The Don't Sleep On It syphilis awareness campaign was created in partnership with the Syphilis Elimination Advisory Council (SEAC), a community group with an interest in eliminating syphilis in Houston/Harris County.
Formed in 1999, the SEAC focuses on the identification of key strategies to eliminate syphilis from Texas communities. These strategies include increasing awareness of and mobilizing community involvement and resources in the elimination of syphilis, facilitating more effective communication regarding syphilis elimination, and identifying gaps in services and barriers to accessibility of services for at-risk individuals. Funded by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), SEAC maintains collaborative relationships with representatives of the communities most affected by syphilis and appropriate local groups with the goal of eliminating syphilis from Texas communities.
Made up of concerned citizens of Houston and Harris County, as well as neighboring counties affected by syphilis, SEAC meets 10 times a year on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 12 noon in the auditorium at the Lyons Avenue Health Center, 5602 Lyons Avenue, Houston, TX 77020. Meetings are open to the public.
SEAC’s activities include:
- Networking with community members, local business owners, and representatives of local and regional health departments, community clinics and community- based organizations.
- Presentation and discussion of syphilis morbidity, current trends in syphilis transmission, and at-risk groups in their respective areas to increase knowledge of the epidemic
- Distributing syphilis awareness materials to communities at risk
- Organizing and implementing a community health fair event
