A Slightly Improved HIV Resource Guide.

On April 30th I wrote a blog post about the many flaws in the DC HIV/AIDS Resource Guide put together by the Consumer Advocacy Project. HAA has responded quickly putting their own HIV/AIDS Resource Guide Online. It is marginally better.

First, I noted that the first guide had outdated information, including the contact information for the DC CARE Consortium. The new guide managed to get the correct address for DC CARE but still listed an incorrect phone number! So I suppose an improvement, but only marginally.

Second I noted the first guide doesn't state what services organizations offer or what population they serve. The new guide does include this information, a definite improvement. Although I don't know how happy National Association of People with AIDS will be when they see the guide describes them as serving the "HIV infected". There's gotta be a better way of saying that.

Third, I noted the first guide had no reference to the Ryan White Planning Council, or how people living with HIV/AIDS in the district can have input into how services are provided locally. This hasn't changed, so no improvement on this front.

Fourth, I noted the first guide didn't include website addresses. The new guide includes website addresses: a definite improvement.

So those are my comments. This guide is better, but still with plenty of room for improvement.

You can download your copy here. Let me warn you though, it's 60+ pages so it may take a little while.

DC HIV/AIDS Resource Guide Flawed but Available

The Consumer Advocacy Project (a project of the National Association of People with AIDS) has developed a resource booklet for people living with HIV and AIDS in the DC metropolitan area.

The new guide definitely has some flaws.

First, several of the addresses and phone numbers are hopelessly out of date. The address and phone number for the DC CARE Consortium, for example, are from an old location. So if you call the number listed for DC CARE, you get "This number has been disconnected.....". This could have easily avoided if somebody simply took the time to call all the phone numbers and checked all the addresses.

Second, the guide tells what services organizations offer, but it doesn't mention which populations they serve. There's simply no way of knowing which agencies are best suited to working with youth for example; or which agencies are culturally competent in handling transgender clients. This makes it virtually impossible to know who to refer folks to. For example, I probably would not refer an LGBT person to the Union Temple Baptist Church HIV/AIDS Program simply because I know their minister Rev. Willie Wilson is hostile to LGBT people. But the guide doesn't let me know which agencies are welcoming to LGBT clients, so unless you're in the know you're out of luck.

Third, there is absolutely no reference to the Ryan White Planning Council, or how people living with HIV/AIDS in the district can have input into how services are provided locally.

Fourth, the guide doesn't include website addresses for any of the agencies. It should go without saying that agency websites should also be listed.

So those are my comments. Still ... at least we have something available now as a resource - so if you'd like a copy - contact the Consumer Advocacy Project today.

To request your copy call the Consumer Advocacy Project at 1 866-846-9366 or e-mail advocate@napwa.org

DC Area HIV/AIDS Consumer Advocacy Project

What do you do if you don't know where to go to access services for people living with HIV/AIDS such as medical, legal, financial, and other supportive services? Where do you go if you having difficulty accessing services at a local HIV/AIDS organization? Well, now you have the Consumer Advocacy Project.

The Consumer Advocacy Project is a project of the National Association of People with AIDS and is funded throught the DC HIV/AIDS Administration. If you have a question, or you have an unresolved grievance with a local HIV/AIDS service provider, you can call the toll free number (1-866-846-9366) or e-mail advocate@napwa.org.

I'm really glad to see this program launch, but to be honest, I'm a little concerned that nobody seems to even know it exists. NAPWA has been funded to do this work for the past four months, and there isn't even a word about the program mentioned either on the NAPWA website or the HAA website. That's disappointing. When you hear me talking about how we can do better, this is the type of thing I'm talking about.

Please help me in spreading the word about this program, by distributing this flyer. Click here to download the flyer. Make copies and be sure to share them with your friends, and to post them up your agency, organization, church, school, bar, or wherever you can.

NAPWA Hiring Local Advocates for People Living with HIV

The National Association of People with AIDS has received funding from the DC HIV/AIDS Administration (previously known as AHPP, they've changed their name again!) to create a Consumer Advocacy Project for people living with HIV/AIDS in our Title 1 area. Interested? Here's the job description:

"Consumer Advocates work as an extension of NAPWA professional staff to provide outreach to the Washington DC Eligible Metropolitan Area (EMA) PLWH/A community to help consumers access and maintain Title I services. Consumer Advocates participate in workshops, meetings, events and education for HIV/AIDS services. Duties associated with the position include presenting Title I program related information to HIV + persons across the metropolitan area, including the consumer grievance process, assisting at health fairs/events, assisting with office work, along with other duties as they arise during the Consumer Advocacy Project. Comprehensive training will be provided to familiarize consumer advocates with the Ryan White services available to PLWH/A in the DC EMA, outreach materials, and the consumer grievance resolution process

Consumer Advocates are paid, hourly stipend positions, trained and supervised by NAPWA professional staff. Consumer advocates will report to the Director of Community Affairs, the Community Affairs Associate, or designated NAPWA Staff."

To read the entire job description click here

To download the application click here