LA Corp Rising

Health, Technology, and Communities of Color

By Susannah Fox, Associate Director, Digital Strategy, Pew Internet & American Life Project

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Susannah Fox

Last week was the AIDS.gov Federal HIV/AIDS Web Council (FHAWC) meeting, which brings together web, content, and communications leads from federal agencies with HIV/AIDS portfolios. Susannah Fox from the Pew Internet & American Life Project gave a presentation about communities of color to the FHAWC. Below is a blog post that recaps her presentation.

Serendipity brought me two opportunities this week to present Pew Internet’s data on communities of color and young people, particularly as it relates to health. On Wednesday I was a guest of the Federal HIV/AIDS Web Council and on Thursday I spoke at a meeting convened by CommonHealth ACTION . I’ll share some insights I picked up at each event along with the data I presented.
My story in both settings was essentially the same:

The most important source of information for people making a day-to-day health decision, in many cases, is not a website, or even a clinician, but another person who shares the same condition. As mobile, social tools spread throughout the population, people are connecting with each other. Why not harness those tools for health?

Pew Internet’s evidence for the mobile focus:

• 83% of U.S. adults own a cell phone.
• 35% of U.S. adults own a smartphone and one-quarter of them use their phone as their main source of internet access.
• This trend is especially pronounced among adults ages 18-29, adults who identify as black, and adults who identify as Latino.
• Text messaging is an epidemic among 18-24 year-olds. This group sends or receives an average of 109.5 text messages PER DAY.
• Black and Latino cell phone owners are more likely than whites to send a high volume of text messages.

Small screens outnumber big screens all over the world and certainly among young people, African Americans, and Latinos in the U.S.
I loved that the CommonHealth ACTION event organizers invited a panel of college and graduate students to follow the “expert” panel since this was an event focused on youth. Each student was asked to talk about their favorite piece of technology – unanimously, it was their cell phone, which serves as their alarm clock, their social hub, their music source, their project manager, their flash cards, and even their spiritual touchpoint. One student talked about how she relies on her phone for daily devotions. Another said, “As long as I have my cell phone, I’m OK.”

When asked how they would react to a week without their cell phone or internet access of any kind, students described brushes with this uncomfortable state. A damaged phone led to the realization by one student that he didn’t even know his mother’s phone number. Another described how, when she lost her phone, she rushed to a computer so she could post an urgent status update letting people know that she would be unreachable. One student described a no-technology camp she had attended, adding that, if she had to go a week without her phone, “I would be at peace.”
And when it came to how they use technology to pursue health, the students displayed the kind of savvy that had the audience swooning: they went to high-quality online resources, fact-checked what they found, and sought medical attention when necessary. One student with significant foot pain said she first called her mom, then searched online for information, and THEN went to the campus health center. She said that her online research calmed her because she was pretty sure she was dealing with a ganglion cyst. Her doctor was amazed to confirm the diagnosis, but the student laughed: “How did I know? I Googled it, of course.”

The “mobile difference”
Pew Internet research shows that when someone has a mobile device connected to the internet, they are more likely to share, to forward, to create, and to consume online information, from text to photos to videos. They are more likely to participate in the online conversation about health.
Just like peer to peer file sharing transformed the music industry by allowing people to share songs, peer-to-peer healthcare has the potential to transform the pursuit of health by allowing people to share what they know and connect with other people.
Cathy Thomas, of AIDS.gov, shared another “mobile difference.” People who search the AIDS.gov site from a mobile device use much more specific terms than those who search from a desktop or laptop. Mobile seems to make things personal, immediate, and specific.

We are just beginning our journey to integrate social tools into health care. Even people who recognize the potential of these tools are daunted – there are so many unknowns. What the Pew Internet Project hopes to do is reduce the number of unknowns so policymakers and community groups can make decisions based on facts, not conjecture.

What about apps?
Fully half of U.S. adult cell phone owners now have apps on their phones – those software programs which allow you to get updates on topics like the news, weather, sports scores, or stocks. Some apps help people track or manage their health – about 1 in 10 cell phone users have a health app on their phone.

