Cascade AIDS Project’s Mission and Vision Statement

Cascade AIDS Project’s (CAP) mission is to “lead efforts to prevent new HIV infections, care for people affected and infected by HIV/AIDS, educate communities to eliminate stigmas and shame and advocate for immediate action in combating the pandemic.'

CAP strives for a future where, absent a cure:
• New HIV infections are eliminated.
• Those who are already living with HIV/AIDS manage it well as a chronic disease.
• All people assume responsibility for eliminating stigma, preventing new infections and supporting those who are HIV positive.
• Services are innovative, culturally relevant, and proven effective.

Description of CAP’s Services

Cascade AIDS Project is the oldest and largest community-based provider of HIV services, including housing, education and advocacy in Oregon and Southwest Washington. CAP’s mission is to lead efforts to prevent new HIV infections, care for people affected and infected by HIV/AIDS, educate communities to eliminate stigma and shame and advocate for immediate action in combating the pandemic. When CAP began 25 years ago, it had only two staff and a volunteer Board of Directors. Today, CAP has 44 staff, more than 700 volunteers, and a budget of over $4 million.

CAP carries out its mission through two major departments, Prevention and Education and Support Services:

CAP’s Prevention and Education department hosts a variety of HIV testing services and programs to raise awareness of HIV and educate about its prevention.

One of its cornerstone programs, the Men’s Wellness Center, provides over 2,000 members with prevention information and supplies, health and wellness discussions and social activities. Last year the Men’s Wellness Center tested 743 men for HIV and sexually-transmitted infections.

The Prevention and Education department also manages Oregon’s AIDS/STD hotline. Last year, the hotline fielded over 4,500 calls from throughout the state requesting a wide variety of information and referrals to address their concerns about HIV and sexually transmitted infections.

Also housed within this department are CAP’s education programs, including Latinos Unidos Enfrentando el SIDA (LUES), a program providing culturally-driven HIV prevention education in the Latino community. Last year LUES reached out to nearly 1,600 people through training, HIV/STI testing and outreach events. In addition, LUES launched an innovative radio novella series including characters living with HIV/AIDS. The seven radio novellas were a huge success, airing 60 times to 9,000 listeners and garnering very positive feedback.

CAP’s Youth HIV Education program reached out to over 1,000 youth through youth-facilitated workshops, and served an additional 2,581 youth through outreach, including distributing 7,602 in safer sex supplies.

The Support Services department encompasses direct service to find housing, coordinate intake services, offer educational programs designed to help HIV-affected people thrive at home and at work and provide family support for people who are living with HIV.

Last year, the department provided housing services to 583 people living with HIV and developed 58 new housing opportunities in the county. It also distributed just over $100,000 to 204 people in emergency assistance, and nearly 80 percent of those people still had stable housing six months after receiving assistance. Stable housing is an important first step to a successful transition back into the community.

CAP’s family support programs, including Camp Starlight and Kids’ Connection, served 130 HIV affected and infected children in 66 families by offering programs as varied as help disclosing HIV status to schools, facilitating guardianship planning, teaching kids about HIV, offering recreational opportunities with other HIV-affected families and providing a week-long residential camp for children.

All in all, last year CAP provided HIV/AIDS education and prevention services to 16,040 people and coordinated wrap-around support services for 2,502 men, women and children affected and infected with HIV/AIDS. In addition, 735 children, youth and adults donated 19,960 hours of their time to help CAP achieve its mission.

More information about Cascade AIDS Project is at www.cascadeaids.org.