On Sept. 25, the Atlanta AIDS organization Positive Impact learned it had been denied a federal grant to continue its counseling program for HIV/AIDS patients. The funding, which expired on Sept. 30, was a $2 million, five-year Mental Health Services grant provided through the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration. For patients struggling to cope with HIV/AIDS and maintain stable lives, the impact could be devastating, said Paul Plate, executive director.

Positive Impact is searching for alternate funding streams in the community: from Ryan White CARE Act-funded organizations such as AID Gwinnett, United Way and Atlanta AIDS Partnership, and by selling t-shirts. "We're a small organization so we can't organize a big gala," said Plate. Atlanta's Oct. 15 AIDS Walk raised $32,000 for the organization, and local agencies are offering temporary help, he said.

Our Common Welfare's executive director said Positive Impact's grant helped pay for one of two counselors at the agency for substance-dependent HIV/AIDS patients. "It was beneficial because it was right here on site," said Pat Brown.

Plate said his agency has about 540 clients, of whom 90 percent are women and 85 percent are minorities, including 29 percent who are Latino. The grant paid for six full-time counselors, and half the salaries of four full- and four part-time staff members. The grant's aim was "to bring minorities into treatment and keep them in treatment longer," said Plate.

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