Free Training: Working with At-Risk Youth

Free Training: Working with At-Risk Youth
Thursday, April 23, 10am-4pm
Prevention Works!
2501 Benning Rd NE

This is the second in our series of monthly trainings facilitated by technical experts from the Harm Reduction Coalition in New York.

The description is as follows: “Interacting with youth to educate, empower, and enlighten is the most beneficial thing one can do to ensure that the youth of today can build self-efficacy to be leaders who act in the spirit of self-determination for tomorrow. This workshop is open to providers of youth who are interested in learning how societal factors (racism, sexism, heterosexism, militarism, etc.) play a role in youth’s at-risk behavior, and how to mitigate the dangers involved that place them at-risk. Participants will look at not only how to incorporate social factors into their prevention intervention programs, but also consider activities, such as advocacy, and peer education that can be used as effective harm reduction strategies for at-risk youth at their own programs and agencies.”

Spaces are limited so please reserve a space now by sending an email to Mary Beth Levin, Director of Programs and Services: mlevin@preventionworksdc.org.

Spotlight: HIV/AIDS and Youth in the District of Columbia

The HIV/AIDS epidemic in the District of Columbia among youth is growing at an alarming rate. Roughly one out of every 100 young people ages 13 to 24 in the District is HIV infected or has full-blown AIDS. HIV infection rates among District young people tripled for the period 200 to 2005 compared to the previous five years. Yet, a District-wide health survey shows that only half of young people have been tested for HIV.

Find out more. View the Squidoo page on HIV/AIDS among Youth in the District of Columbia.

She Fourteen, She's Dying, and She Still Doesn't Know Why

I hear a lot of stories about HIV and AIDS in DC but this one I had to share with you. A staff person at a local medical facility today told me about a fourteen year old in the District of Columbia who is losing her battle against HIV/AIDS. Tragic as this is, it still happens, especially in the District. DC still has a higher HIV/AIDS Death Rate than any state.

What makes this case particularly tragic is that the young woman does not even know she is HIV positive. (She was born with HIV, a challenge that continues to plague our city. While there are treatments that prevent HIV positive pregnant moms from passing HIV on to their children in most cases, The District of Columbia also has the highest perinatal HIV transmission rates in the country).

And in this case, her mother has decided not to tell the young woman about her HIV status, and the Doctor is unfortunately obliged to respect her wishes.

I've heard second-hand information about several such cases at both Howard University Hospital and Children's National Medical Center. Despite the fact that young people in DC have the right to confidentially access sexual health services beginning at 13, there are young people aged 13, 14, 15, and even sixteen, that have not been told they are HIV positive.

Sometimes the parents may be concerned about how the children react. Sometimes the parents may be concerned about their own HIV status being revealed to friends and family. Either way, it continues to happen.

In the case of this fourteen year old girl, it seems to me outrageous that she could leave us and never know the truth about her HIV status.

But it is also outrageous to have sexually active teenagers in the District of Columbia who are HIV positive and don't even know it.

Given what we know about young people in DC from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data it's quite possible these youth are sexually active for several years before they even find out they are HIV positive. It's hard to believe, but true. And it may be yet another factor contributing to our high HIV/AIDS rates in the District.

Young adults have a right to accurate and honest information about their health and well-being. They should also have a right to know their HIV status.

More States Reject Abstinence-Only Federal Funding; No Change in Fenty Policy

The Associated Press reports that an increasing number of states are rejecting ill-advised Abstinence-Only-Until Marriage funding; and rightly so. There is no scientific evidence that abstinence-only-until-marriage programs—those that censor information about contraception—are effective in preventing HIV or teen pregnancy.

Numerous youth organizations in the District of Columbia have asked Adrian Fenty to also reject these funds, but to date there has been no change in the District of Columbia policy. (I personally asked Adrian Fenty to reject these funds at a Gertrude Stein Democrats Meeting on May 14th, 2007)

The Associated Press reports:

Some $50 million has been budgeted for this year, and financially strapped states might be expected to want their share. But many have doubts that the program does much, if any good, and they're frustrated by chronic uncertainty that it will even be kept in existence. They also have to chip in state money in order to receive the federal grants.

Iowa Gov. Chet Culver, a Democrat, made his decision to leave based on the congressionally mandated curriculum, which teaches "the social, psychological and health gains of abstaining from sexual activity." Instructors must teach that sexual activity outside of marriage is likely to have harmful psychological and physical effects.

A total of twenty two states have rejected these funds. Most recently, New York State rejected the funds. In addition two states, Arizona and Iowa, have announced their intention to forgo their share of the federal grant at the start of the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1.

