NAAP's Announcement

For over eighteen years, the Native American AIDS Project has provided culturally appropriate services to people living with HIV/AIDS and to people who identify as American Indian/Alaskan Native in the San Francisco Bay Area. Eighteen years ago, our primary service was hospice care, ensuring that no one died without culturally appropriate end of life care.  As the HIV epidemic changed, so have our services; expanding to include Housing Case Management, Peer Advocacy, HIV Prevention, community outreach, beading classes, drum circles, talking circles, and traditional healing.   

As the HIV epidemic has changed, so has the funding available for HIV services.   Due to the ongoing global economic crisis, NAAP and other AIDS Service Providers face consistent reductions in funding for HIV prevention and direct services available from City, State and Federal governments as well as decreasing Foundation grants and individual donations. Based on these changes, maintaining operations and services is no longer financially viable. At the September 2012 meeting, the Native American AIDS Project Board of Directors voted unanimously to cease operations on or before December 14, 2012.   Despite the difficulty of this decision, the Native American AIDS Project is proud of our accomplishments and of having been a major force in the HIV/AIDS movement as well as the American Indian/Alaskan Native communities of the San Francisco Bay Area for over eighteen years.

Since 1994, NAAP has provided culturally appropriate direct services to people living with HIV/AIDS as well as HIV Prevention programs to people who identify as American Indian/Alaskan Native.  The staff at NAAP has developed many unique and culturally relevant education and support services, which have been replicated by other AIDS service organizations.  NAAP’s Staff and Board would like to thank the individuals and organizations that have supported us over the past 18 years.  We could never have completed this amazing journey without our entire community.

NAAP’s staff has worked tirelessly to provide outstanding services to their clients, at times, when budget crises arose, even forgoing financial compensation for their work.  Because of this love and support, clients consider NAAP’s staff to be family and NAAP’s office a home away from home.  Although NAAP will be ending its direct services, the needs of clients remain the primary focus of the staff, administration and board of directors.  Every effort will be made to secure appropriate services and transition clients to alternate support agencies.  

For questions or comments, please contact Darren English, Board President Native American AIDS Project at 415-225-4230