What We Are All About

Mission:

RAIN engages the community to transform lives and promote respect and dignity for all people touched by the AIDS crisis through compassionate care, education and leadership development.

Services:

CareTeams

CareTeams are groups of individuals from congregations or other caring groups who are trained by RAIN to support to persons living with HIV/AIDS. CareTeams provide practical, emotional, spiritual support to CarePartners (individual living with HIV/AIDS). CareTeams can provide assistance to one or more CarePartners or can provide specialized tasks such as: Transportation, Pastoral Care/Companionship or Events.

Prevention Education and HIV/AIDS Awareness

RAIN provides prevention education and awareness about HIV and related psychosocial issues of living with HIV/AIDS to faith and community groups, young people and clergy. Formats vary including presentations, CareTeam trainings, Red Ribbon Days and pastoral summits. Specialized program are offered on spiritual and pastoral issues related to HIV/AIDS.

Pastoral Services

RAIN provides pastoral support in area medical clinics, hospitals, extended care facilities, in the individual's home and by telephone. RAIN also offers support groups for individuals living with HIV/AIDS and worship services.

Minority Programs

RAIN hosts the nation’s largest minority CareTeam program. The Minority program targets the African American community through African American congregations. RAIN is a national partner with the Balm in Gilead and sponsors the Black Church Week of Pray for the Healing of AIDS. The minority program staff hosts Pastors Summits providing culturally appropriate theology training for ministers and lay leaders.

Advocacy

Congregations play a leading role in Southern communities, where messages from the pulpit influence policy makers, human service organizations and the ordinary person. RAIN engages the religious community in conversations about HIV/AIDS and encourages a theology of love and care for all persons affirming their inherent worth and dignity in the face of social structures and policies that too often overlook or deny their needs.

History:

Since 1992, RAIN has:

• Provided nearly 150,000 volunteer hours to people living with HIV/AIDS,
• Reached over 44,900 individuals with HIV Prevention Educational Presentations,
• Assisted over 700 individuals living with HIV/AIDS and their families,
• Trained 2, 500 individuals to serve on CareTeams,
• Trained 3,000 individuals to serve on CareTeams,
• Coordinated programs in 100 different congregations from 20 denominations & faith traditions, in 13 counties in North & South Carolina.

Awards and Recognition:

National Recognition:

Search for Common Ground: Community Peace Building Award 2004
Leadership For A Changing World: 2002 Recipient
AIDS & Religion in America Convention: The Carter Presidential Center, Atlanta, GA
Presbyterian Church CareTeam Conference, Atlanta, GA
U.S Conference on AIDS: Miami , FL; Washington, DC; Denver, CO; and Anaheim, CA

Local Recognition:

Charlotte Observer: Organizations to be Thankful for in 2003
Nancy Susan Reynolds Personal Service Award 2003 Finalist
National AIDS Fund: Caring Count Award for youth peer HIV/AIDS Education and community leadership
North Carolina Governor’s Award Volunteer Appreciation Award for Distinguished Community Service in the fight against HIV/AIDS
Unsung Hero’s and Heroines Award: South Carolina HIV/STD Conference
Regional HIV/AIDS Consortium: Community Service Award

Publications:

HIV Plus:Preaching for the Seroconverted
A&U
Divinity: Duke University

Film/Video
Featured in “God Cares, We Care: Congregations Concerned about HIV/AIDS”, produced by the office of Health Ministries, Presbyterian Church, USA
United Methodist Television: Feature Story 2003

Partnerships:

 Balm in Gilead