This funding comes with strings attached that are simply unacceptable. The messages required by abstinence-only-until-marriage funding are damaging to gay and lesbian youth. Further, they are Ineffective, Unethical, and Poor Public Health.

I sincerely hope that the District of Columbia will listen to the concerns of the community and reject this funding once and for all.

Metro Weekly Profiles Khadijah Tribble

Metro Weekly has a great article online profiling Khadijah Tribble. I had the chance to meet Khadijah over coffee a few months back, when she was starting as Interim Director of Pediatric AID HIV Care. It's great to learn more about the important work she's doing.

December 1, World AIDS Day, will again mark that sad anniversary that, while a time to tout advances such as an entirely new class of HIV/AIDS medications, primarily reminds Washingtonians that HIV/AIDS is the millstone around our collective neck as we drown in an epidemic. Data released by the Mayor Adrian Fenty's Department of Health on Monday, Nov. 26, doesn't offer much succor.

According to the new HIV/AIDS report, HIV-positive children continue to be born in the District -- nearly a tenth of the country's pediatric AIDS cases in 2005 -- while some states have successfully used medication to eradicate mother-to-child transmission. Nearly 40 percent of new HIV infections are transmitted through heterosexual sex, though sex between men still accounts for 27 percent of new infections. Pointedly, black women, who are 58 percent of the District's female population, account for 90 percent of new female HIV infections in D.C. Possibly the most important point -- and the one everyone was likely expecting -- is that the nation's capital leads the country with its rate of AIDS cases: 128.4 per 100,000 people, versus the national average of 14 cases per 100,000 people.

continue reading this article at Metro Weekly

American University Students Dance to Fight HIV/AIDS

Dancing for six hours straight in a college-campus building might sound like a bizarre way for college students to spend a Friday night. But this World AIDS Day at American University in Washington, D.C., students danced to support children living with HIV/AIDS at American University's first Dance Marathon, a fundraiser to benefit the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. The Foundation is a global organization that seeks to prevent pediatric HIV infection and to eradicate pediatric AIDS through research, advocacy, and prevention and treatment programs.

continue reading this article on the Huffington Post

40 AIDS activists draped in red tape risk arrest at White House

Following a successful protest last year, over 40 AIDS activists draped in red tape risk arrest at White House

George Kerr, Co-chair of DC Fights Back will join the protesters.

Action on the eve of World AIDS Day, November 30


When: Friday 11/30 at 2:30pm

Where: White House sidewalk - Lafayette Square

Who: Over 40 HIV positive activists, health advocates, students and others

What: Civil disobedience on the White House sidewalk

RAIN OR SHINE

EVENT DETAILS:

Over 40 HIV-positive activists, health advocates, students and others will risk arrest on Friday at approximately 2:30 by performing a symbolic sit-down protest in front of the White House, at the sidewalk near Lafayette Square. The demonstrators will be draped in hundreds of yards of red tape to demand that various government entities remove the political "red tape" that is interfering with an effective response to HIV, locally, nationally, and globally. Demonstrators will be dressed as educators and doctors; others will wear shirts identifying them as people living with or at risk for HIV.

The demonstration expands upon a civil disobedience during last year's World AIDS Day, in which 20 protesters were arrested outside the White House.

The protesters, including members of local HIV/AIDS advocacy organization DC Fights Back, will be demanding that local DC public school students receive medically accurate, unbiased, comprehensive sexuality education that includes lessons on HIV and AIDS. The protest occurs following recent reports that confirm that 1 in 20 DC residents are infected with HIV and identifying DC's HIV/AIDS crisis as a modern epidemic.

Demonstrators will be echoing the call, by almost all HIV/AIDS advocacy organizations nationwide, for the US to implement a strategic US national strategy.

The assembled also say that the reauthorization of the Presidential Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief in 2008 is the time to reform the plan. This includes the removal of the 1/3 earmark for abstinence-until-marriage funding and the implementation of evidence-based HIV prevention policies, plus increased U.S. support for HIV treatment worldwide.

Thanks for Supporting HIV/AIDS Education in DC Public Schools

Thanks to everyone who came out to support the DC Public School Health Learning Standards. While there were a couple folks who came out to oppose the standars, the vast majority of people in attendance came out to support the standards, and to support HIV/AIDS education for DC Public School students. Supporters included a great mix of parents, students, teachers, ministers, medical professionals, HIV/AIDS organizations, and LGBT Groups.

