About Us

History

Step-Up’s mission revolves around meeting the needs of underserved populations. Indeed, the agency was founded on the principle of identifying gaps in HIV/STD education and prevention to the underserved and creating programs to address those needs. It became clear to the HIV community that there was a need for someone to “step up” to the challenge of providing HIV/STD prevention services to hard to reach populations. Both Brad Gumbert and Paula French (founders and Co-Executive Directors) had the experience, expertise and history in the HIV arena as well as the confidence of the community to meet that challenge.

Thus Step-Up, Inc. became a reality, obtaining our 501(c3) in 2002 and opening our doors on January 1, 2003. While Step-Up is still a fairly young agency, some of the programs have a long history in the community. Ms. French began the Youth At Risk program in 1995, the Community Action Groups began in 1986 and the Youth and Diversity program began in 1998. These programs were awarded to Step-Up at its inception due to the credibility of the agency’s founders. Over time, Step-Up has developed and implemented additional programs, the state’s only dedicated HIV prevention program for persons over fifty and our most recent achievement, the Indianapolis Men Advancing Prevention (I-MAP) program. Another key achievement is the forming of the Indianapolis Prevention Consortium (IPC). In partnership with another local AIDS Service Organization we co-convened a group of HIV prevention agencies to work together, rather than compete, to be sure that the most effective prevention strategies are being utilized to reach at-risk populations in our community.

Our most recent achievement is the development and implementation of the WTC program. True to our mission and philosophy of targeting under-served, hard to reach and high-risk populations, the WTC program focuses on women who are incarcerated, have a history of substance abuse and/or are victims of domestic violence. Step-Up also provides services such as the fiscal administration and trainings for the Indiana State Department of Health. Additionally, Step-Up provides trainings and workshops on local, state and national levels upon request.