“You have to meet people where they are,’’ explained Sheila Brockington, who oversees HIV testing at the DMV office in southeast Washington. “You’re waiting anyway. You might as well.’’
The testing project, which began last October, is not run by the DMV but by a nonprofit group, Family and Medical Counseling Service Inc., which uses an office inside the site. To ensure confidentiality, residents are tested and receive their results in the office, out of earshot of those going about their usual DMV business. The nonprofit got a $250,000 grant to do the testing and secured the support of the city’s Health Department and the DMV. A second, similar grant is funding expansion.
Government statistics released in June show about 1.1 million Americans were living with the AIDS virus in 2008, and other studies show that about 10 percent to 20 percent of US adults are tested annually. But those involved in HIV/AIDS work recognize that more needs to be done to identify people living with HIV, said Chris Collins, the vice president and director of public policy for amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research.
“We need to be looking for creative ways to reach people who haven’t tested in the past,’’ said Collins, who has not studied Washington’s program but said innovation and creativity by cities is important.
In Washington, not everyone was sold on the idea when it was proposed by the head of the Family and Medical Counseling Service, Angela Wood. She came up with the idea after sitting at a DMV office herself. Initially, some officials doubted many people would test. Now, however, between 25 and 35 people get tested every day at the DMV location. Anyone who agrees gets $7 off their bill.
