Black Community Developers, Inc

Services

BCD serves a diverse population within the city of Little Rock and across the state of Arkansas. The services provide outreach programs through the BCD-Hoover Center that test people for AIDS, and offers health care referrals, women's programs, crisis intervention, basic services, literacy and computer training, GED training, jobs training and placement, and children, youth, and family educational enrichment programs. Housing the homeless, temporary shelter and affordable housing services are available. Daycare services are also offered to infants and children.

BCD-Hoover Center's commitment is to be a spiritual home where all people are unconditionally accepted, where needs are met, lives are nurtured and recovery and healing can take place.

BCD HIV/AIDS Project responds to the critical consequences of drug abuse and the epidemic of AIDS, BCD offers AIDS and HIV services, including programs for youth and children, as well as comprehensive services to the community. Working the streets of the mid-town and other poor, high-risk communities, the BCD HIV/AIDS Project brings prevention, education, testing and comprehensive support services where they are least available yet most desperately needed.

The mid-town central Little Rock area represents only three percent of the city's population but has the highest incidence of HIV/AIDS/STD in the metropolitan Little Rock area. Substance abuse is also voluminous, with the area representing the highest number drug and gang related arrests in the city. Factors such as poverty and homelessness combine to further increase high-risk behavior. It is estimated that 80 percent of the mid-town Little Rock population lives on public assistance or government subsidized income; at the same time, the average income of mid-town residents served is only 44 percent of the city average. Other services include:

Case management services to HIV-positive persons including help finding shelter
Securing benefits, accessing medical care and coordinating with other services
Support groups for HIV-positive persons and those at risk for HIV
Advocacy services for HIV-positive persons to get their needs met including interventions with public and private service agencies
Climate of acceptance and compassion
AIDS/HIV Prevention & Education services
One-on-one prevention counseling to over 350 clients per year
Free HIV Testing
BCD does not discriminate against anyone in the delivery of services and offer services to all who are in need. To create and offer culturally specific services and care is to make sure that all are included--and no one is excluded. We are committed to providing compassionate care for all as an extended family.

Recipients of BCD Services Include:

90% African-American
10% White
70% Homeless
5% Unemployed
5% Injection drug users
77% Male
18% Female