• Our overall goal is to reach African American women with vital health information.
• Salons play a significant role in Black women's lives.
• Black women consider their salon communities a major source of support and   guidance, especially in relationship issues.
• A shared sisterhood and community, if modified to embrace healthy living and HIV prevention, can offer a strong influence that can overcome the structural barriers to lifestyle modification and offer empowerment for personal and culturally-based behavior change.
• The Louisiana Black Women's Stylist Initiative will combine health education, promotion of lifestyle modification, such as reducing risky behavior, increasing acceptance of HIV testing, encouraging screening and referrals in a culturally-based community setting -- the hair salon.

In order to become a HIV awareness center, the salon will agree to:

• Participate in training on HIV info, and the Stylist Initiative.
• Incorporate health promotion info in discussions with clients including on their lifestyle change, accurate HIV/STD info, communication skills, risk reduction, condom use and negotiation.
• Collect info on conversations they have with clients about health and HIV related topics.
• Make referrals to HIV/STD testing and other community services.
• Display Initiative materials and condoms in their salons.

For More Information Contact: Shantell Wade (504) 568-2225 or Shantell.Wade@la.gov