During the HIV epidemic of the 1980s, Kitsap County began confronting the spread of the virus through a community-based task force. In 1990, the task force became a non-profit organization, Kitsap County HIV AIDS Foundation (KCHAF). Initially, the primary goals were to support the overall health of persons infected and affected by HIV AIDS and to decrease stigma for HIV prevention.
Since 1990, the target population for HIV prevention has significantly changed with reported rates of HIV infection drastically increasing among youth. In order to address the growing need for HIV prevention work with youth, KCHAF decided to incorporate a youth program into the organization. There was already a program for LGBTQ youth in Kitsap County at that time, operating as a virtual center, meeting at various locations, under the name Kitsap Q Youth. In 2007, the KCHAF board decided to ‘adopt’ this program in order to extend HIV prevention services to youth. KCHAF’s mission now includes empowering both those infected or affected by HIV AIDS and those at-risk by providing services, support, advocacy and education.
Mission
To fulfill the KCHAF vision, the Q center empowers youth to make healthy choices and create safer spaces.