AIDS United

Philadelphia Talks About Community Coordination with the National HIV/AIDS Strategy

November 17, 2011 in National HIV/AIDS Strategy

by Carole S. Treston, Executive Director, AIDS Alliance for Children, Youth & Families

On October 20, the White House Office of National AIDS Policy convened the third in a series of public forums to address the implementation of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) and the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This session, “Sustaining the Community-Based Response to HIV” held in Philadelphia, was attended by community based providers, local government, medical providers, consumers and activists and academics from the Philadelphia region. The panel – local and national experts, talked about their perspectives on the expansion of Medicaid and other changes in the HIV funding and service delivery environment provided by the ACA and how that may support or possibly hinder achieving the goals of the NHAS.

One of the main goals of the NHAS is to reduce new infections by 25% and an audience member asked how we could achieve this, since new infections have remained at the same rate, more than 50,000/year- every year for a decade now. Did the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) intend to fund differently or change its priorities? I’m not sure that was fully answered to the audience’s satisfaction, but Paul Kawata spoke about how the recent scientific data of 052 and the PreP studies support treatment as prevention. He pointed out that this and other advances show the potential for ending the AIDS epidemic in the US. It is possible. We have the knowledge, but do we have the political will (and resources) to achieve that vision? He reminded us that people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) began this struggle and must continue to lead the efforts to the conclusion.  The expansion of Medicaid in 2014, theoretically will increase access to medications and treatment, but there remains a lot of concern in the community about diagnosis and treatment and that we still have a long way to go to educate people about the benefits of knowing their HIV status and getting into treatment. We know the role of Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and PLWHA is the front line there.

This hit home later that week. Philly is my hometown, my family is there and I still live there. That weekend, my niece told me one of her friends just tested positive. He’s a twenty two year old black gay man who lives at home with his mother and sister in North Philadelphia. With the support of his mother (she didn’t throw him out of the house, as unfortunately is too often the case) he is beginning to deal with his diagnosis, get into care and remarkably – tell his friends. But the two guys and one girl who also slept with the same guy, don’t want to know their status, don’t want to talk about it and will not get tested. We still have a way to go.

With the ACA, many patients (but not all) who were formerly uninsured and cared for through Ryan White dollars will now be eligible for Medicaid. Due to this expansion in a shrinking budget environment at the state and federal levels, the likelihood of shifts in Ryan White resources looms in 2013 and beyond. With the possible loss of Ryan White funding, CBOs that deliver only HIV services and/or rely solely or largely on Ryan White funding could be in jeopardy.  Also, the focus and investment in Community Health Centers, in particular Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) is likely to be an ongoing trend in health care delivery through this decade. FQHCs must provide a continuum of care, not specific to one population or one disease, regardless of a patient’s ability to pay.

The message was clear – organizations need to be preparing for the future NOW.  Two organizations that made the shift were featured, The Mazzonni Center (Phila) and Whitman Walker Health (DC).  Nurit Shein, Executive Director of the Mazzoni Center, and Don Blanchon, Executive Director of Whitman-Walker Health, both talked about expanding their mission beyond HIV to healthcare for the larger LGBT community, adopting a new business model, and working towards FQHC status. Both are continuing to take a hard look at what their population needs, identifying what their organization has done well, determining what was better done through collaborative formal partnerships with another agency, and, in some cases, deciding which activities and services they needed to divest because other organizations were doing them better.

The role of incarceration in fueling the HIV epidemic and health disparities kept coming up and the audience was not going to let their concerns go unanswered- this is the home of ACT-UP Philadelphia after all. Currently, when someone becomes incarcerated, they are terminated from Medicaid and they face an uphill battle to regain coverage after release, which presents a big problem for getting and keeping PLWHA in stable medical care post-release without Ryan White programs. The link between disproportionate rates of incarceration in black men and the disproportion rate of HIV and health disparities was well made by audience members. While the provision of care through community health centers to individuals when they are released from prisons, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay was well described by Kathy McNamara from the National Association of Community Health Centers, the vital role that Ryan White resources play in linking and retaining PLWHA in care post- release.  No matter how different the future will be, there will still be a need for the Ryan White program — still as a safety net, but now for the ACA, if we are to achieve the goals of the NHAS and end the AIDS epidemic in the US in our lifetime. Wouldn’t that be something?

The 2011 GEN III Grantee Convening Helps Bolster Skills, Invigorate Staff

November 16, 2011 in GENERATIONS

by Veronica Tovar MPA
HIV Research & Education, Chicano Federation

We at the Chicano Federation of San Diego, Inc. have been thrilled to be part of AIDS United’s groundbreaking program called GENERATIONS:  Strengthening Women and Families Affected by HIV/AIDS.  The GENERATIONS program supports new evidence-based interventions or adaptations of existing prevention models for specific populations of women and girls at high-risk for infection, utilizing a combination of cash grants, technical assistance, grantee convenings and evaluation support.  Chicano Federation is one of six grantees in the third cohort of GENERATIONS (GEN III)  grantees, all of whom gathered in Washington, D.C. November 2-3 to discuss the progress of each grantee’s project, support each other with input and ideas, and to rejuvenate.

