A private organization and public agency partnership in community health education

The authors address a unique partnership among private and public organizations, that of the American Red Cross and the Centers for Disease Control of the Public Health Service. The partnership stimulates an integrated community response to preventing and controlling human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) at the local level. The partnership channels information and provides education to local communities through the efforts of volunteers and staff members. Information is made available as well through other partnerships established under the cooperative agreement between the American Red Cross and the Centers for Disease Control. These partnerships include other national organizations, such as the National Leadership Coalition on AIDS, the National Association of People with AIDS, the National Urban League, and the National Council of La Raza. Education and information messages are designed to complement and be consistent with information and messages from the Public Health Service through the National AIDS Information and Education Program and the "America Responds to AIDS" public information campaign. The objectives are to mobilize local community support for efforts for HIV infection and AIDS prevention and services, as well as to heighten public awareness of the issues.