April 5, 1995

TPA AWARDED AIDS HOTLINE CONTRACT

SPRINGFIELD, IL -- The Illinois Department of Public Health has awarded Test Positive Aware Network (TPA) of Chicago a one-year, $230,000 contract to operate the Illinois AIDS Hotline beginning July 1, Dr. John R. Lumpkin, state public health director, announced today.

TPA, the Midwest's largest support and information network for individuals impacted by HIV, will replace Horizons Community Services of Chicago, which has answered calls to the hotline (1-800-AID-AIDS) for the past six years. The Department considered nine proposals from throughout the state before selecting TPA.

"TPA has an impressive history and dedication to the dissemination of information about HIV and AIDS," Dr. Lumpkin said. "We look forward to working with TPA and continuing to provide Illinois citizens with accurate messages about HIV/AIDS, prevention and risk reduction, counseling and testing, and referrals to other services as needed."

TPA will be the third contractor to operate the Illinois AIDS Hotline in its 10-year history. Howard Brown Memorial Clinic of Chicago operated the hotline from 1985 to 1988 and Horizons took over calls in July 1988.

The hotline, which received more than 40,000 calls last year, is the second busiest state information hotline in the United States. The hotline is in operation 12 hours a day, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and offers services to those who speak Spanish and the hearing impaired (1-800-782-0423).

As part of its bid proposal, TPA pledged to expand the hours of the hotline to 15 hours a day once it has fully assembled its paid and volunteer staff.

Illinois Department of Public Health 535 West Jefferson Street Springfield, Illinois 62761 Phone 217-782-4977 Fax 217-782-3987 TTY 800-547-0466 Send E-Mail to Public Health Webmaster