Spotlight: HIPS

Recent Blog Posts

Recent Pictures

Yahoo Group

HIPS
P.O. Box 21394
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 232-8150 phone
(202) 232-8304 fax

HOTLINE: 1-800-676-HIPS

www.hips.org

HIPS' mission is to assist female, male, and transgendered individuals engaging in sex work in Washington, DC in leading healthy lives. Utilizing a harm reduction model, HIPS' programs strive to address the impact that HIV/AIDS, STIs, discrimination, poverty, violence and drug use have on the lives of individuals engaging in sex work.

Spotlight: Us Helping Us

Recent Blog Posts

Recent Pictures

Yahoo Group

Us Helping Us
3636 Georgia Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20010
(202) 446-1000 phone
(202) 204-0806 fax
www.uhupil.org

Founded in 1985, Us Helping Us, People Into Living, Inc., is a community-based AIDS service organization committed to reducing HIV infection in the African-American community. Us Helping Us provides HIV counseling, testing, and referrals for everyone. Us Helping Us specializes in providing HIV prevention and support services to gay and bisexual men.

Us Helping Us, People Into Living, Inc. (UHU) was founded in 1985 by Rainey Cheeks and Prem Deben with the support of their friends. All of them were African-American gay or bisexual men.

Spotlight DC CARE Consortium

Recent DC CARE Blog Posts

Recent DC CARE Pictures

DC CARE Consortium
1156 15th St, Suite 500
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 223-9550
www.dccare.org

The mission of DCCC is to advocate the assurance and availability of appropriate HIV/AIDS services in the community, including the equitable distribution of funding for these services and quality assurance in their delivery. Find out more at www.dccare.org.

Spotlight: Damien Ministries

Recent Blog Posts

Damien Ministries
P.O. Box 10202
Washington, DC 20018-0202
(202) 526-3020
www.damienministries.org

Inspired by the life of Blessed Damien of Molokai, Damien Ministries seeks to reach out to those people living with HIV and AIDS whose needs are not met by other social service agencies. Through its ministries of prayer, communal support, pastoral care, advocacy and direct services, Damien Ministries works to create a sense of belonging and community.

Spotlight: Metro TeenAIDS

Recent Metro TeenAIDs Blog Posts

Recent Metro TeenAIDS Pictures

Metro TeenAIDS
651 Penn Ave, SE
Washington, DC 20003
(202) 543-9355 phone
www.metroteenaids.org

Metro TeenAIDS provides resources to help young people fight AIDS and support each other. Unlike any other organization in the Washington, DC area, Metro TeenAIDS focuses all of its efforts on the special prevention, education, and treatment needs of young people.

Spotlight: Andromeda Transcultural Health

Recent Blog Posts

Recent Pictures

Andromeda Transcultural Health
1400 Decatur Street, NW
Washington, DC 20011
202-291-4707 phone
202-723-4560 fax

Andromeda’s mission is to provide access to quality healthcare under the premise that all humans are inherently of equal worth but have cultural and linguistic differences that must be considered. This philosophy reflects a high level of community health care that has been validated by over three decades of direct service to minorities and underserved populations.

Spotlight: Food & Friends

Recent Blog Posts

Recent Pictures

Food and Friends
219 Riggs Road, NE
Washington, DC 20011
(202) 269-2277 phone
www.foodandfriends.org.

Along with nutrition counseling, Food & Friends prepares, packages and delivers meals and groceries to more than 1,300 people living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-challenging illnesses throughout Washington, DC, 7 counties of Maryland and 7 counties and 6 independent cities in Virginia. Since 1988, Food & Friends has provided food and companionship to our clients, their loved ones and caregivers.

Spotlight: ACTION

Recent ACTION Blog Posts

Recent ACTION Pictures

ACTION Yahoo Group

AIDS Clinical Trials Information & Orientation Network (ACTION)
A Project of the DC CARE Consortium
1156 15th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005

The AIDS Clinical Trials Information and Orientation Network (ACTION) provides information and resources to those interested in local HIV/AIDS research, and supports an active community voice in research.

Spotlight: Capital Area Vaccine Effort (CAVE)

Recent Blog Posts

Recent Pictures

Capital Area Vaccine Effort
c/o David Mariner
1300 N Street NW #313
Washington, DC 20005
www.aidsvaccine.org

Capital Area Vaccine Effort is a volunteer panel of individuals from the general public and from the diverse communities affected by AIDS. CAVE is organized to assist and advise AIDS vaccine trials in the metropolitan DC area.

