July 2009
HIV Community Events Spotlight
7th Annual Women’s Health Conference
"Life Is A Full Circle: Finding Hope in the Midst of Change" is the title of the Women’s Health Conference taking place at The Depot in Minneapolis sponsored by the Women & Families Network. The conference provides an opportunity for HIV-positive women to take time from their busy lives and focus on their health and wellness. Experts will present workshops on living well with HIV and promoting health and wellness in all aspects of life. In addition to workshops, women will have the opportunity to share experiences with other women living with HIV, all in the context of a supportive and relaxing environment.
The conference is free and is open to all women who are living with HIV/AIDS in Minnesota. Transportation, childcare funds, interpretation, and accommodations are available. To register in English, call the MAP AIDSLine at 612-373-2437. To register in Spanish, call the WFN Coordinator, Amy Parsons at 651-389-2455. Space is limited.
Community Partner Program Changes
Turning Point
Turning Point, Inc. is an African American social services organization known for its holistic approach to counseling and treatment that has served the community since 1976. They assist people in achieving wellness and to live a self-supportive lifestyle. This is done by providing social services, public health programs and culturally-specific solutions to meet people's needs.
Turning Point has discontinued its HIV Case Management and Support Group as of July 1st, 2009. Turning Point worked directly with their case managed clients and several community partners in order to ensure their clients would receive continuity of care.
Turning Point continues to provide chemical health treatment programs targeting the African American community.
District 202
For more than 17 years, District 202 has pioneered providing a safe space for GLBT youth and offering programming that builds self-esteem and self expression. The leadership of District 202 had noticed that youth utilization of the center has slid over the years. This is in part due to the growing acceptance of queer youth into the larger society, the forming of new GLBT youth organizations, and other positive changes within the community.
As a result of these changes, District 202 decided that as of June 30th, 2009, they would cease day-to-day operations and enter a cocooning phase. During this phase, District 202 will be leaving its current space, begin surveying youth, and creating programming to meet GLBT youth current needs.
If you have any questions, comments, or requests, please contact Curt Prins, Acting Board Chair, at c.prins@dist202.org.
Access Works
For nearly 13 years, Access Works worked to improve the health and reduce the harm to people impacted by the use of drugs through support, intervention, education, and disease prevention. They did this by operating a store front needle exchange program with comprehensive support services. Access Works worked hard to survive financially and even more so in the last year as the economic crisis impacted all providers. As a result, Access Works ceased operations as of June 30th, 2009.
The current Board of Directors for Access Works will continue to meet and plans to recruit additional Board Members, allowing for the possibility that they will be able to start up operations again at some point.
Access Works worked directly with their clients and community partners in order to ensure their clients would receive continuity of care. For information about existing syringe access and needle exchange options, contact the AIDSLine at 612-373-2437.
HIV Community Calendar
The HIV Community Calendar is a one-stop shop designed to keep the HIV community updated on events, trainings, support groups, forums and other activities that are of interest to providers, clients, or the general public . We need your help to keep the calendar current. Please visit the HIV Community Calendar and submit an email with details of upcoming events at your agency.
Provider Assistance
Need a resource for your clients? Contact the AIDSLine at 612-373-2437 or e-mail us at mapaidsline@mnaidsproject.org. With more providers looking for solutions, there is more opportunity for undiscovered resources.
Feedback
The AIDSLine Update is looking for feedback. E-mail comments, suggestions, and recommendations to mapaidsline@mnaidsproject.org by the 1st of each month so AIDSLine Staff can include your input in the next AIDSLine Update. |