About Brothers to Brothers & Sisters to Sisters (BB/SS)

The recent public health statistics show that some minority groups in the US are at especially high risk for contracting HIV/AIDS. Through funding from the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT/SAMHSA), SARDI has established the Brothers to Brothers/Sisters to Sisters Program to lead a coalition which consists of substance abuse treatment providers, the county health department, an AIDS Service Organization, faith-based providers, homeless shelters, and other providers in order to increase access to substance abuse treatment, as well as increase access to HIV testing and education. Since its inception, the Coalition has also seen the addition of an active citizen advisory board that identifies itself as "Citizens Against Death." Functioning as a community-wide effort, Brothers to Brothers/Sisters to Sisters offers expanded and enhanced services to persons at high risk for, or living with, HIV/AIDS.

The Coalition addresses the addiction treatment needs of primarily African American adult men and women with, or at high risk for, HIV/AIDS, and members from Dayton's other communities of color. The SARDI Program began this initiative in part because of its history of involvement in issues related to minority health, HIV, and substance abuse, as well as its expertise in evaluation and program development.