Red Ribbon Project

About this agency

The purpose of The Red Ribbon Projects free HIV testing is to provide free rapid HIV testing to residents in Eagle County. Eagle County is a rural community with an economy that relies on tourism and recreation. Therefore, in our community we see many Latinos and young adults. The testing program specifically serves this Latino population, the young adult population that comes with living in a resort community, and our High School youth. In the United States, people aged 13 to 24 account for more than a quarter of the 50,000 new HIV infections each year, and 60 percent of these young people have no idea they are infected, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

The National Institute of Health reported that community-based interventions designed to make voluntary HIV testing and counseling more accessible can increase the number of people who know their HIV status, and can prompt peopleespecially those at high risk for infectionto adopt safer sexual practices. An objective of RRPs Free HIV Testing program is to build awareness in the community about behaviors that put people at risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs); and through the counseling component of the free testing program, educate residents on safer behaviors so they can lead healthier lives.

• Rapid HIV Oral