What about Facebook?
Half of American adults and 80% of online teens use a social networking site – and the vast majority have a profile on Facebook.
The Pew Internet Project’s report on social networking sites found that, contrary to fears that technology isolates people and has a detrimental impact on society, Facebook users are more trusting than other people. Facebook users have more close relationships and get more social support than other people do.
We uncovered evidence that social life online does indeed have a positive association with a healthy social life offline. We are building networks online that we tap into when we need help or advice.

What about chronic disease, which disproportionately affects communities of color?
People living with chronic conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, lung conditions, heart conditions, and cancer are less likely than other people to have access to the internet.
However, once they do have access, they are just as likely as other internet users to look for health information. We have also identified the “diagnosis difference” – holding all other demographic characteristics constant we find that having a chronic disease significantly increases an internet user’s likelihood to say they both contribute and consume user-generated content related to health.

I want to hear it from someone like me
Pew Internet research also shows that one in five internet users have gone online to find others who might have health concerns similar to theirs.
That percentage is even higher – 1 in 4 – among those living with chronic disease, those who are caring for a loved one, and those who have experienced a significant change in their physical health, such as weight loss or gain, pregnancy, or quitting smoking.
I recommended looking to community groups such as LoveHeals, whose research showed that teen girls want to know who is giving advice about their birth control and STI-prevention options. So peer advisors were trained to create 90- to 180-second videos to let their own personalities shine through.
Raul Posas, of Metro TeenAIDS , shared his strategy for reaching Washington, DC-area teens. He does not take a step without asking a team of teen advisors what they think. Based on their feedback, for example, the organization’s recent bus ads featured campaigns written by teens along with a photo of that teen’s face.

Taking it to the next level
I had a little more time to present at the Federal HIV/AIDS Web Council meeting, so I closed with the following:
The tools are in place. The culture is shifting to expect that people have access to information and each other. There is mounting evidence that connecting patients with each other and with their data can have a positive effect on health outcomes.
But we are still at the early adoption stages. What will it take to bring this to the next level?
Here is a list of potential roadblocks:

• pockets of people who are truly offline, which mostly describes people age 70 and older or those living with chronic disease or disability
• people who see no reason to engage in their health, who are not motivated to change their behavior or seek treatment
• technology that is simply a pain to use
• communities and tools which are silos of information – unconnected to clinical practice and unable to connect with each other
• both the real and imagined threat of misinformation
• a lack of awareness that online communities, information resources, and other tools exist and can help make a difference in health outcomes

And here is a list of potential opportunities:

• caregivers who can help someone access online resources they may need to get better care – what we call second-degree internet access
• a life-changing diagnosis or other event can prompt engagement – and trigger the diagnosis difference
• mobile adoption is on the rise and seems to have an independent effect on people’s engagement online – triggering the mobile difference
• technology that is easy to use, that makes engagement fun and even irresistible
• technological means to connect silos and let data flow
• cultural changes that allow for the connection of silos
• the deputization of citizen spokespeople for evidence-based information, increasing the engagement of clinicians in spreading science
• mainstream press coverage, word of mouth, and clinical programs that help to spread awareness

At both the Federal HIV/AIDS Web Council meeting and the CommonHealth ACTION event, people came up to me to ask about the dangers of misinformation online. This seems to be a source of considerable anxiety among public health educators.
But I also heard many expressions of hope, excitement, and renewed commitment to take advantage of health information technology.
I’ll end with a quote from Natalie Burke , president and co-founder of CommonHealth ACTION: “We can’t live our lives in response to technology. We must also drive it forward.”

Red Round Up Friday

Exploring the Link Between the Spiritual Well-Being and Sexual Lives of African American Men Who Have Sex With Other Men

by Garland D. Jarmon

The purpose of this survey is to explore the potential link between the personal spirituality and sexual lives of African American men who have sex with other men.

