National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day:

Tip sheet for local public health departments to plan activities

On this page:
How to Plan Activities
Selected Resources for World AIDS Day
Hotline References

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National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, held annually on May 19, began in 2005 as an effort to educate Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities about the threat HIV/AIDS poses to their communities. Nationally, one in three APIs living with HIV don’t know it. Over two-thirds of Asians and over half of Pacific Islanders have never been tested for HIV. The theme for the 2012 observance will be, "Saving face can’t make you safe. Talk about HIV – For me, for you, for everyone."

To help observe National API HIV/AIDS Awareness Day in your community, please refer to the following planning guidelines and suggested activities:

Planning something for National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day?
Contact the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) once events are set-up so they can be listed on the MDH Statewide National API HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Calendar. Phone: (651) 201-4027, Fax: (651) 201-4000 or e mail: Roy Nelson


  • Contact API national web site to download posters, fact sheets, worldwide HIV stats and information at: http://www.banyantreeproject.org or 1-415-292-3400
  • Contact individuals and organizations in your community interested in planning API activities and host a planning meeting. Institutions such as local hospitals, clinics, Red Cross chapters, AIDS planning or advocacy groups, schools, and community organizations are good starting points
  • Determine if a single collective event or a series of independent events would be best to raise awareness:
    • Create a planning schedule. Include specific activities, responsibilities and timetable; and
    • Obtain resources, partnerships and secure funds to host events and create promotional materials
  • Submit a proclamation to your county board stating that your public health department recognizes National API HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
  • Contact schools, business leaders, clergy, health care organizations and local agencies and encourage their scheduling of prevention seminars or video/DVD showings for their clients and/or staff on behalf of National API HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
  • Hold a candlelight vigil at a public park or at your agency with singers, rappers, musicians, poets, dancers, performers and story tellers
  • Commemorate a bulletin board, exhibit, etc., as an AIDS memorial in your agency’s lobby
  • Distribute API Awareness Day information:
    • Place National API HIV/AIDS Awareness Day information and links onto your county’s web site and social media networks
    • Encourage your agency to display posters, flyers, or brochures in your lobby and in your lunch room
    • Send announcements about events, activities and resources using your agency’s e-mail address books, mailings, newsletters and electronic bulletins
    • Wear/distribute to others a red ribbon as a symbol of hope to work sites, schools and community groups
  • Write a letter or editorial to your local newspaper and other publications demonstrating support or listing your events for National API HIV/AIDS Awareness Day 2012. In addition, take photos of your events and send follow-up stories to the local press
  • Contact the NAMES Project and bring The AIDS Memorial Quilt to your agency or community event, or sew a square onto the quilt, (404) 688-5500; http://www.aidsquilt.org
  • Display exhibits, posters, flyers, videos, or brochures about HIV/AIDS at a public location such as a library, bar, store, governmental office, social services agency, employment office, clinic, hospital, or during an existing community event
  • Encourage area churches, temples, mosques and synagogues to participate by announcing local National API HIV/AIDS Awareness Day related events during their worship services and in their bulletins, newsletters, websites, social media networks and e-mail messages/bulletins

Selected Educational Resources for National API HIV/AIDS Awareness Day and/or HIV/AIDS Materials

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road
Atlanta, GA 30333
(800) 232-4636
(888) 232-6348 TTY
E-mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov
Web: http://www.cdc.gov

Minnesota Department of Health
Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention
    and Control Division
STD and HIV Section
Attention:  Mr. Roy Nelson
P.O. Box 64975
St. Paul, MN 55164-0975
(651) 201-4027
(651) 201-4000 FAX
E-mail: roy.nelson@state.mn.us
Web site: www.health.state.mn.us

National Prevention Information Network
PO Box 6003
Rockville, MD 20849-6003
(800) 458-5231
(800) 243-7012 TTY
(888) 282-7681 FAX
E-mail: info@cdcnpin.org
Web site: www.cdcnpin.org 

Office of Minority Health Resource Center
U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services
PO Box 37337
Washington, DC 20013-7337
(800) 444-6472
(301) 251-2160 FAX
E-mail: info@omhrc.gov
Web site: www.omhrc.gov

The Banyan Tree Project
c/o A&PI Wellness Center
730 Polk Street, 4th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 292-3400
(415) 292-3404 FAX
(415) 292-3410 TTY
E-mail: info@banyantreeproject.org
Web site: www.banyantreeproject.org

The NAMES Project Foundation
AIDS Memorial Quilt
204 14th Street Northwest
Atlanta, GA 30318-5304
(404) 688-5500
(404) 688-5552 FAX
E-mail: info@aidsquilt.org
Web site: www.aidsquilt.org

HOTLINE REFERENCES

Minnesota AIDS Project AIDSLine
Metro Area: (612) 373-AIDS
(612) 373-2465
TTY Statewide: 1-800-248-AIDS
1-888-820-2437 TTY
E-mail: mapaidsline@mnaidsproject.org
Web site: www.mnaidsproject.org

CDC National Prevention Information Network
1-800-458-5231
1-800-243-7012 TTY
E-mail: info@cdcnpin.org
Web site: www.cdcnpin.org

CDC National STD and AIDS Hotlines (English and Spanish)
1-800-CDC-INFO
1-888-232-6348 TTY
E-mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov
Web site: www.cdc.gov

 

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Updated Monday, 16-Apr-2012 13:47:04 CDT