Spotlight: La Clinica Del Pueblo

Recent La Clinica Del Pueblo Blog Posts

Recent La Clinica Del Pueblo Pictures


La Clinica Del Pueblo
2831 15th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 462-4788
www.lcdp.org

The mission of La Clínica del Pueblo is to provide free, culturally appropriate health services in the Latino community. For the past 20 years, La Clínica del Pueblo has provided free health services in the Latino community. Founded in 1983, the clinic began as a one-room health clinic with a single doctor, operating one night per week.

Since then, the clinic has grown into one of the few bilingual, culturally competent, free community health clinics in region. In a hollistic, family practice style of health care, La Clinica Del Pueblo offers primary care, mental health and substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, interpreter service, social services as well as health education and outreach.

Spotlight: DC Fights Back

Recent Blog Posts

Recent Pictures

Yahoo Group

DC Fights Back
www.dcfightsback.org

DC Fights Back is a network of people living with HIV/AIDS and their allies working to engage ourselves and our communities in every aspect of HIV advocacy to ensure the best possible treatment and care for people living with HIV/AIDS; and the best possible science-based HIV prevention. DC Fights Back is the local affiliate of the Campaign to End AIDS.

HIV/AIDS Organization Staff Walk the Runway at 3rd Annual Fashionably Aware

Staff members from several local HIV/AIDS service organizations walked the runway last night at the third annual Fasionably Aware Fashion Show. You can see more pictures of the event right here.

Models included Cyndee Clay representing HIPS, Adam Tenner representing Metro TeenAIDS, and Paola Barahona representing Prevention Works.

A highlight of the evening was a performance by the DC Cowboys.

Fashionably aware benefits the Washington AIDS Partnership, a philanthropic collaborative affiliated with the National AIDS Fund (NAF) and Washington Grantmakers.

Reminder: Join us Next Thursday for the ACTION Lunch

Please join us for the June ACTION (AIDS Clinical Trials Information & Orientation Lunch) on June 14th at 1:00 PM at the DC CARE Consortium. DC CARE is located at 1156 15th Street NW Sweet 500, closest to the McPherson Metro.

We will have a panel discussion on Transgender Community Involvement in HIV/AIDS Clinical Research. What are the unique issues transgender trial participants face? How do researchers collect information about sex and gender in clinical studies? Join us for a panel presentation and discussion on transgender community involvement in HIV/AIDS Research.

As many of you know, the several DC Community Advisory Boards wrote a joint open letter on Sex & Gender that can be read online at www.aidsvaccine.org . Our goal is to change the way the NIH collects data on sex and gender in HIV/AIDS research to accurately reflect transgender populations and to increase the cultural competency of NIH NIAID DAIDS funded researchers in working with transgender trial participants.

I'm thrilled to say we have had a good response to our local DC letter from around the world. What once seemed an impossible goal has become a realistic and achievable goal, though there is still much work ahead. Of the six global networks funded by DAIDS, one (the HIV Vaccine Trials Network HVTN) has already expressed it's support. The Global CAB of the HVTN and the HVTN ethics working group has endorsed the letter. Two of the other six networks will be discussing the letter in the next two months, and the Community Partners (which is comprised of members of all six networks) will also be discussing the letter in the next month.

This lunch is an important opportunity to continue the dialogue on sex and gender with the NIH NIAID Division of AIDS, and to learn and share information about transgender community participation in HIV/AIDS research. I hope you can be there!

To RSVP for this event, click here. If that link doesn't work (idealist has been acting up lately) you can e-mail me or call 202 223 9550 ext 15.

Beyond Shame: Democrats Sell Out Youth

From rhrealitycheck.org: Today, the House Democrats will waltz into the mark-up of the Labor HHS Subcommittee and proudly present a bill that puts their stamp of approval on domestic abstinence-only-until-marriage programs—an ideological boondoggle that threatens the health and well-being of America's youth.

The most appalling aspect of this sell-out is that that the Democrats will not only fully fund the worst of the failed abstinence-only-until-marriage programs—they'll give them a $27 million increase—the first in three years!

Shame on Congressman David Obey for brokering this "deal;" shame on Congresswoman Nita Lowey for agreeing to it; and shame on the other Democrats on the Appropriations Committee who have already promised not to offer any amendment that would cut funding for abstinence-only programs and thus "upset" the deal.

In one inglorious motion, the Democrats have sold the health and well-being of young people down the proverbial drain, delivered a public slap in the face to evidence-based public health, and made a mockery of their "prevention first" message.

Consider this irony. The first domestic policy the Democrats will endorse on the prevention front will be to fund abstinence-only-until-marriage programs for young people up to the age of 29! Good work, gang. You make me proud to be a Democrat—NOT!

And consider this second irony. The Democrats will now become one of the largest funders of an ultra-conservative network that is clearly hostile to its policies and candidates (See an in-depth article in The Nation.)