You can click here to see pictures from the event on our flickr page, or click here to see an amateur video montage on youtube (also below)

Stand with DC Youth TONIGHT at DC State Board of Education Meeting

We need you to stand with and for young people in the District of Columbia tonight (Wednesday Nov 28th) at the DC State Board of Education Meeting and support comprehensive sex education. The meeting takes place at the State Board of Education Old Council Chambers, Old Council Chambers, 441 4th Street, NW at 5:30 PM. Supporters will be handing out red t-shirts!

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

We've all seen the numbers from the HIV/AIDS Administration. You know that we're in a city overwhelmed by HIV/AIDS. But let me give you two numbers that weren't in that report. According to a survey of DC Public School students conducted by the CDC and DC Public Schools, 17.5% of middle school students and 9.5% of high school students say they were never taught about HIV/AIDS in school. These numbers are from 2005. But sadly, when we saw a glimpse of the preliminary 2007 data we learned that 2007 numbers are expected to be worse.

We have failed DC youth by not getting our HIV/AIDS epidemic under control, but we will fail them yet again if we neglect to give them the tools to protect themselves in a city where 1 in 20 people is HIV positive. We must empower every student in every classroom, in every school, with comprehensive sex education and all the information they need to stay safe and healthy.

Encouraging the DC State Board of Education Meeting to approve the Health Learning Standards is a crucial first step. These standards have been created with the input of local DC youth organizations and child and adolescent health specialists.

Please join me TONIGHT to show your support.

We need you to stand with and for young people in the District of Columbia tonight (Wednesday Nov 28th) at the DC State Board of Education Meeting and support comprehensive sex education. The meeting takes place at the State Board of Education Old Council Chambers, Old Council Chambers, 441 4th Street, NW at 5:30 PM. Supporters will be handing out red t-shirts!

AU Dance Marathon Raises Money for Pediatric HIV/AIDS Care

The Dance Marathon at American University in Washington, DC is a student-run, philanthropic event that seeks to unite the campus around a common cause: the worldwide fight against pediatric AIDS.

Once at the Marathon, a six-hour event which lasts through the night, participants enjoy a range of activities to thank them for their fundraising efforts.

This year's inaugural event will end in the early hours of World AIDS Day. World AIDS Day, observed December 1, is dedicated to raising awareness of the global AIDS epidemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. Students, faculty and staff will unite with the hope to collectively raise $15,000 for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.

For more info, click here.

Children's National Medical Center World AIDS Day Health Fair

The The HIV Services Department at Children's National Medical Center (CNMC) will commemorate World AIDS Day in the hospital on November 29th.

Children's National Medical Center will hold a service provider fair in the atrium of the hospital to share information on ways to keep young people healthy. The fair will run from 10 AM to 1 PM.

Organizations are invited to send a representative to present information, with an emphasis on how your work supports the health of young people. Please expect to share a table with another vendor. Bring signage that represents your organization and be available at 9:30 to set-up. For more information contact Ebony Johnson by email or at (202) 491-3970.

Metro TeenAIDS to Name Chantel Christie as Youth Ambassador

Chantel Christie, daughter of NBA power couple, Doug and Jackie Christie, is being named the Metro TeenAIDS Youth Ambassador for HIV/AIDS Awareness on November 17, 2007, and various city officials will be in attendance. As the new spokesperson for Metro TeenAIDS, Christie will reach out to the youth on HIV/AIDS Awareness and encourage youth nationally to get HIV tested. This inauguration starts at 2:00 P.M. (EST) at the Hill Crest Recreation Center located at 1300 Denver Street, South East Washington, D.C. 20020.

Chantel Christie has a passion to lead youth across the world as a positive role model. Earlier this fall, she was chosen as the Kids Outreach Spokesperson for the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington for 2008. Chantel also has a new reality show titled "Coming Up Christie" where she goes through the vigorous works of releasing her first single called "Best Friends" within the music industry.

"Growing up as a Christie has taught me the values of leaving a positive impact on the community. I am excited about my new ventures and working with kids across the globe," says Chantel. During the inauguration ceremony, Chantel will facilitate a Question and Answer Session on the topic of HIV/AIDS.

During the event, guests attending will enjoy personal spoken word from Chantel as well as giveaways from The Doug and Jackie Christie Infinite Love Foundation HIV/AIDS Awareness.

Local College Students Say HIV/AIDS is Not Part of New Student Orientation

From Kaiser Daily NPR's "Weekend Edition Sunday" recently reported on efforts to educate U.S. college students about HIV/AIDS. According to NPR, most colleges "operate on the principle that students already know about HIV."

Some students at Howard University and George Washington University in Washington, D.C, said that HIV/AIDS education is not incorporated into orientation and that they were unaware that one in every 20 people in the district is living with HIV/AIDS. At a recent speech to students at Howard, UNAIDS Executive Director Peter Piot said that the rate of HIV in the district is higher than that in many African countries. Piot also discussed his visit several years ago with HIV-positive women in the city.