Chicano Federation’s GENERATIONS grant helped us create the De Mujer a Mujer Project (From Woman to Woman) in response to the need for HIV prevention targeting primarily monolingual Spanish speaking, migrant, Latinas from traditional backgrounds.  To target the most at risk Latinas in San Diego, demographic maps demonstrating the areas with the highest STI and poverty rates, created by the California Department of Public Health, Office of AIDS, were utilized. Participants must be Latina, ages 18 and over, sexually active (had unprotected vaginal or anal sex with a man in the past 6 months), must be HIV negative, or not know HIV serostatus, and live in one of five zip codes in the central region.  The project was piloted for four months, and then began implementation in January, 2011.  To date, over 100 women have participated.

At the convening, GEN III grantees were given tips on how to write abstracts, a task that Chicano Federation really needed some help in doing so we could better  present our success to the community.  We were then assigned to begin writing an abstract, on the spot, with our team.  This activity was incredibly helpful.  Since Chicano Federation had not previously had an HIV prevention project, it also lacked the experience of writing competitive abstracts.  We left the conference feeling capable and better prepared.

The AIDS United staff also gave us tips on funding sustainability.  During a time when funding is scarce, it is very important to have a realistic discussion about the next steps.  AIDS United Victor Barnes, Angela Von Croft, and Maura Riordan, took the time with the program managers to have candid discussions about funding possibilities.  For me, it helped to give greater clarity on what the best options are for my agency.  Having little experience in generating funding, I left the convening with a plan of action.  The technical assistance team conducted another important and final activity, addressing each grantee’s project individually, and explaining what portion of the GEN III proposals caught the attention of funders, and what almost took us out of the running.  Having funders tell you exactly what was good and not so good about your proposal is rare but unbelievably beneficial to us!  This type of interaction is a perfect reflection of how much the funders truly care about the grantees and their work.

Moreover, just being with a group of people who are all implementing wonderful projects to better the lives of underserved women is inspiring in and of itself.  Chicano Federation was striving to create a prevention project for Latinas; GEN III made our dream come true.  It is incredibly fulfilling to have participants share how this project has positively impacted their lives.  They get out of abusive relationships, they learn how to use a condom for the first time, and they feel better about themselves.  Thank you GEN III for making such a huge difference in our community!

Team Chicago Checks In!

in AmeriCorps, Team To End AIDS

By Wandalyn Savala

It’s been a busy quarter for Team Chicago. After AIDS United training in Ann Arbor, we quickly got to work in the Chi. Our team of nine serves with eight agencies in the city: Broadway Youth Center, Test Positive Aware Network, Chicago House, Southside Help Center, Howard Brown, Heartland Alliance, The Night Ministry, and Project Vida. Our work connects us with youth, homeless individuals, persons who identify as LGBTQI, people struggling to make ends meet, and people new to the world of service providers and case managers. Every day we see how HIV is truly a city-wide issue.

Our primary task is to provide HIV testing to those who visit our agencies, but often we become a part of our clients’ emotional and social support networks. With the life changes that can come with being “at-risk” for contracting HIV or living with HIV, how could we not? It was no surprise, then, when one of our teammates began crocheting hats for homeless individuals they work with in anticipation of the winter months.

Of course, emotional and social support goes beyond meeting the needs of the people we serve. Support also means celebrating successes. In September and October, we did just that by volunteering at the Chicago Half Marathon and the AIDS Walk. Both events raised money for HIV service organizations so that they – and we – can continue the work we do in all parts of the city. As we cheered on the Team2End AIDS, we marveled at how one good, “GOOOOO TEAM!” helped runners make it through the finish line.

It’s November now. We’re in the thick of our service year, but far from the end. (A fact that we’re constantly reminded of as the temperatures drop, and our first Chicago winter looms near.) Whenever we can, we’re at trainings, conferences, and meetings to enhance our knowledge about the epidemic. We know that HIV, what we know about it, and how we can fight it is constantly evolving. Accordingly, we prep ourselves as much as possible. As 2011 winds down, look forward to more blog postings about what we’ve been up to since August, and what we look forward to doing from now until June.

Wandalyn Savala is a member of AIDS United Team Chicago. Follow Team Chicago on Twitter @AIDS_U_CHITOWN and ‘like’ us on Facebook.

