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African American Hispanic Health education Resource center
The African American Hispanic Health Education Resource Center (AAHHERC) has had a long and illustrious history of community education and capacity building in Maricopa County. The organization began its operations as a grassroots community group more than 15 years ago. Since its formal incorporation in 1993, staff and volunteers have worked to uphold the Agency’s basic mission of providing health education information, training, resource referral services and community outreach relevant to African Americans and Hispanics specifically with services to all those living in Maricopa County and surrounding rural areas-with an anticipated outcome resulting in an improvement in the quality of life for those persons served.
The organization is made up of a committed group of people from this community. All staff and volunteers are trained in capacity building, street outreach, crisis intervention, prevention. They also assist faith-based groups and organizations in designing and implementing realistic strategies for disseminating basic health and risk prevention information for target populations.
In 1997, AAHHERC evolved under new leadership to address issues related to advocacy for women. The initial intent remained the same, to provide prevention, assistance and support services to persons that are at risk, but giving more emphasis to women. Seventy five percent (75%) of the women we serve have been incarcerated at some point in their lives and desire reunification with their families.
In 2005, AAHHERC was awarded its first Ryan White Title 1 contract to provide Health Education and Risk Reduction services to women living with HIV/AIDS (WLHA) and their partners. AAHHERC then developed a new initiative, the Positive Intervention by Peers (PIP) Program. PIP peers provide structured Health Education and Risk Reduction (HERR) information to individuals and groups in the minority community. PIP outreach strategy includes street outreach as well as presentations to faith-based groups, African American women groups and community-based organizations serving their target populations. AAHHERC ensures the provision of culturally competent services through representation and participation of all its volunteer members. They serve in an advisory capacity to help in developing service programs, community interventions and general health education materials. Individuals who receive services from us are encouraged to volunteer and serve on various client advisory committees, making certain the services are representative of the needs of the African American and Hispanic communities. Similarly, Our PIP Program is a peer lead and peer driven, education empowerment program. One of its primary objectives is addressing the culturally-held beliefs that act as barriers to effective and successful interventions for the underserved communities. Peer educators are provided with cultural diversity training to ensure that they care and are able to work effectively in communities of color.
In 2006, AAHHERC implemented a program for women named “SISTAHS DOING IT FOR THEMSELVES” which is a women’s support group.
AAHHERC has been presented with two proclamations, one from our Governor Janet Napolitano and board of supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox. We were presented with two proclamations for the national women and girls HIV/AIDS awareness day events for the planning and implementation of the events for the pass two years and other community activities and town hall meeting referencing HIV/AIDS education, prevention/intervention in the community.
AAHHERC also founded (Harmony House). A Domestic Violence Shelter and Resource Center (18 bed facility for women and children). Harmony House is a subsidiary of AAHHERC, which provides Emergency/Transitional Housing for women who are survivors of Domestic Violence, sexual Assault, and Victims of Violent crimes and Substance Abuse. (95% have histories of substance abuse), while (85%) of the women we serve have been incarcerated and/or their family members. (75% have no GED or high school diploma and no work history in addition many have been physically abused) (60% functionally illiterate with being incest survivors and/or rape victims) (30% are HIV positive) at some point in their lives they desire reunification with their families. Harmony House provides housing for a period of up to six months or more (depending on the individual). The goal of this service is to protect, and assist with the physical, emotional and mental well-being of the women (and their children) by providing them with short term, safe transitional housing and a drug-free environment. Harmony House is located in the North West Valley of Maricopa County. Currently we are the only location providing emergency/transitional housing for the city of (Peoria) and the surrounding areas... AAHHERC’s vision is that transformation is necessary to stop further erosion of families and working with women to address the problems that lead to a life of physical abuse, drug abuse and crimes. Harmony House has implemented the Inner
Gardening Initiative” which provides workforce development training, education services and advocacy programs to facilitate the ability to assist with changes affecting families in transition. We provide creative strategies and use Best Practices which insures positive social development; while enriching the learning environment through incorporation of the arts. Which is an internal participant-driven, as well as an on-going evaluation model. That has been established to deal with the outcomes of the initiative.
We document and measure personal growth in areas of social skills, learning modalities and skills for living. Activities consist of: storytelling, journal writing as well as financial literacy, along with readiness training, which is an integral part of these workshops.
Over its history, AAHHERC members have been actively involved in local, county, state and national efforts to combat HIV/AIDS in the Phoenix Maricopa, Eligible Metropolitan Area (EMA). AAHHERC members participate on the Ryan White Planning Council and the Gecko Forum: Central AZ Prevention Advocates, previously known as the Central Region Community Planning Group (CPG). The Executive Director, Fran Garrett is a former chairperson of both the Central Region (CPG), and the Education and Empowerment Committee and part of the Executive Committee of the Ryan White Planning Council for the Phoenix EMA. Additionally, other AAHHERC members have participated on AIDS Service Organization boards and on the boards of other non-HIV communities based organizations such as Central Arizona Shelter Services (CASS), Chicano Por La Causa, Phoenix Birthing Project and Rites of Passage (an African American Heritage program) and have close ties with faith-based communities in the area
After years of working in the community in 2014 the unthinkable happened to Fran and her family, Fran's daughter Michelle Cusseaux was shot and killed By an officer of the Phoenix Police Dept. who had been called to her home for a mental health pick-up order, Upon their arrival and her refusal to come out of her home they forced their way in to her home and she was shot and killed by the officer. In the year of 2015 Fran remained steadfast and continued remaining positive in seeking justice for her daughter. After all Fran`s hard work of seeking justice the officer was later found guilty of a number of counts, as well as using excessive force.
With the expanding of AAHHERC in 2016, Fran had taken a positive approach to elevate the story of Michelle Cusseaux by working along with the Phoenix Police Department to develop the Mental Health Crisis Response Intervention Team to better assist and understand the mental health needs of our community. In collaboration with the City of phoenix Parks in Recreation, Phoenix Police, and a host of other organizations, we developed an Annual Christmas Toy Give-away and Mental Health Fair in memory of Michelle Cusseaux.