Planned Parenthood Receives Federal Grant to Expand HIV Testing and Prevention Programs in Memphis

For the next three years, Planned Parenthood Greater Memphis Region (PPGMR) will receive $265,000 per year from the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to enhance PPGMR’s HIV prevention programming and integrate HIV prevention into PPGMR family planning services. According to PPGMR Chief Executive Officer Ashley Coffield, chief goals of PPGMR HIV prevention programming were to de-stigmatize HIV testing and regular condom use and to make both a normal part of life for sexually active people.

Prior to this grant, PPGMR provided free HIV testing and prevention counseling daily at PPGMR’s clinic at 2430 Poplar Avenue and weekly at three community sites. The HHS grant would allow PPGMR to expand free weekly testing to additional sites throughout the community and offer Spanish-language prevention counseling and free HIV testing for Spanish-speaking clients. The grant also would fund year-round promotion of PPGMR’s condom distribution program, Free Condoms Memphis, which gives away condoms at more than 50 locations in Shelby County, including churches, barbershops, nail salons, and nightclubs.