VOA Health

12/05/2025

Please join us for Part 2 of World AIDS Day and receive a complimentary haircut by undergoing a free anonymous HIV test on December 9 from 9 AM to 2 PM.

12/05/2025

VOA Health is excited to announce that Determined Health will be hosting our 1st Youth Holiday Empowerment Workshop! This event is designed to uplift, inspire, and empower youth across the city.

This event will bring together young people ages 6–16 for a day filled with:
✨ Peace-building and violence prevention activities
✨ Motivational speaking and youth empowerment sessions
✨ Holiday crafts, games, and giveaways
✨ Interactive stations including Peace on Purpose and Dream Big 2026
✨ A safe, supportive environment that promotes resilience, hope, and positive choices

We invite staff, partners, and community members to help spread the word and support our youth as we create a safe, joyful, and impactful holiday experience.

If you are interested in volunteering or supporting this event, please email me at yunikkab@voamid.org

12/02/2025

Day 2 of our World AIDS Day event has been postponed due to inclement weather, but a new date and time will be announced shortly. Thanks and apologies for any inconvenience. 

12/01/2025

Today we are honoring World AIDS Day please stop by and see us and get you a free anonymous HIV test with a $20 gift card incentive and also enter a drawing to win a honey ham for Xmas!

11/25/2025

WORLD AIDS DAY 2025 - “Remember. Renew. Respond.”

VOA Health is honored to host a two-day World AIDS Day event this year as we come together to remember those we’ve lost, renew our commitment to ending HIV in our community, and respond with compassion, education, and action.

📍 Day 1: Community Resource Fair
December 1, 2025 | 10 AM – 2 PM
Goodwill West Louisville Opportunity Center
2820 West Broadway
We’ll have community partners onsite, free and confidential HIV testing, health screenings, and resources for housing, employment, mental health, and healthcare access.
During our closing hour (1–2 PM), we’ll hold a special remembrance moment and hear from two individuals living and thriving with HIV. Their stories matter, and they remind us why this work is so important.

📍 Day 2: Free Haircuts + HIV Testing Event
December 2, 2025 | 9:30 AM – 2 PM
Kentucky College of Barbering
2820 West Broadway, Suite 500
In partnership with the Kentucky College of Barbering, we’re offering free HIV testing and education. Anyone who gets tested will receive a free haircut, and barber students will participate in a friendly competition — the student with the most clients tested wins a professional clipper set.

Our goals are simple but powerful:
✔ Increase awareness and education
✔ Expand access to community-based testing
✔ Strengthen linkage to care
✔ Reduce stigma and celebrate resilience

We invite you to join us, bring a friend, and take part in a day of remembrance, empowerment, and support.
Together, we honor the past and invest in a healthier future.

06/26/2025

Important Announcement from VOA Health Outreach & Prevention

It is with deep sadness that we announce the closure of our VOA Outreach and Prevention program, effective July 1, 2025.

As many of you may have seen, all federal CDC funding for HIV Prevention has been paused indefinitely across the United States. Our team was fully funded through the Ending the HIV Epidemic prevention grant, and without this support, we are unable to continue our services.

This decision is devastating, not just for our team, but for the entire community we serve. HIV prevention is lifesaving work. Access to s*xual health education, especially affirming and accurate education for Q***r communities, matters. It has been our honor to provide this care.

This department has been a longstanding part of VOA, and we are incredibly proud of the legacy we leave behind. We want to give special thanks to every staff member, volunteer, partner, and community member who has been a part of this journey. Your dedication and support have made all the difference.

What this means:

Our office will no longer offer testing or outreach services.

Any monthly testing or education events we had scheduled will end this month.

For questions about VOA Health more broadly, please call the main number listed on our page.

We are grieving this loss alongside you. But we remain hopeful that each of us, individually and collectively, will continue to advocate for and serve our communities in every way we can.

Thank you for trusting us. Thank you for partnering with us. And thank you for believing in this work.

With gratitude,

The VOA Health Outreach & Prevention Team

05/20/2025

03/14/2025

This week, we had the privilege of hosting students from the University of Louisville School of Nursing, who volunteered with our VOA Health program. They assisted with various tasks around the office and had the unique opportunity to observe firsthand the vital work our Community Health Workers (CHWs) and Outreach Specialists do to support our community. In addition, the students participated in a course focused on HIV prevention, gaining valuable insight into the importance of education and awareness in public health.
We're grateful for their support and hope this experience provided them with a deeper understanding of the impact we can have when we work together to promote health and well-being.

University of Louisville School of Nursing

02/22/2025

Today, we had the privilege of providing health education to a remarkable group of young individuals from our partners at Blueprint 502 (formerly YouthBuild). This partnership, built over the last five years, continues to be a source of inspiration. Over 20 young people attended today’s session, where they learned about youth STI statistics and the importance of s*xual health.

Youth between the ages of 15-24 represent nearly 50% of all new s*xually transmitted infections (STIs) in the U.S., which highlights the need for education and awareness. In fact, one in four s*xually active teens will contract an STI each year, making it even more critical to have conversations around prevention, testing, and care.

Today was especially impactful as every single one of the attendees got tested for HIV. Considering that young people represent the highest rates of STDs, their commitment to getting tested is a huge step in the right direction.

I’m incredibly proud of them. One participant shared, “I’m so happy today. I learned a lot and will now consider my s*xual health a top priority.” Moments like these are why I love what I do. A huge thank you to my amazing team and all those who contributed to making today such a success

02/06/2025

In honor of National Black HIV Awareness Day, we’ve partnered with Simmons College of Kentuckyto provide free HIV testing and education. This collaboration highlights the critical role of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in raising awareness and encouraging prevention, especially in communities disproportionately affected by HIV

02/06/2025

We’re excited to be raising awareness this National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (Feb 7th) and grateful for the incredible community partnerships that make this possible! Collaborating with organizations like Blueprint 502, Simmons College of Kentucky, and Jefferson Community & Technical College is key to creating meaningful change. By working together, we’re able to bring vital HIV/AIDS education and free anonymous testing to those who need it most. These partnerships are essential in tackling the HIV epidemic, especially in communities that are disproportionately affected. We’re proud to be part of this important effort and look forward to continuing the fight for better health and awareness!

12/02/2024

Today we countinue to celebrate World AIDS Day, we stand united under the theme “Collective Action: Sustain and Accelerate HIV Progress'' to champion equality, dignity, and access to healthcare for all. Together, let’s break barriers, uphold human rights, and create a future free from stigma and discrimination. UofL Cultural Center