The "stories that the women were telling me there, frankly, I had never heard before," Piot said, adding, "I was so shocked that this is going on in this town."

Isabel Goldenberg, director of student health at George Washington, said the college offers workshops on sexually transmitted infections, distributes condoms and works with fraternities and sororities on HIV/AIDS education. Howard and George Washington also recruit students to serve as health educators.

In addition, CDC has designated funding for HIV/AIDS prevention at some historically black colleges, and the Black AIDS Institute recently sent 25 black college students to the district to train as HIV/AIDS advocates (Wilson, "Weekend Edition Sunday," NPR, 10/7).

Audio of the segment is available online.

Squidoo: Michelle Rhee and HIV/AIDS in DC

Check out the latest Squidoo page which looks at Michelle Rhee and the HIV/AIDS Epidemic in DC. As the head of DC Public Schools (DCPS), Michelle Rhee plays an important role in the fight against HIV/AIDS in DC. Rhee oversees the DCPS HIV/AIDS Program. Be sure to check out the new page at www.squidoo.com/michellerhee/.

New York Rejects 'Financing Ignorance': Will DC Follow?

Today New York State Health Commissioner Richard F. Daines announced that New York is joining the growing number of states that are rejecting the Bush Administration's Abstinence Only Program.

Daines stated "The Bush administration's Abstinence Only Program is an example of a failed national healthcare policy directive, based on ideology rather than on sound scientific- based evidence that must be the cornerstone of good public healthcare policy."

While the policy has been in effect for some time, Daines comments coincided with the release of the report Financing Ignorance: A Report on Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Funding in New York.

Daines continued: "In keeping with the Governor Spitzer's progressive healthcare agenda for New York, on July 2rd the department cancelled all existing abstinence only contracts under the federal Title V program that began under the previous administration. Earlier this year, the department made a conscious decision not to reapply for funds under this program due to the increasingly rigid federal standards imposed on New York and other states that were contrary to our commitment to fully educate adolescents about the risks associated with sexual behavior."

On numerous occasions, concerned DC residents have asked Adrian Fenty to unequivocally reject Abstinence-Only-Until Marriage Funding. I asked Mayor Fenty if he would reject this money at a Gertrude Stein Democrats Meeting in May 2007. A coalition of local youth serving organizations also asked Mayor Fenty to reject this money in May.

The organizations that signed on to this request include: City Year Washington DC, DC Primary Care Association, Girls Incorporated of the Washington DC Metropolitan Area, The Latin American Youth Center, Metro TeenAIDS, Sasha Bruce Youth Work, Young Womens Project, and Youth Action Research Group.

New York is one of eleven states that has rejected abstinence-only-until-marriage funding. The other states are California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, Montana, New Jersey, Ohio, Rhode Island, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

Let's hope the District of Columbia is next.

Reminder: Join us Thursday for the ACTION Lunch

It's not too late to join us this Thursday for the Septmber ACTION Lunch where we will learn more about the Youth Risk Behavior Survey.

The Youth Risk Behavior Survey helps us better understand young people in the District of Columbia and what behaviors may put them at risk for HIV. It's a crucial piece of the puzzle in understanding what's happening with HIV in DC and how we can most effectively prevent it.

Join us for a preliminary look at the 2007 Youth Risk Behavior Survey information, including never before asked questions about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth in our city.

Our presenter will be Marc D. Clark, Ph.D., Director of Health Operations for DC Public Schools.

This event takes place Thursday, September 13th at the DC CARE Consortium, 1156 15th Street NW #6

To RSVP online for this event: click here.

This is one lunch in a three-part series entitled 'Understanding the HIV Epidemic in DC'. To download the flyer for this series, click here.

Squidoo: Youth and HIV/AIDS in DC

Check out the latest Squidoo page on Youth and HIV/AIDS in the District of Columbia. I've included information on the HIV/AIDS advocacy in DC Public Schools, the City Year Project Hope Team, and much more. If there is something you'd like to see up on the Youth Squidoo page, just let me know.

HIV/AIDS Awareness Low Among DC Teenagers

Unlike most District teenagers, 15-year-old Kanesha Overton considers herself well informed about the rising epidemic of HIV/AIDS in the Greater Washington area. But her knowledge about the disease, she says, came from her babysitter, not HIV/AIDS information campaigns or sex education programs.

"I learned about the disease from my babysitter, by her talking to me about it at a young age, starting at about age six," said Overton, a student at Banneker Academic High School. "When I became older, it made me more aware about the truth."

