Connect to Protect (C2P) -Detroit Coalition 

Vision

To reduce new HIV infections in Detroit's most vulnerable youth

 

Mission

"Connect to Protect (C2P) Detroit is a diverse and passionate coalition committed to creating structural changes to prevent our city's young gay, bisexual men, and transgender women from being vulnerable to HIV by fostering collaboration between various community parnters."

 

History

Connect to Protect® (C2P®)-Detroit is a coalition that is part of a multi-site research study developed by the Adolescent Medicine Trials Network for HIV/AIDS Interventions (ATN). C2P® is a community mobilization intervention that is facilitated by staff from Wayne State University School of Medicine (WSU-SOM) and is focused on structural changes, rather than emphasizing individual level solutions. The coalition is supported by WSU-SOM, however, it is an independent body comprised of organizations and community members.

C2P® Detroit held its first coalition meeting in December of 2011 and has been actively meeting and creating structural change since then. In the summer of 2012 C2P® Detroit began strategic planning to address several root causes of adolescent HIV at the structural level. We address LGBTQ youth discrimination, lack of appropriate HIV education, provider stigma and linkage to and engagement in medical care.