HIV/AIDS is taking a greater toll on the African American community and there have been numerous suveys, focus groups, town hall meetings and other data gathering mechcanism created to assess or craft more messaging to this community. Through all this research there cotinues to be more movement forcing everyone from academia to those "boots on the ground" community based organizations to find more innovative ways to reach out and ask more focused questions as to the cause. For centuries spirituality has played a crucial role in African American culture. However, at almost 50% of all HIV/AIDS incidences in the US, it is beyond time to start looking at our cultural foundation in helping to address this disease.
Within the midst of this plethora of research Mr. Jarmon takes another unique approach seeking honest answers to gain a better perspective on the role that personal spirituality may or may not play in our fight against HIV/AIDS. Many focus groups have discovered the impact of religion within the multi-layered confines of HIV and AIDS among Black Men having sex with men paradigm. He ask that even if you do not have a spiritual leaning bone in your body, to answer as appropriately and honestly as you can.

The answers you provide are ANONYMOUS and CONFIDENTIAL. Your privacy is assured.
Here is the link to participate. It's all online and can be done in a matter of minutes.

https://catalyst.uw.edu/webq/survey/garlandj/158442

Federal Agencies Involved in HIV/AIDS Research

Within the U.S. government, responsibility for HIV research primarily rests with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and is carried out in laboratories and clinics on the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland, and through a vast network of supported research at universities, medical centers, and clinical trial sites around the globe. But, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and USAID also support important HIV/AIDS research initiatives. (Read an overview of HIV/AIDS Research.) This page provided brief profiles of the Federal agencies involved in HIV/AIDS research and links users to more detailed information.

National Institutes of Health

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. NIH is the single largest public funder of HIV/AIDS research in the world. NIH’s HIV/AIDS research transcends every area of clinical medicine and basic scientific investigation, crossing the boundaries of nearly every Institute and Center (IC). NIH-supported scientists have been central to the investigation of the HIV disease process, the development of new therapies for HIV/AIDS, and the design and validation of methods of HIV prevention.

Read about NIH’s 30 Years of AIDS Research

Read the FY2012 Trans-NIH AIDS Research By-Pass Budget Estimate and Trans-NIH Plan for HIV-Related Research

Office of AIDS Research (OAR)

The coordination of the diverse research portfolio demands an exceptional level of scientific coordination and management of research funds to identify the highest priority areas of scientific opportunity, enhance collaboration, minimize duplication, and ensure that precious research dollars are invested effectively and efficiently. These are the responsibilities of the NIH Office of AIDS Research. Located within the Office of the Director of NIH, OAR is responsible for the scientific, budgetary, legislative, and policy elements of the NIH’s HIV/AIDS-related research programs. Through the trans-NIH planning, budgeting, and portfolio assessment processes it administers, OAR is enhancing collaboration and ensuring that research dollars are invested in the highest priority areas of scientific opportunity that will lead to new tools in the global fight against AIDS. Read more about OAR.

NIH’s HIV/AIDS research spans many of its 27 Institutes and Centers, including:

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) conducts and supports research to better understand, treat, and ultimately prevent infectious, immunologic, and allergic diseases. Read about NIAID’s HIV/AIDS research program.
NIAID’s Division of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome was formed to develop and implement the national research agenda to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The division works to ensure an end to the HIV/AIDS epidemic by increasing basic scientific knowledge of the pathogenesis and transmission of HIV, supporting the development of HIV therapies for HIV infection and its complications and co-infections, and supporting the development of vaccines and other prevention strategies.
NIAID’s Dale and Betty Bumpers Vaccine Research Center conducts research that facilitates the development of effective vaccines for human disease. The primary focus of research is the development of vaccines for AIDS.
Learn more about NIAID's HIV/AIDS research.

Mid Week Trends and Take Aways

African-American Physicians Believe Stigma Remains Significant Barrier To Routine HIV Testing

HealthHIV & National Medical Association Release Survey Findings in Recognition of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

Washington, DC – Social stigma remains a significant barrier to routine HIV testing by African-American physicians, according to data released from separate surveys conducted by HealthHIV and the National Medical Association (NMA). The Living Affected Corporation has touted that not only stigma but internalized homophobia as well as other social determinants play a critical role in testing as well. The organization supports newly released findings from the Second Annual HealthHIV State of HIV Primary Care survey which shows 63% of African American providers cite clients not wanting to be tested for HIV as the primary barrier to routine HIV testing, while 67% cited stigma as a major barrier to their patients accessing HIV care.

