Across the Horizons | May 2026 Newsletter
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Tuscaloosa, AL
HIV: 274
PrEP: 272
Case Mgmt: 206
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Starkville, MS
HIV: 225
PrEP: 145
Case Mgmt: 145
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Oxford, MS
HIV: 240
PrEP: 28
Case Mgmt: 138
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Meridian, MS
HIV: 34
PrEP: 5
Case Mgmt: 81
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Montgomery, AL
HIV: 1,506
PrEP: 204
Case Mgmt: 1,135
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Dothan, AL
HIV: 714
PrEP: 65
Case Mgmt: 668
| | MAY EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH |
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Jalisa Thomas
Meridian, MS
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The First Annual Five Horizons Open:
A Weekend to Remember
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On April 24th and 25th, the Five Horizons Open Pickleball Tournament in Tuscaloosa, AL brought our community together for two incredible days of fun, connection, and support for Five Horizons Health Services!
From Rally & Rhythm on Friday evening to Paddle for Prevention on Saturday, we were so grateful to see our community come together to learn, play, volunteer, and support our mission. Thank you to everyone who participated, sponsored, donated, and cheered players on throughout the two-day event. From beginners learning the game to competitive matches on the court, the energy and community spirit made this tournament truly unforgettable.
A special thank you to our amazing sponsors for helping make the Five Horizons Open such a success: PARA, Cindy Smith – RE/MAX, UA Pickleball Club, Buffalo Rock, Avita Pharmacy, Renasant Bank, and Trustmark.
We are so grateful to everyone who helped make this event possible, and we’re already looking forward to next year!
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FROM THE FIELD:
PREVENTION & OUTREACH RECAP
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Tuscaloosa, AL
Tuscaloosa had a strong month of engagement across campuses, churches, schools, and community spaces, focusing on HIV prevention education, PrEP awareness, testing, and meaningful community connection.
On college campuses, the team partnered with the University of Alabama and Stillman College for events including the All Black Affair Dinner, AKA Pink Table Talk, Late Night Talk, and the Tuscaloosa PrEP Rally, bringing prevention education, open dialogue, and HIV testing opportunities directly to students. At the University of West Alabama, the Springfest Testing event provided additional student-centered outreach with HIV testing services.
Faith and community partnerships remained a key focus, with education sessions at First Missionary Baptist Church and participation in the Senior Connect Health Fair, expanding outreach across both youth and older adult populations.
The team also engaged in multiple community events, including the DCH Community Health Fair, Boligee Community Health Fair, and school-based celebrations like the Davis Emerson ACAP Celebration, strengthening visibility and access to services across Tuscaloosa County.
Innovative outreach efforts included successful pop-up HIV testing events at Piggly Wiggly and Dollar General locations, along with tabling in Coker, helping bring services directly into everyday community spaces and reaching new audiences.
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Montgomery, AL
The Montgomery team had an exciting month of community engagement throughout April! Southern Region staff hosted a successful PrEP Rally at Alabama State University to promote PrEP awareness, safe sex, and HIV prevention among college students. Students connected with staff, learned about prevention services, and enjoyed food trucks, games, music, a mechanical bull, and a dunk tank in a fun, welcoming environment.
The team also celebrated the graduation of Campus Ambassadors Ta'Naiyah Jenkins, Carter Sutherland, and Juan Caster for their outstanding work promoting HIV awareness and peer mentorship on their campuses. Congratulations to our graduates from your Five Horizons family!
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Dothan, AL
The Dothan team stayed active throughout April, bringing education, awareness, and support directly into the community. Staff members Woodlens and Kerry participated in both the Dothan Community Health Fair and the Andalusia Health Fair, using the Five Horizons mobile clinic to provide HIV prevention education, awareness resources, and on-site testing services. Community members stopped by throughout both events to connect with staff, ask questions, and learn more about available services in a fun, welcoming, and supportive environment as the team continued spreading awareness across the Wiregrass area.
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Starkville, MS
The Starkville team stayed active throughout April, providing education, testing, and prevention services across campuses and surrounding communities. The month began with a S.P.A.R.K. education session led by campus ambassador Jaden Joiner, focusing on mentorship, open communication, and student wellness. At the Boys & Girls Club in West Point, the team hosted Wellness Wednesday, engaging youth in discussions and activities around mental, physical, and emotional health.
On campus at Mississippi State University, the Donuts with Deltas event in partnership with Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. resulted in 22 HIV tests and 17 PrEP referrals, along with strong student engagement and education. The team also held a monthly education session at Pines and Cady Hill using Sexual Health Bingo to encourage conversation and provide prevention resources, resulting in PrEP referrals. Additionally, at the Crawford, MS Annual Health Fair, the team offered HIV and HCV testing, education, and linkage to care while connecting with community members.
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Oxford, MS
The Oxford team remained active in April, providing education, engagement, and prevention resources across campus and the community. At the University of Mississippi, the team participated in the Public Health Internship and Career Fair, connecting students with public health and career opportunities.
Community outreach included the Mary Cathey Head Start Public Health Fair, offering interactive wellness activities and family-focused resources, and a tabling event at the Oxford Housing Authority, where staff shared prevention education and health information with residents.
On campus, education sessions at the J.D. Williams Library engaged students through interactive learning and outreach materials to increase awareness of prevention services.
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FHHS Joins & Leads ABAC Meetings
Five Horizons Health Services participated in recent ABAC meetings focused on protecting and strengthening HIV funding and services. During the meetings, we met with several Congressional offices to discuss the ongoing need for federal HIV funding, the growing demand for services, and the importance of continued investment in prevention, care, and community health programs across Alabama and Mississippi.
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President Releases FY27 Budget Proposal: Take Action Now
Much like last year, we are depending on Congress to push back against cuts that we know would be incredibly harmful to people we care about and to our goal of ending the HIV epidemic - so Members on the Hill need to hear directly from constituents how much we care about these programs! We ask you to join us in calling on Congress to reject the cuts proposed in the President's budget & fund HIV programs at levels adequate to meet the need in communities across America!
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FHHS Submits Written Testimony for Congressional Record
With support from our friends at the Collier Collective and the #SaveHIVFunding Campaign, FHHS submitted written testimony to be included in the Congressional Record of the House Appropriations Committee's Labor-HHS Subcommittee FY 27 Budget Hearing. Alabama's Rep. Robert Aderholt chairs this Subcommittee, making testimony from an organization serving constituents in his district particularly relevant & impactful!
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FHHS Joins ALLARMS PLWH Summit in Jackson
FHHS was proud to participate in the ALL ARMS Summit, bringing together advocates, community leaders, and people living with HIV from across Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi. The summit created space for meaningful conversations around advocacy, policy, leadership development, and community engagement. Also, highlighting the importance of regional collaboration and elevating the voices of people with lived experience.
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Sentara Hospitals
After failing to comply with breach notification requirements, Sentara Hospitals agreed to pay $2.175 million after failing to properly notify HHS of a data breach, the largest settlement based on the reporting of a breach of unsecured PHI to date.
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