The History of Aniz

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1. The Creation of Aniz
2. Achievement of Non-profit Status
3. Expansion of Programs
4. Expansion of Aniz, Inc.
5. Aniz In the Future

The Creation of Aniz, Inc.

In 1994-1996, Zina Age a graduate student of Clark Atlanta University School of Social Work was fulfilling her internship at Outreach, Inc. a community-based HIV/AIDS service agency located in Southwest Atlanta. Her major duties were to administer psychosocial assessments and to conduct family support groups with clients on a regular basis, not realizing that her heart was concerning the children of these clients. During the internship period, Ms. Age began to observe the children on a daily basis. She observed the children of clients playing in the corner of the room where their parents were involved in-group. Unrecognized by the agency, the children were totally ignored for their unmet needs and therefore were unable to learn about HIV and it's at risk factors as some of them were infected themselves.

Zina Age began to concentrate on the unmet needs of these special children by exploring a list of agencies that served HIV infected/affected children. The results of her investigation indicated no formalized services within the Metro Atlanta region. Ms. Age began to organize her thoughts and to put things in perspective. She spoke with the Executive Director of Outreach, Inc. about the idea of implementing a children's program onsite. The idea was to involve the children of clients in structured therapeutic groups rather than having them idle and discontented at this adult serviced agency. In the latter period of 1996, during social work internship at Outreach, Inc., the idea of working with HIV infected/affected African American children became a reality. The initial program for children created at Outreach, Inc. was later entitled "We Want To Know" and now consist of activities that promote prevention and risk reduction education for children ages 17 and under.

Consequently, a group of dedicated professional and paraprofessionals joined in with Ms. Age to support efforts of the organization by attending numerous planning meetings and working through strategies to expand the Zina's initiative. Ms. Age decided to formalize her idea by applying for incorporation. She named the initiative Aniz, Inc., her first name spelled backward. Top

Achievement of Non-profit Status

The organization received its 501(c)(3) status in 1996 in which by this time, efforts with infected women and children were in realization for nearly three years. Aniz's mission, as adopted, early on was to provide comprehensive health awareness education and prevention services for disadvantaged minority youth, young adults and families, and to provide skills training for organizations that implement disease prevention and health promotion programs. With this mission, the organization provided services onsite at adult services agencies throughout the Metro Atlanta region. Some of the services offered consisted of psychosocial assessment, substance abuse counseling, mental health counseling and prevention/risk reduction education. Initially, support groups for infected/affected children, and risk reduction groups with teens and adults were provided at Outreach, Inc from 1994. In 1996, Aniz began providing prevention/intervention groups and psychosocial assessments for women applying for transitional housing with Sister Love, Inc. and Jerusalem house. Because funding to serve infected and affected children were very scarce the organization experienced setbacks in terms of expanding services to children in other areas. Basically, Aniz, Inc relied on professional and paraprofessional volunteers to carry out the mission of the organization. Top

Expansion of Services and Programs

With limited funds and efforts of dedicated volunteer professionals and paraprofessionals, the organization was able to provide a range of services to persons living with HIV/AIDS at existing community-based agencies in the Metro Atlanta region (in Clayton, Cobb, Dekalb, Fulton and Gwinnett counties).

In 1996 Aniz, Inc developed "We Want To Know" (WWTK) Program which is a 16-week prevention education program, designed to increase knowledge and awareness regarding children infected/ affected with HIV/AIDS. This program focuses on children and youth ages 5-16, who have the desire to learn about HIV/AIDS. Aniz soon provided risk reduction education to African American teens accessing health clinics in the Clayton, Cobb, Dekalb, Fulton and City of Atlanta areas. However, a lack of funding has caused termination of these services.

Recognizing that teenage girls required gender-specific education, Aniz, Inc developed a model program for at risk African American teen females that are sexually active and therefore are at risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases in 1999. The program, a risk reduction model, was named "Adolescent Females Learning About Surviving Healthy" (AFLASH). The program is for females who are at risk for HIV, Hepatitis C and other sexually transmitted diseases. AFLASH touches the lives of young females who may be infected and have not been tested. This program is effective for females ages 13-19, and has a long-range goal to prevent & reduce viral infections among this population.

In July 2000, Aniz, Inc developed and received funding for a program using a Day Treatment Model entitled: "Reaching Out To Sisters With HIV/AIDS" (ROSHA). This program is currently serving women comprised of individuals with HIV and co-occurring issues such as substance abuse and mental illness. In January 2001, Aniz, Inc developed advocacy as an important addition to the ROSHA program. It was to created for women to keep informed about issues that impact mental health, substance abuse and other at risk factors; encourage women to contact policy makers and elected officials to foster positive change; and mobilize the community to speak out on important issues. The goal is to promote self-advocacy in order to advance the dignity, quality of life and quality of care of individuals and families directly infected/ affected by HIV/AIDS.

In August 2001, Aniz, Inc developed Substance Abuse Treatment Center for Affected/Infected with HIV (SATCH) as a day treatment program for men and women recently released from jail who are infected/affected with HIV and other co-occurring issues provides structured therapeutic support and intensive therapy relative to substance abuse, mental health and other related social issues. Top

Expansion of Aniz, Inc

Aniz, Inc established a satellite office in Baton Rouge, Louisiana (ABRS) in October of 2003. The establishment of the office was to provide services under the Holistic Harm Reduction Program to intravenous drug users at high risk for HIV and Hepatitis C infection. The program is based on a Harm Reduction Model and has been funded by the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals as well as private foundations.

During the first six weeks after Katrina in 2005, Aniz, Inc. operated out of the River Center working under the Louisiana State Office of Emergency Preparedness, through a contract with Baton Rouge General Hospital, to provide services to those impacted by the hurricane. As a member of the Emergency Preparedness team, Aniz, Inc. served as the liaison to coordinate the efforts of local agencies serving HIV sero-positive and opiate addicted individuals. In June, 2006 ABRS was awarded funds by the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals to conduct HIV prevention through community level outreach. ABRS presented the results of the Holistic Harm Reduction Model at the National Harm Reduction Coalition Conference and the National Rural Health Conference. The need for ABRS has become increasingly evident as the number of individuals requesting services has steadily grown.

Recognizing a need in Mississippi, Aniz, Inc. establishes an office in Holly Springs. It receives funding to conduct the WWTK. Top

Aniz Going Forward

Aniz, Inc., now in its 13th year of existence is preparing to enter a new phase. Aniz has begun to unify all of its office under one name to establish and expand its presence in the Southeast. So the satellite offices are rechristened Aniz, of Louisiana and Aniz of Mississippi. Aniz, Inc. establishes new partnerships with non-traditional partners to move the discussion of HIV/AIDS beyond stigma and shame in the African-American community. Aniz, Inc. is the first AIDS Service Organization (ASO) to approach the Office of the Mayor of Atlanta to have them support National HIV Testing Day. Mayor Shirley Franklin enthusiastically supports the efforts of Aniz, Inc. and signs the proclamation. Recognizing the impact that HIV/AIDS has on its member's congregation, the Progressive National Baptist conventions requests Aniz to conduct free testing at its 47th Annual Convention. The first time the organization has had such testing at its convention. Aniz, Inc. has established a partnership with a local chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, the Concernced Black Clergy of Atlanta, local businesses and many others to collaborate on efforts to educate, advocate, and test to reduce HIV/AIDS in the community. Top