A recent NMA survey of African-American physicians revealed that three of the top five barriers to routine testing related to social stigma. Specifically, 57% of physicians are concerned that patients may perceive the recommendation to test as accusatory or judgmental; 48% are concerned patients would not want to be identified as HIV positive and would worry about people finding out; and 43% are concerned patients would be offended due to the stigma associated with HIV.

“These findings demonstrate that, despite educational efforts, HIV stigma keeps many African-American providers from routinely testing patients,” said HealthHIV Executive Director Brian Hujdich. “With the African-American community being disproportionately impacted by HIV, providers must implement routine HIV testing for their patients,” said HealthHIV Executive Director Brian Hujdich.

“Early detection of HIV is critical to improving health outcomes for individuals and decreasing chances of transmission; and that’s why it’s important to raise awareness of the need for annual HIV testing as part of routine blood work,” said Cedric Bright, MD, President of the NMA. "The NMA supports and encourages its primary care physicians to adopt annual HIV testing of all their patients. Together we can help make a difference in the fight against HIV."

“Through a variety of capacity building initiatives, HealthHIV is helping providers deliver better care to their patients in racial and ethnic minority communities. As leader of the AIDS Education & Training Centers National Center for HIV Care in Minority Communities, HealthHIV is helping increase access to testing and care for people of color,” said AETC NCHCMC Project Director Javier G. Salazar.

Data

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), African-Americans are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS, accounting for more HIV and AIDS cases than any other racial/ethnic group in the U.S. The rate of AIDS cases per 100,000 African-American adults/adolescents was more than nine (9) times that of Caucasians in 2008. In 2008, African-American males made up 13% of the male population but accounted for 46% of diagnoses of HIV infection among males, and men who have sex with men account for the majority of cases. African-American women account for the majority of cases among women with HIV infection (67% in 2008). Also in 2008, of persons aged 13 to 24 years diagnosed with HIV infection, 64% were African-American.

HealthHIV

HealthHIV is a leading national, 501(c)(3) non-profit working with organizations, communities, and professionals to advance effective prevention, care, and support for people living with, or at risk for, HIV through education and training, technical assistance and capacity building, advocacy, and health services research and evaluation. HealthHIV leads the AIDS Education and Training Centers National Center for HIV Care in Minority Communities. For more information, please visit www.HealthHIV.org or www.NCHCMC.org.

National Medical Association

Founded in 1895, the National Medical Association is the nation’s oldest and largest medical association representing the interests of more than 50,000 African-American physicians and their patients. The National Medical Association advocates for policies that assure equitable and quality health care for all people. Visit the National Medical Association at www.nmanet.org.

Living Affected Seeks Interns and Volunteers

The Living Affected Corporation in preparation for its 2012 programming is seeking interested interns and volunteers to consider providing committed time to assistingthe organization with various projects and initiatives. Presently the organization is seeking to upgrade its data gathering procedures, web presence, fundraising, development strategies and long range planning. If you have expertise or skills in any of the following areas please contact the group at info@lacorponline.org or call us 877.902.7HIV  Additional Board of Director members are also being sought as dynamic individuals who can bring their energy and networks to assist with full filling the organizational mission of promoting holistic, positive sexual and reproductive health for all.  The immeadiate following criteria is being sought:

Assist, research, improve, create or launch:

• New Website & Hosting Service (Spring 2012)
• Press Release set-up/distribution
• Web and social media posts
• Database Management
• Newsletter Management
• Webinar Management
• Media Relations
• Advocacy and Health Networks Administration
• Membership Communications
• Marketing materials and imaging
• Data Security
• Coordinated telephone systems
• Shared Files system
• Incorporating Video technology
• Intern and Volunteer Management
• Analytics/Metrics Systems
• Software upgrades, compliance and tracking
• National Conventions press events
• Fundraising event promotion (Fall 2012)
• Conference Call Systems