The funding of abstinence-only-until-marriage programs represents the worst of cynical, "inside-the-beltway" deal-making. Whose interests were protected at the expense of young people's health and lives? Whose politics were advanced by including this "sweetener" for conservatives in an appropriations bill threatened with a Presidential veto? Inquiring minds would like to know.

Now is the time for advocates to hold these Democrats accountable. It would be the height of hypocrisy to go mute when this kind of damage is done to young people because "our friends" are in power.

We cannot afford to play the "never mind" game.

Never mind the Society of Adolescent Medicine report that stated abstinence-only programs "threaten fundamental human rights to health, information and life"; never mind the congressionally-mandated Mathematica study released in April showing that abstinence-only programs simply do not work; never mind the research showing that young people who take "virginity pledges" are more likely to engage in risky sexual behavior. Should we really ignore it all because these Democrats are "our friends" and we shouldn't publicly criticize our "friends?"

To hell with that! Over the next few weeks we need to mount a campaign to reverse this policy even if it means publicly dinging our "friends." After all, with friends like these, who needs conservative Republicans?

I urge everyone to take action. Tell the Democratic leadership that it is time to END funding for failed abstinence-only programs today!.

- James Wagoner

Meet Frank Beadle De Palomo

From the AED website: Frank Beadle de Palomo is the Director of Center on AIDS & Community Health and a Senior Vice President of the Academy for Educational Development. In his role as Director for the Center, Mr. Beadle de Palomo provides overall management, policy direction, project oversight, liaison with clients and collaborating organizations and individuals, and directs technical and program support. In addition, he provides project direction and leadership for AED's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Technical Support Contract for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention. He has a strong history in program planning, policy development and analysis, organizational development, and working with impacted communities; and has garnered in-depth experience in health promotion and disease prevention topic areas such as: HIV/AIDS prevention and care, sexually transmitted diseases, tuberculosis, diabetes, childhood immunizations, migrant farm worker health, substance abuse, and environmental health.

Mr. Beadle de Palomo has a firm commitment to grassroots organizing, public health advocacy, and public health initiatives that create partnerships between communities and other entities concerned about improving public health needs. Since 1994, Mr. Beadle de Palomo has been involved in supporting the implementation of CDC's HIV Prevention Community Planning Initiative — a program he helped develop at the national level. From 1995-1997, he worked as a Senior Program and Policy Officer at the Academy for Educational Development, coordinated technical assistance for the HIV Prevention Community Initiative, and managed AED's HIV, STD, and TB policy portfolio.

Prior to his work at AED, Mr. Beadle de Palomo served as the founding Director of the National Council of La Raza Center for Health Promotion, where he provided technical assistance and served as a liaison to a nationwide network of Latino community-based organizations, federal agencies; such as CDC, the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Office of Minority Health, the Office of the Surgeon General, and the Office of the National AIDS Policy Coordination; and national organizations involved in health-related issues of importance to Latinos.

His keen interest in strengthening communities is evident in his active involvement in national and community-based organizations. Mr. Beadle de Palomo is Co-Chair of the national STD Prevention Partnership, current Section Program Chair and Governing Council member of the American Public Health Association, and a member of the boards of the American Health Planning Association, the Mary's Center for Maternal and Child Care, Inc. (Vice Chair), and the Fund for the Future of Our Children (Secretary). Mr. Beadle de Palomo holds a Master's degree in Medical Anthropology and a Bachelor's degree in Biology from Stanford University, Stanford, CA. He speaks Spanish and Italian.

CVS Observation Volunteers Needed

Dear fellow public health professionals, advocates and friends:

As graduate public health students, we are in the process of completing our special project, which is to persuade CVS/Pharmacy to adopt a national written policy to make condoms freely accessible. Our long-term goal is to reduce the rate of HIV/AIDS, STDs, and unintended pregnancy, especially in Washington DC—the city with the highest rate of HIV/AIDS in the country.

Please help us to continue our important fact finding mission when you visit any CVS store in the country (through June 30, 2007) by recording your observations to the following questions and forwarding them to us at s_lives@hotmail.com Save Lives: Free the Condoms.

* What is the CVS store address (or nearest cross street) and store number? This information is located on or directly above the front door.
* Is the large condom display locked?
* If condoms are locked, does the store have a small, unlocked condom display?
* Is the small condom display well stocked?
* Does the small condom display contain a variety of brands?

Thank you in advance for your time and effort. Your feedback is important to the success of our project.

Sincerely,

Save Lives: Free the Condoms
Shumaya Ali
Suja Shunmugavelu
Sophia Vourthis
Carolyn Watson

Speakout Reports: Jobs Breakout Session

Several organizations co-sponsored a DC HIV/AIDS Speakout on May 17th, 2007. I will be posting the reports from each of the breakout groups throughout the next week. The final outcome document from the Speakout will be published on the DC Fights Back Website. If you'd like to get involved, please be sure to join this yahoo group.

