The AIDS Project of Southern Vermont has taken money from the federal Centers for Disease Control. But it’s prepared to give it back if new regulations become a problem.
The CDC has said it would be asking community groups receiving federal money to track individuals who are served by their AIDS prevention programs. Clients will be asked for information on their race, age and sex and then will be tracked to determine whether programs are working.
But the AIDS Project in Brattleboro worries that information will jeopardize client confidentiality. If it does, the AIDS Project’s director says it will turn the money back to the federal government and stop the tracking. Vermont CARES in the Burlington area decided not to even apply for the money because of similar concerns.