Red Ribbons Lifting Hope

With each new year comes the task of accounting as well as forecasting an organizations viability to accomplish its mission. The Living Affected Corporation has been steadfast in its efforts to maximize its resources to full fill our mission to promote holistic, positive sexual and reproductive health for all. Through our prevention methods of education and advocacy we are focused on dismantling social and economic barriers for marginalized communities. Our funding is derived from various sources including federal streams, foundation allotments, institutional grants and a host of in-kind and personal donations. As a public entity we have moved to be more transparent in our inner workings as well as prepared to be accountable for our operations. The Living Affected Corporation abhors past public character persecutions, rampant innuendo, personal attacks and inflammatory rhetoric that attempted to defame our reputation and impede our progress. At this as we move forward any and all of those minor nuances have been rectified and resolved. Since our inception LA Corp has been committed to ensuring a comprehensive system of HIV care in Arkansas. Our services of condom circulation, HIV Outreach Worker Certification, free testing, harm reduction kits, publishing and advocacy training have been invaluable to our target population and community at large. We have lead the charge to encourage our health care system to develop and support programs that are adequately funded and accessible as we continue to pursue a course to "zero infections." All of our program efforts embraces the various tenants of The National HIV/AIDS Strategy as promoted by the Obama administration. Our goal is to continue our primary work among Black men having sex with men while pursuing social justice, equality and being the premier institute of inclusive well being. Your ongoing financial support via our flagship website (www.livingaffected.org)  and personal interaction has given us the energy to stay the course in the struggle to stem the tide of HIV/AIDS infections in Arkansas.   

The Living Affected Corporation 2011

Income Expenses Description

$ (28,450.00) Salaries
$ 74,000.00 Private Foundations
$ (2,850.00) Rent 2 church locations during the year
$ 6,300.00 donations $ (4,800.00)
Phones/Internet Internet service, fax, phone and cell
& other revenue $ (2,400.00) Printing Xerox and Staples
discretionary funds

$ (4,700.00) Travel In & Out of State
$ (7,500.00) Conference Fayetteville
$ (2,100.00) Peabody and Catering Plus Club
$ (4,000.00) Billboards Plus Club
$ (6,130.00) AMHC Audit Adjustment
$ (1,500.00) Meetings/Refreshments Board, AHCA, Book Release
$ (650.00) Insurance Board and property
$ (5,700.00) Additional Help Movers, past employees, artist, etc
$ (1,200.00) Supplies Office Supplies
$ (3,100.00) Computers/IT Citrix, Website & 1 Laptop
$ (450.00) Postage nonprofit and returns
$ (1,200.00) Maintenance Repairs
$ (2,025.00) Fringe 7.50%
$ (1,670.00) Fees Consultants and professional fees
sub total $ 80,300.00 ($125.00)

$ (80,425.00) Total Expenditure

Views over the Horizons

President’s FY 2013 Budget Supports Implementation of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy

By James Albino, Senior Program Manager, Office of National AIDS Policy, The White House

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James Albino

On Monday February 13, 2012, President Obama sent his Fiscal Year 2013 budget proposal to Congress. The budget proposal clearly demonstrates his determination to help the Nation achieve the goals of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) and renews the President’s commitment to ending the AIDS pandemic. To address HIV/AIDS in the U.S., the 2013 Budget:

• Supports HIV/AIDS research.
• Expands investments in prevention and care.
• Funds cross-cutting innovative efforts for care and prevention.
• Expands the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program.
• Increases funding for HIV/AIDS prevention and service integration.
• Modernizes the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) Program.
• Fights the stigma of HIV/AIDS.

Read more about the Fiscal Year 2013 budget’s HIV/AIDS elements in this fact sheet from the White House: Fighting the HIV/AIDS Epidemic and Supporting People Living with HIV/AIDS.
The President’s budget proposal advances our domestic HIV/AIDS agenda, strengthens programs, and supports our continuing efforts to achieve the National HIV/AIDS Strategy goals of reducing new HIV infections, increasing access to care and improving health outcomes for people living with HIV, and reducing HIV-related health disparities—bringing us closer to the goal of an AIDS-free generation.

