

The Department provides approximately 7,000 low-income individuals with access to a wide range of HIV/AIDs medications through its AIDS Drug Distribution Program.

For more information on the Department's Division on HIV/AIDS, STD, TB Services, please visit: http://www.state.nj.us/health/aids/freemeds.shtml

Last Reviewed: 7/31/2012