Overton also learned about sex the hard way. Her mother got pregnant with Overton's older brother at age 19 and the father was 22. Before her father could wed her mother, he died of a gunshot to his head. Kanesha was three years old at the time.

But Overton's mother made sure that her daughter did not repeat her mistakes. She began talking to her and explaining what sex was at the age of 13, speaking mostly of its consequences, such as diseases. "My mother always told me, when she had sex and how it affected her life," she said. "It makes me want to wait until I get married."

continue reading this article at the District Chronicles (you may need to register)

Michelle Rhee at Gertrude Stein Democrats Meeting

There is an article about the new chancellor of the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS), Michelle Rhee appearing at a recent Gertrude Stein Democrats meeting in Metroweekly. I was there, and I asked Michelle Rhee two questions about the Youth Risk Behavior Survey.

In responding, Rhee first had to seek clarification from her aide on whether or not the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) was under her jurisdiction. I have to admit, I was a little disappointed she was unfamiliar with the YRBS, which is crucial to understanding the health and well being of DC school students (including but not limited to HIV/AIDS).

Can Rhee have a measurable impact on the number of students who take weapons in our schools? Can Rhee have a measurable impact on the number of students who report being harrassed or threatened in our schools? Can Rhee in any way impact the number of students who smoke cigarattes or who have been offerred or sold illegal drugs on school grounds? All these questions are part of the Youth Risk Behavior, and two years from now, we will be comparing the 2007 YRBS data with the 2009 YRBS data to understand Rhee's impact in her first two school years.

There are other tools to measure whether or not Rhee can improve the academic performance of school students, but the YRBS is the most important tool to understand whether or not Rhee can impact the health & safety of our students. If she is unfamiliar with the baseline data we are going to be using to evaluate her progress, I find that a little concerning.

Still, as Adam Tenner stated in the article, "For youth in D.C., it's incumbent on us to extend the chancellor as much trust as we can, until she gives us reason not to."

I look forward to working with Michelle Rhee, and hope we can achieve measurable improvements in the health and safety of our students in the District.

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If you want to read more about the meeting and other issues raised, click here to read the Metro Weekly article. If you would like to learn more about the YRBS, please come to the ACTION lunch next month where Dr. Clark will be speaking on the Youth Risk Behavior Survey.

Metro TeenAIDS Seeks Community Partners

Is your organization serving youth in Wards 5, 6, 7, or 8? Are they between the ages of 13-24?

MetroTeenAIDS (MTA), an organization dedicated to preventing HIV infection among young people in the Washington, DC metro area is looking for Coalition Partners in Wards 5, 6, 7 & 8 , and interested youth they serve, to help us design our new HIV testing campaign!

What are the benefits to your organization becoming a Coalition Partner?

• A $5,000 stipend to invited org’s, to ensure that youth and staff maintain participation in all required phases of the project
• Youth and staff will be trained in social marketing techniques designed to engage youth in HIV testing services and safer sex practices
• Youth will gain leadership and peer to peer relationship building skills – and get paid for it!
• Youth will get to be creative and use their input to design campaign messages and materials –and get paid for it!
• Youth will have the opportunity to receive safer sex & STD information as well as HIV counseling and testing through co-sponsored events – and get paid for it!

What opportunities exist for my young people?

• You may have youth who want to apply for the Youth Advisory Board (YAB) - They will be paid $100/mo. for 8 months to attend monthly meetings, share ideas about your needs, participate in media & peer outreach trainings, help design campaign materials and participate in related events. We are looking for (2) youth from Wards 5, 6, 7, & 8, that have demonstrated leadership experience, high level of commitment and creativity (10 hours a month). A completed application must be submitted for consideration and all YAB Members must attend trainings with program staff. Recruiting NOW!
• Some of your youth may want to be Project Interns– They will be paid $50/mo. for 5 months to participate in focus groups, media & peer education training, and related peer outreach events (5 hours a month) We are currently developing a list of youth interested in this phase of the project. (30) youth will be chosen to participate. Recruiting NOW!
• A number of your youth may want to participate in one of our (4)Focus Groups – They will be paid $20 just to come to a 1 hour focus group during the last week of August. Recruiting NOW!

What other ways can my organization to be involved?

• Provide space for a focus group of youth from your organization
• Be a distribution site for campaign materials, including youth resource guides
• Host a co-sponsored event to highlight the campaign
• Invite MTA staff to host a youth HIV testing Day at your organization
• Tell other organizations about these opportunities

If you are interested in becoming a Coalition Partner, have questions, or other collaborative ideas, please contact:

M’Bwende Anderson, at manderson@metroteenaids.org / 202.543.9355 x 12