The Jobs Breakout group was facilitated by Karen Pomerantz. In addition to being a member of DC Fights Back, Karen serves on the governing council of the Metropolitan Washington Public Health Association.

This group talked about promoting independent living among HIV positive people to reduce the need for government help. This is definitely a timely issue. Because of better treatments for HIV/AIDS, we live in a time when people who have been on diability because of HIV/AIDS can return to work: that is IF there are jobs available and they are prepared for those jobs.

This breakout group talked about the need for vocational training and life skills training, as well as HIV specific job training opportunities. Participants in this group emphasized that people living with HIV/AIDS can play an important role in fighthing the epidemic in DC when they are employed peer educators and community educators.

Click here to see the flip chart notes from the Jobs Breakout Group

Howard University Hospital CAB Meeting: June 22nd

The HIV/AIDS Community Advisory Board for the Howard University Hospital Pediatric Clinic will meet on Friday, June 22nd starting at 10:30 AM.

The Howard University Hospital Pediatric Clinic is part of the IMPAACT, the International Maternal, Pediatric, and Adolescent AIDS Clinical Trials Group, and has participated in numerous studies conducted through that network.

If you're curious about Community Advisory Board (CAB) meetings, I encourage you to come and check out this one. CAB Members play an important role in the planning and development of research trials, representing the unique perspective of our community.

To find out more about serving on a CAB, read this article about DC resident Willis Courtney and his experience getting involved in a CAB.

To find out more about this meeting, contact Patty Yu at phouston@howard.edu.

House Subcommittee To Hear Washington, D.C., Appropriations Bill That Restricts City Funding for Needle-Exchange Programs

From Kaiser Daily: The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government on Tuesday will consider a Washington, D.C., appropriations bill that includes language preventing the city from financing needle-exchange programs, the Washington Post reports. According to the Post, some health advocates are hopeful that the language will be removed from the bill because of the "changed balance of power on Capitol Hill" (Levine, Washington Post, 6/5). The ban was first imposed under a federal law signed by former President Clinton in 1998 that prohibits the district government from using local tax money to fund any organization that operates a needle-exchange program (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 5/29). According to the Post, the House has added the ban each year to the district's appropriations bill (Washington Post, 6/5).

Rep. Jose Serrano (D-N.Y.), chair of the subcommittee, recently said he will make it a priority to push for the removal of the language. District Mayor Adrian Fenty has said that he will provide funds for needle-exchange programs as soon as Congress removes the language.

Injection drug use is the second most common mode of HIV transmission among men in the district and the most common mode among women in the city. Prevention Works!, the district's only needle-exchange program, is financed through private donations and reaches about one-third of the estimated 9,700 injection drug users in the city (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 5/29). Walter Smith, executive director of the DC Appleseed Center for Law and Justice, said that there is a connection between the high number of HIV/AIDS cases in the district and lack of a city-funded needle-exchange program, adding that it's "time to uncouple" the connection.

Serrano said that although it is unclear whether the ban will be lifted, he is ready to push the issue. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) called the ban "abuse of the city," adding that "countless deaths have occurred" because the city lacks a government-funded needle-exchange program. More than two dozen medical, public health, social service and philanthropic organizations last month sent a letter to Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), chair of the subcommittee that initially handles the district's budget, urging that the restriction be lifted, the Post reports. Chuck Knapp -- a spokesperson for Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.), the original author of the ban -- said that Tiahrt likely will try to continue the ban but added that "it's a different political environment" than when it originally passed (Washington Post, 6/5).

New York Times Editorial on DC Needle Exchange

From Kaiser Daily: Congress' ban on locally financed needle-exchange programs in Washington, D.C., is an "insult to the city's voters and a clear hazard to public health," a New York Times editorial says (New York Times, 6/4). A federal law signed by former President Clinton in 1998 bans the district government from using local tax money to fund any organization that operates a needle-exchange program. Rep. Jose Serrano (D-N.Y.) recently said he will make it a priority to push for the removal of language from a district appropriations bill that prevents the city from financing needle-exchange programs. District Mayor Adrian Fenty has said that he will provide funds for needle-exchange programs as soon as Congress removes the language (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 5/29).

According to the Times, the large number of HIV cases in the district that can be traced to injection drug use is "partly the fault of Congress," which has "wrongly and disastrously used its power" over the district's budget to ban the city from funding needle-exchange programs to curb the spread of the virus. "Ideologues" in Congress "need to get out of the way and let public health officials save lives" by implementing a needle-exchange program in the district, the editorial concludes (New York Times, 6/4).