Mission
Founded in 1914, the American Social Health Association (ASHA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the health of individuals, families and communities, with a focus on preventing sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS, and their harmful consequences.
Programs
ASHA fights HIV/AIDS, herpes, HPV, gonorhea, chlamydia, and other sexually transmitted infections(STIs) with research, public education, patient support programs, and advocacy efforts nationwide. ASHA operates the only hotline where people can get information and support. In the calendar year 2006, the hotline answered calls from 22,000 people looking for honest and open communication.
History
The American Social Hygiene Association (ASHA’s original name) was founded in 1914 to initiate and coordinate the efforts of anti-venereal disease groups on a nationwide basis. Public health concern loomed large in early twentieth century reform. Of these, few posed a greater challenge than venereal disease (VD) or what we now call sexually transmitted infections. In the early 20th century, sexuality was not an acceptable topic for polite conversation and venereal disease remained largely concealed behind a veil of shame. By some estimates, as many as 80 percent of all men in New York City had had a gonorrhea infection at one time or another in 1901.
Among the founders of the American Social Hygiene Association was Thomas N. Hepburn, MD (the father of future actress Katharine Hepburn), a young physician from Hartford, Connecticut. Hepburn joined the organization after attending to a young woman who died of acute gonorrheal peritonitis just months after her marriage to a man whose friends had put him to bed with a prostitute at his bachelor party.
Over the years, the American Social Health Association has talked to countless individuals, leading the national battle cry to research and communicate with people about sexually transmitted infections.
- Website
- www.ashastd.org
- Location
- Po Box 13827
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 - Basic Info
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Founded: 1914
EIN: 94-2494435
Tax Status: 501(c)(3)
Annual Budget: $1,480,044 