Leveraging the Spirit

Living Affected Corporation Awarded ADH 2012 Prevention Grant

The Living Affected Corporation has been awarded a $50,000 HIV/AIDS prevention grant from the Arkansas Department of Health as apart of it overall 2012 Center's for Disease Control funding cycle. The grant is slated to continue the groups outreach and programming efforts for Black MSM ( men having sex with men) which has disportionately been impacted by the disease. The organization will modify and implement the "D-Up" concept which is designed to engage local "opinion leaders"  in a 4 week training session that will allow each participant to share intrevention messages within their respective netoworks. It it is the goal of the program to affect behavior as well as stem the tide of infection rates that have increase in recent quarters. The program is among several programs being developed by the organization that will cointinue to full fill its mission to promote holistic, positive sexual and reproductive health within Arkansas' marginalized communities. For more information on the D-Up program contact: info@lacorponline.org

The Criminilization Factor of  HIV/ AIDS Positive Women

The issue of criminilization of HIV and AIDS intersects deeply within the multi-layers of individuals dealing with the disease. The Living Affected Corporation has been forthright in keeping this issue as apart of the social determinant mix including our "HEFTE" paradigm of housing, employment, food, transportation and education that often prevents linkages to care. LA Corp is proud to share the following video from the Positive Women's Network  (www.pwn-usa.org ) concerning this vital element affecte women in Arkansas and throughout the country. Please consider purchasing a copies of our ground breaking book, "Our Lives, Our Stories", which describes the interactions of four Arkansans who have survived to tell their personal stories of triumph and tragedy. See the secured Pay Pal portal in the margin of this platform to show us your support for our important work with Women with HIV and AIDS. Can we count on you today?






What do you know about The Living Affected Corporation? Please feel free to share your thoughts, comments, observations and opinions on this platform or our flagship website( www.livingaffected.org ) or check out in social media on Facebook! We'd love to hear from you!!
Call us at 877.902.7HIV or FAX 855.792.5483 Send your donations to P.O. Box 46558 Little Rock, Arkansas 72214-6558

Forward Momentum in Red

Making History: Eliminating Viral Hepatitis Disparities in the African American Community

 

By J. Nadine Gracia, MD, MSCE, Acting Director, Office of Minority Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

During February’s observance of African American History Month, please join us in working to end the unfortunate history of viral hepatitis’ disproportionate impact on the African American community.  This Administration is working hard to reduce and eliminate health disparities and achieve health equity.

Unfortunately, viral hepatitis is a health problem that is often overlooked by the public as well as healthcare providers. This, despite the fact that viral hepatitis is a leading infectious cause of death, claiming the lives of 12,000–15,000 Americans each year. As many as 5.3 million Americans are living with viral hepatitis, though most do not know t
hat they are infected. This places them at greater risk for severe, even fatal, complications from the disease and increases the likelihood that they will spread the virus to others.

What Is Hepatitis?
“Hepatitis” means inflammation of the liver. It is most often caused by a virus.  In the U.S., the most common types are hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.  All of these viruses cause acute, or short-term, viral hepatitis. But the hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV and HCV) can also cause chronic hepatitis, in which the infection is prolonged, sometimes lifelong. Chronic hepatitis can lead to cirrhosis, liver failure,

and liver cancer.  In fact, viral hepatitis is the leading cause of liver cancer and the most common reason for liver transplantation.

Viral Hepatitis Disparities
Within the African American community, significant hepatitis-related health disparities exist. For example:
Hepatitis B

• Hepatitis B can be prevented by a vaccine; however, African American children have lower HBV vaccination rates than non-Hispanic white children.
• Since 2004, rates of hepatitis B have remained steady among all racial/ethnic populations. However, new infections of hepatitis B remain the highest among African Americans, with 2.3 cases per 100,000 people.

Hepatitis C

• African Americans are twice as likely to be infected with hepatitis C when compared with the general U.S. population and chronic liver disease, often hepatitis C-related, is a leading cause of death among African Americans ages 45-64.
• While African Americans represent only 12% of the U.S. population, they make up about 22% of the chronic hepatitis C cases. In fact, African Americans have a substantially higher rate of chronic hepatitis C infection than do Caucasians and other ethnic groups.

