About the Midwest AIDS Prevention Project

ABOUT THE MIDWEST AIDS PREVENTION PROJECT:

The Midwest AIDS Prevention Project (MAPP) is one of Michigan's largest non-profit community-based organizations whose mission is the prevention of HIV transmission through risk-reduction education and health promotion programs. Incorporated in 1988, MAPP has provided thousands of safer sex workshops, trainings, media events, display tables and outreach projects. Since its inception, MAPP has distributed 300,000 AIDS education materials and 500,000 condoms, reaching more than a quarter of a million people.

MAPP has provided HIV prevention trainings and original education materials to health departments and community groups nationwide, and has presented workshops to audiences at national conferences. In addition, MAPP has participated in national research projects in collaboration with the National AIDS Fund, the Center for AIDS Intervention Research in Milwaukee, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In 1996, MAPP collaborated with the HOPE Fund and the Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan in 1996 to create A.D.A.P.T., an innovative project to prevent health and safety problems that result from AOD abuse in the g/l/b/t community. The project used research-based methods developed by the Center for AIDS Intervention Research and the Medical College of Wisconsin to train popular leaders in the gay and lesbian community to promote healthier, safer behaviors to their friends and acquaintances. Because these “opinion leaders” are well-liked and respected by others, their endorsement of risk-reduction behaviors can positively influence the wider gay community to adopt behaviors which reduce alcohol and substance abuse and high risk sexual activity.

In 1997, MAPP expanded the A.D.A.P.T. project by developing a media campaign alerting the gay/lesbian community about the dangers of alcohol and drug abuse. This first-of-its-kind campaign in Michigan (funded with a grant from the Michigan Department of Community Health's Substance Abuse Services) included targeted print advertising that was placed in gay/lesbian newspapers statewide. MAPP also created targeted posters that were distributed to substance abuse centers, and gay/lesbian community centers, businesses and nightclubs.

In 1998, MAPP received a grant from the Rainbow Endowment to distribute gay/lesbian-targeted substance abuse prevention materials to community organizations throughout the United States. Over 200 HIV/AIDS organizations, gay/lesbian groups, substance abuse treatment agencies and other organizations will receive the posters, print advertising and postcards seen here.

MAPP has created a wide variety of HIV prevention and health promotion education materials, which are available through our catalog or at our website at www.aidsprevention.org.