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The End AIDS Washington Initiative was launched on World AIDS Day, December 1, 2014, as a result of Governor Inslee’s public commitment to ending AIDS in Washington State. We are a partnership of community-based organizations, government agencies, and educational and research institutions working together to reduce new HIV infections in Washington State by 50% by 2020.

“It was 1981 when the first Washingtonian was diagnosed with AIDS. While the number of new cases of HIV has declined, almost 14,000 people in Washington live with HIV today and close to 500 new cases were diagnosed last year. We must do more. With medical professionals, public health experts and community advocates working together we can drive down infection rates and even hope to end AIDS in Washington State.” – Governor Inslee

For the past few years, our state has seen decreases in new HIV infections, new AIDS cases, and death in people with HIV or AIDS. The many community organizations, medical providers, and research facilities in the state of Washington are experts in delivering a spectrum of HIV/AIDS services, ranging from medical case management, HIV testing, prevention education/outreach, and cure research. These organizations, combined with other entities providing essential support services such as substance abuse/chemical dependency treatment and harm reduction, housing and shelter, and food/nutrition, create a sophisticated network of support for people living with HIV/AIDS in Washington State and the thousands at risk of infection.

We’re at the forefront of prevention efforts, too. Washington is the first state in the country to institute a program to increase access to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), an important prevention tool that enables people at higher risk for HIV infection to protect themselves. The Drug Assistance Program (DAP) covers the cost of medication for eligible individuals, regardless of whether they are insured.

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Read the Governor's Proclamation

On December 1, 2014, Governor Jay Inslee issued a proclamation to End AIDS in Washington State by 2020.  Here is the official transcript or you can read the super official looking PDF proclamation.

WHEREAS, Washington State took bold action on the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, dedicating resources to educate citizens about HIV, prevent the spread of disease, and care for individuals who were infected; and

WHEREAS, these resources have been invested wisely, focusing on areas of the state with most disease and on interventions on the front edge of prevention science and most likely to interrupt spread of disease, resulting in decreases in new HIV infections, new AIDS cases, and deaths in people with HIV; and

WHEREAS, because of the Affordable Care Act, more people than ever have access to health care, and Washington’s health system is transforming to integrate physical and behavioral health care and social supports, all of which will help to care for those who are infected with HIV, which will further reduce the spread of disease; and

WHEREAS, because of all of these factors, Washington State is again in a position to take bold action and be a national leader in Ending AIDS, and medical providers, public health experts, and community advocates are poised to work with other partners across sectors and agencies to drive infection rates to the lowest in the country, by leveraging resources within the evolving health system at a time of budget challenges;

NOW THEREFORE I, Jay Inslee, Governor of the state of Washington, do hereby proclaim December 1st, 2014, which is also World AIDS Day, as the beginning of our work together to

End AIDS in Washington State

and I urge all citizens to join me in supporting this effort to make this state a Healthier Washington for all. I empower the State HIV Planning Steering Group to lead a robust task force to put forward recommendations to achieve the goals of End AIDS Washington, including reducing the rate of new HIV diagnoses in Washington by 50% by 2020 and reducing disparities in health outcomes.

End AIDS Washington Campaign Goals

Governor Inslee’s proclamation to End AIDS in Washington State calls upon the state HIV Planning Steering Group to convene a task force to put together recommendations on how to achieve the goals of the proclamation. That task force is called the End AIDS Steering Team, and includes people living with HIV, the Department of Health, an HIV medical provider, and AIDS service organizations.

The Steering Team established five goals for the work of End AIDS Washington, which include the goals established in the Governor’s Proclamation:

  • 50% reduction in the rate of new HIV infections by 2020.
  • Increase the percentage of people diagnosed with HIV who have suppressed viral loads to at least 75% by December 2016, and to at least 80% by 2020
  • Reduction in related age-adjusted mortality rates among persons with HIV by 25% by 2020
  • Reduction in racial, ethnic, and other disparities in health outcomes for people living with and at risk of HIV.
  • Improved quality of life for people living with HIV.
Washington State HIV Planning Steering Group

Governor Inslee’s proclamation to End AIDS in Washington State calls upon the state HIV Planning Steering Group to form the End AIDS Taskforce — a group that convenes monthly with the task of developing a plan for how to achieve the Governor’s goals. That task force includes people living with HIV or AIDS, the Washington State Department of Health, an HIV medical provider, and AIDS service organizations.

The End AIDS Taskforce is a 21-member, formal, standing, advisory committee. Members work with the Department of Health to develop a statewide HIV plan. Its vision is to end the HIV epidemic in Washington State by preventing new HIV infections and by keeping people with HIV healthy.

The Department of Health, together with the End AIDS Taskforce, will partner with those engaged in HIV direct services, those engaged in HIV policies, hospitals, state prisons, county jails, substance abuse treatment facilities, mental health programs, syringe exchange entities, and other likely partners to join the effort.

The following agencies are a part of the taskforce:

  • Benton Franklin Health District
  • Department of Corrections
  • Cascade AIDS Project
  • Community Health Care Tacoma
  • The Everett Clinic
  • Lifelong
  • Northwest Health Law Advocates
  • Pierce County AIDS Foundation
  • Public Health – Seattle & King County
  • Spokane AIDS Network
  • Tacoma Pierce County Health Department
  • University of Washington Washington State Department of Health

In the coming weeks the End AIDS Taskforce will be convening community conversations on this work. More information will be posted here; you can also email info@endaidswashington.org to be added to a distribution list and stay up to date on End AIDS Washington activities and opportunities to get involved.

Community Mobilization Partnership in Seattle & King County

Gay City Health Project, Seattle Counseling Service, the Center for MultiCultural Health, Entre Hermanos, Lifelong, and We Are 1 have partnered with community-based organizations, government agencies and educational and research institutions statewide to reduce new infections in Washington by 50% over the next five years through information, education, and outreach.

With new advancements in HIV detection, prevention, and treatment, we’ve reached an important new moment in the fight against HIV. According to the Public Health, Seattle-King County, 92% of gay men in King County living with HIV are aware that they carry the virus. Of those on regular treatment, 76% are virally suppressed, making it nearly impossible for them to transmit the virus to others. The rate of new HIV diagnoses in King County is down 23% from 10 years ago, and more than 95% of people diagnosed with HIV are connected to care within 90 days. Getting insured, getting tested, getting PrEP, and getting treatment are great ways to help stop the spread of HIV. Together, we can end the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Washington.

Community Mobilization Partners include:

Gay City Health Project
HIV/STI Testing Services & LGBT Resources
517 East Pike Street
Seattle, WA 98122
(206) 860-6969

Seattle Counseling Service
Project NEON
1216 Pine St, 3rd Floor
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 323-1768

Center for MultiCultural Health
African American Testing Program
1120 E. Terrace St., Suite 200, 98122

Entre Hermanos
Serving the Latino LGBTQ community
1105 23rd Ave
Seattle, WA 98122
(206) 322-7700

Lifelong/HEYO Youth Program
1161 11th Ave
Seattle, WA 98122
(206) 328-8979

Public Health STD Clinic at Harborview
HIV/STI Testing & Treatment
908 Jefferson St, 98104
(206) 744-3590