HIV/AIDS Services

Special Initiatives



"Ride the Bus..."
"Ride the Bus..." is a new prevention initiative created by the Miami-Dade County Health Department (MDCHD) Office of HIV/AIDS. This initiative was developed during Black History Month (February). While celebrating the strives and triumphs of various Civil Rights Leaders, it was discovered that Rosa Park's day of triumphant courage, which led to a mass Civil Rights movement, occurred on December 1, 1955. This day, December 1st, is also recognized as World AIDS Day. In an effort to massively reduce the risk of HIV infection and increase awareness of HIV/AIDS status in Miami- Dade County, the "Ride The Bus..." initiative was implemented.

This initiative appropriately links to the findings of the R.A.R.E. project, which sites the engagement of high-risk activity (i.e. exchange of sex for drugs and/or money) at bus stops. This initiative is also associated with the Miami-Dade County Health Department Office of HIV/AIDS Prevention Plan, and will assist in accomplishing the following three goals:
  • Goal I - By 2005, reduce the number of new HIV infections in Miami-Dade County from an estimated 1,600 per year to 1,200 per year, with particular focus on the elimination of racial and ethnic disparities in new HIV infections.

  • Goal II - By 2005, increase through voluntary counseling and testing the estimated proportion of HIV-infected people in Miami-Dade County who know their status from the current 67% to 95%.

  • Goal III - By 2005, increase the estimated proportion of HIV-infected people in Miami-Dade County with linkages to appropriate and continuous prevention, care, and treatment services.
The "Ride The Bus..." initiative consists of MDCHD Office of HIV/AIDS in collaboration with several community partners, ranging from HIV/AIDS community based organizations to the Miami-Dade County Transit System. All of these organizations have made a commitment to come together for this initiative, once a month, to reduce HIV/AIDS in our community. During the "Ride The Bus..." initiative, our offices along with our community partners pair into teams to conduct HIV/AIDS education and outreach efforts, as well as promote voluntary HIV counseling and testing at bus stops and on buses, in various areas through Miami-Dade County.

There are a total of twenty community partners in support of the event, thus far. The organizations currently involved include:
  • Miami-Dade Transit System
  • Helen B. Bentley
  • South Beach AIDS Project
  • Borinquen Health Care Center
  • Center for Haitian Studies, Inc.
  • Care Resource Mobile
  • Care Resource
  • Family AIDS Coalition
  • Economic Opportunity Family Health Center
  • Black Leadership
  • Mujeres Unidas en Justicia, Educación y Reforma, Inc.
  • Empower
  • The Village
  • Hep-C Alert
  • Union Positiva

The event usually begins at 12:00 p.m. and ends around 7:00 p.m. The 2007 dates are: January 18, February 7 & 21, March 8 & 22, April 12& 26, May 10 & 24, June 14 & 27, July 12 & 26, August 9 & 23, September 12 & 27, October 11 & 25, November 8 & 29, and ending on December 6 (World AIDS Day). The community partners, along with the Miami-Dade County Health Department Office of HIV/AIDS staff, pair up at bus stops in their designated areas, and ride the buses, giving out "Ride The Bus..." bags filled with incentives (e.g. condoms, lubes...etc.), along with a free HIV testing card with testing sites locations and contact information.

Due to the positive response of the "Ride The Bus..." initiative from the community, the MDCHD Office of HIV/AIDS is providing this outreach event at least every 3-4 weeks, instead of once a month, to ensure consistency. Other recommendations that are currently being taken into consideration include providing female condoms and a demonstration on the proper use of the condom. In addition, providing the free HIV testing cards in Spanish and Creole, and information and education on lubes. These prevention efforts will continue throughout the year, leading up to World AIDS Day on December 1st, in which we wish to continue following the steps of Rosa Parks by overcoming barriers and empowering the community, in the realm of HIV/AIDS.

For further information contact Oscar Medina at (305) 470-6952.

“Iniciativa Hispana Para la Prevencion Del SIDA”
The “Iniciativa Hispana Para la Prevencion Del SIDA” (Hispanic Initiative for AIDS Prevention) is an initiative of the Miami-Dade County Health Department created in 1995 with the goal to reduce the incidence of HIV/AIDS in the Hispanic Community in Miami-Dade. Community members, health department staff and providers participate in the planning, and implementation of innovative strategies geared to HIV/AIDS education, and prevention through culturally sensitive and indigenous approaches.

For further information contact: Virginia Muñóz at (305) 470-6942.


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