There are nearly 3000 people living with AIDS in Contra Costa County today.

Project CONNECT is an HIV testing program based on the concept that people are linked together through social networks. Participants in the program will encourage people in their networks (such as friends or lovers) who may be at risk for infection to be tested and receive education and counseling on HIV prevention methods.

When HIV is detected early, the medications available today can prevent the virus from replicating and causing AIDS: adding decades to a person's life.

In 2006, 65% of the new AIDS cases in our county were reported in the same year as the person's first HIV test. This means that people are waiting far too long to get tested. Of these late testers, 69% are men who have sex with men (MSM).

Project CONNECT focuses on testing members of the MSM community so that they can learn their status earlier. Early testing will keep HIV positive men healthy longer and help reduce the spread of the virus.