House of Representatives to Vote on the Constitutional Balanced Budget Amendment

November 15, 2011 in Policy/Advocacy

by Donna Crews, Government Affairs Director

As required in the Budget Control Act of 2011 the House and Senate must vote on a Constitutional Balanced Budget Amendment.  The  legislation states, “After September 30, 2011, and not later than December 31, 2011, the House of Representatives and Senate, respectively, shall vote on passage of a joint resolution, the title of which is as follows: ‘‘Joint resolution proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.’’’  There are relatively few legislative business days left before December 31^st.  The House is scheduled to bring their version of a Constitutional Balanced Budget Amendment to the floor this week, with a vote on Friday, November 18^th.

The proposed amendment H.J. Res 2, requires that outlays (what the government spends) do not exceed receipts (what the government brings in) each year, and requires a three-fifths majority to raise the debt ceiling. A similar version was passed by the House in 1995, with 300 votes, but failed in the Senate by only one vote. Constitutional amendments require a two-thirds majority to pass — 290 votes in the House, and 67 votes in the Senate.

The Senate may or may not bring the same version of the bill to the Senate floor and no time has been announced for a Senate vote.  If the exact legislation passed both chambers it would then be sent to the states for ratification by at least 38 states (3/4 of states) in a seven year period.  It would not require a signature from the President.  It is not expected that this legislation will get the necessary 2/3 majority votes to pass in either chamber, but we must advocate and ensure it does not pass.

A balanced budget amendment to the Constitution is not the solution to the current deficit situation we find the country in at this time.  Many economists believe a balanced budget amendment would be a terrible idea.  Macroeconomic Advisor (a nonpartisan mainstream firm) has said that, “any version of a balanced budget amendment would do significant harm to the American economy”, according to an article entitled Economic Forecasting Firm Harshily Criticizes Proposed Constitutional Balanced Budget Amendment posted here at the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities.

While Congress and the Administration strive to bring the budget as close to balanced as possible, there are many extenuating circumstances that often come to bear, such as wars, natural disasters, high unemployment, and need for government programs to cover safety net issues for the poor and disenfranchised.  Please read the letter signed by AIDS United and over 100 National Organizations Opposing the Balanced Budget Amendment.  The Center for Budget and Policy Priorities has additional background information on the balanced budget amendment that the House is considering and the amount of program cuts that may be implemented if the amendment was enacted.  Click here for further details and resources.

AIDS United is opposed to this legislation.  We urge you to contact your House Member of Congress and ask for a “No” vote on the Balanced Budget Amendment on Friday.

Making a Difference in DC

in AmeriCorps

Finding affordable housing in Washington, DC can be an uphill battle. As gentrification drives housing prices up in different neighborhoods around the District, some residents e are pushed out to Maryland or Virginia, and/or find themselves with insecure housing situations. The Transitional Housing Coalition (THC) is one organization that works to maintain affordable housing options for families and individuals, and the organization also helps prevent people from becoming homeless in the first place.

For Make a Difference Day, Team DC met up with the wonderful people at one of the transitional housing sites of THC. Families stay at sites like this one before making the move to a more permanent living situation, such as one of the long-term affordable rental housing sites of THC. The organization also has programs for permanent supportive housing, and for rapid rehousing and homeless prevention for displaced families or families that are in danger of losing their homes.

After learning a little bit about the organization and about housing issues in DC, we donned gloves and masks and got to work sanding and taping a few of the walls of the apartment complex. The walls had recently been re-done, and we were prepping them for painting, which we were able to do after lunch. With the power of twelve team members, and the help and guidance of the maintenance staff, we managed to finish painting all of the walls that we prepped. The staff was very happy to have the extra help, and we felt proud to have contributed to the beautification of the building.

One of the highlights of the day was when we met up with a three-year-old resident who wandered into the room that we were in and started hopping around and “ribbiting” like a frog. He hung out with us for a little bit before his mom came for him, and he even came back to say goodbye to us later.

THC not only provides affordable housing for individuals and families, it also has a number of enrichment programs for the people that it serves, and most of these programs are staffed by volunteers. If you live in the DC area and want to help out with a ‘Time for Tots’ program, for example, check out the Transitional Housing Corporation and you might be able to meet our frog friend!

Team Carolina | Make A Difference Day

November 11, 2011 in AmeriCorps

On Make A Difference Day, Team Carolina had the opportunity to collaborate with Partners in Caring (PIC), a grant-funded component of the Duke University Medical Center (DUMC) Pastoral Services Department and the DUMC Division of Infectious Diseases. Along with its main focus to provide spiritual assistance to individuals living with HIV/AIDS, PIC also is greatly involved in prevention education and testing in outreach and community settings. As our AmeriCorps team, and many other teams have surely come to know, the infectious disease known as HIV is not one that only affects the biological aspect of an individual’s life. It has breached to other facets such as social, political, and mental. It is wonderful that programs like PIC exist to help individuals cope with their condition, and help these individuals establish reassuring relationships with local churches and support groups.