Welcome to Metropolitan Charities

Minority Outreach Prevention and Risk Reduction

Please check out our programs by clicking on the links below:

Minority Empowerment Through Risk-Reduction and Outreach (M.E.T.R.O)

Minority Empowerment Through Risk-Reduction and Outreach (M.E.T.R.O) is a program that targets Blacks/African Americans, Latinos/Hispanics, and Minority Ex-offenders of all genders.

The M.E.T.R.O Program educates participants on issues surrounding substance abuse, HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis. The goal of the M.E.T.R.O Program is to prevent the onset or relapse of substance abuse, modify risky behaviors, and reduce the transmission of HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis among minorities.

Participants must be able to attend a session once a week for two hours. Participants will graduate from the program after attending 12 sessions. The sessions are offered on various days and times throughout the week to fit the participants’ schedules.

The Program is open to all eligible community members, HIV negative and HIV positive.

To be eligible, participants must be residents of Pinellas County, at least 18 years of age, and of minority descent. Participants will be eligible to receive the following:

¬ Free HIV counseling and testing
¬ Free Hepatitis A, B, and C screening and vaccinations
¬ Free gift cards
¬ Free bus passes or gas cards to assist with transportation
¬ Free mental health counseling

For more information, please call (727) 321-3854
and ask to speak with a staff member of the M.E.T.R.O. Program.

Real Life

Real Life – Controlling Your Tomorrow is an HIV-prevention program for Black/ African American teens, ages 13-17, who reside in Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties. The goal of the program is to empower these youth with the mental attitude, social skills and organizational support to improve their health, make better decisions, improve their self-awareness, increase overall academic achievements and educational retention rates. Additionally, the program will assist them in taking responsibility for their actions, clarify their own values about sexual activity, and make informed decisions that will help them avoid becoming infected with HIV.

Participants will meet for eight 90-minute sessions once a week. This program is FREE of charge. Transportation and gift card incentives will be given to each enrolled youth participant after each session attended. All group sessions will be facilitated by a Prevention Counselor and a Prevention Navigator through a variety of methods, such as interactive group discussions, role-plays and culturally appropriate videos, participants will learn:

_ Essential information about HIV and AIDS and how it affects the body

_ Ways to handle social and sexual pressures

_ Strategies to communicate assertively with peers

_ Refusal skills & How to Say NO

_ How to make good decisions and avoid/decrease risky activities

_ Appropriate condom use skills

_ Skills to become HIV prevention peer educators within their communities

If interested please contact:

Carolyn Johnson, Program Supervisor

(727) 321-3854 ext. 231 or email CarolynJ@metrocharities.org

Erma Boteng, Pinellas County Prevention Navigator

(727) 321-3854 ext. 226 or email ErmaB@metrocharities.org

Jazmin Heath, Hillsborough County Prevention Navigator

(813) 232-3808 ext. 301 or email JazminH@metrocharities.org

W.E.S.T. Program – Women Empowered & Standing Tall

The purpose of the Women Empowered and Standing Tall (W.E.S.T.) program is to provide support and education services to women who have a boyfriend, fiancé, or husband who is currently incarcerated or recently released from jail or prison. The W.E.S.T. program empowers women, increases self-esteem, and provides them with the skills to make healthy choices to reduce the transmission of HIV, Hepatitis C, and other STI’s. This program consists of women centered 1-on-1 sessions and interactive support groups.

W.E.S.T. is an eight week program that meets for 2 hours once per week, with an option of an additional 2 weeks. The program is FREE of charge. All group sessions will be facilitated by two Prevention Education Specialists through a variety of methods, such as interactive group discussions, role-plays and culturally and gender appropriate videos.

Participants will be eligible to receive the following benefits:

► FREE gift cards, gas cards and bus passes

► Women’s wellness and pampering activities

► Group sessions are offered on various days and times during the week

► FREE HIV and Hepatitis testing available

If interested please contact:

Cassidy Noble, Minority Prevention Program Coordinator

(727) 321-3854 ext. 213 or email CassidyN@metrocharities.org

Julia Ingram, Prevention Education Specialist

(727) 321-3854 ext. 244 or email JuliaI@metrocharities.org

Olivia Patch, Prevention Education Specialist

(727) 321-3854 ext. 243 or email OliviaP@metrocharities.org

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Minority Outreach Prevention and Risk Reduction