Mission
The Mission of Good Samaritan Project (GSP) is to provide advocacy, care and education to those affected by HIV/AIDs and sexually transmitted diseases.
History
GSP is a not-for-profit AIDS Service Organization founded near the start of the AIDS epidemic in 1985. Begun by volunteers who gathered in a church basement, GSP is Kansas City’s oldest and most comprehensive agency exclusively devoted to the care and prevention of HIV/AIDS. The agency maintains a staff of more than 20 professionals and over 100 volunteers. The service area consists of 11-counties in greater Kansas City. GSP offices are located in Kansas City, Missouri, and in Kansas City, Kansas.
GSP is a community-based organization, which means it is governed by a board of directors from the community and provides programs and services with a mix of public and private funding. As such, the agency delivers services in collaboration with more than 100 community partners. GSP’s partner network includes secondary schools, youth organizations, health and human service organizations, civic and church groups, public agencies and others.
Menu of Services
Men, women and children affected by HIV/AIDS are able to access a broad range of GSP services. The service list includes: case management; back-to-work assistance; mental health counseling; emergency and transportation assistance; buddy support; spiritual support; family recreation; and, HIV prevention services and testing directed at those most at risk for infection.
Diversity
GSP strives to maintain an ethnically diverse board of directors and staff to best represent our community and the needs of our clients. Approximately half of the staff is female and half is minority. Services are provided in English and Spanish. Regarding clients, minorities comprise slightly less than half of those engaged in case management, but represent nearly three-fourths of those receiving prevention education. Women account for nearly 30 percent of those in case management and more than half of those receiving prevention education.
Funding
GSP is a United Way agency and a provider of services funded through the federal Ryan White Act. In addition, the agency receives state and county grants, as well as grants from many private foundations. Individual donors provide nearly one-in-four dollars available for HIV/AIDS services.