Viral Hepatitis Action Plan
My Federal colleagues and I are committed to ensuring that new cases of viral hepatitis are prevented and that persons who are already infected are tested; informed about their infection; and provided with counseling, care, and treatment. In fact, last year we issued Combating the Silent Epidemic of Viral Hepatitis: Action Plan for the Prevention, Care & Treatment of Viral Hepatitis (PDF 672KB), which outlined robust and dynamic steps that are now underway across the government to increase viral hepatitis awareness and knowledge among health care providers and communities, and improve access to quality prevention, care, and treatment services for viral hepatitis. (Read more about the Action Plan.)
In addition, the Viral Hepatitis Action Plan is both supported by and complements several other initiatives unfolding within HHS and across the Federal government, including the:

• The National HIV/AIDS Strategy, which helps us address the significant rates of HIV-HCV coinfection;
• The National Prevention Strategy, which calls for us to enhance early detection of HIV, viral hepatitis, and other sexually transmitted infections and improve linkage to care;
• The U.S. National Vaccine Plan, which will help us reduce the incidence of vaccine-preventable hepatitis A and B;
• The HHS Action Plan to Reduce Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities; and
• The infectious disease and immunization objectives of Healthy People 2020, which specifically seek to reduce new hepatitis A, B, and C infections and increase viral hepatitis awareness among infected persons.

Your Help Is Essential
These are all part of our response to the silent epidemic of viral hepatitis. But we need your help, too. So, during African American History Month, please help by learning more about viral hepatitis, educating family and friends about this silent killer in the African American community, and encouraging conversations with healthcare providers about vaccinations for hepatitis A and B and screening for hepatitis C for those who may have been exposed.
Together, we can make viral hepatitis history.

Posted in: Communities of Color, HIV Policy & Programs, Viral Hepatitis

LA Corp On the Move

Its been a full week for The Living Affected Corporation and we're not done yet!  As an organization, it takes a tremendous amount of time, patience, persistence and passion to keep going after what it takes to make a community based organization tick. Often its a "24/7" pursuit which takes us in many directions in our day to day operations not to mention our travel schedules which afford us a chance to network with national and regional entities. The amount of work it takes to address issues surrounding the sexual health of marginalized communities involves discovering funding streams, developing viable programming, sourcing materials and formulating plans to execute it all. The Living Affected Corporation is proud of its accomplishments, partnerships and community involvement that has kept us at the forefront in the struggle of crafting prevention messages for our target population of Black MSM's while offering platforms that will result in providing prevention, education, advocacy and empowerment opportunities available to all. Our mission has been stated, our vision is clear and we vow to move forward in our pursuit of becoming the premier institute of inclusive well being. Your donations, in-kind contributions, volunteering and vital support is always welcomed and encouraged. Can we count on you today?

Living Affected awarded 2012 ADH Prevention Grant

The Living Affected Corporation has been selected as a Arkansas Department of Health sub-grantee to launch additional 2012 HIV/AIDS prevention programming. The $50,000 grant funded as apart of the overall CDC funding cycle which will allow the agency to use the "D-Up" evidenced based concept as a template tailored for use in Pulaski County. Known as a "DEBI," the intent of the concept is integrate local social networks with mentored individuals through an extensive 4 week training module. The goal and final outcomes of the program is designed to have culturally sensitive prevention messages delivered from a "peer to peer" perspective resulting in changing behavior. The program is set to begin tentatively March 1 through December 2012.  


Black HIV/AIDS Awareness 2012: LA Corp Participates City Wide

Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day was commemorated 2.7.12 with LA Corp participating with a informational booth during Philander Smith Colleges campus health fair. The event was a cooperative effort promoted by Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Arkansas Department of Health and other campus groups. According to organizer LaKaija Wood, the target audience of the even was the student body of the PSC but the event was open as a community service. The day was inclusive of four main objectives which included educations, testing, community involvement and linkages to treatment. The Living Affected Corporation's booth was a composite of all the services and products offered by the group including its latest periodical, "Our Lives, Our Stories, The Untold Stories of Women with AIDS." Those visiting the LA Corp both were quizzed on AIDS related questions with prizes being given with correct answers. Over 75 students were tested for HIV & STI's during the course of the fair which included an address from Dr. Larry Waller and concluded with a reception featuring a sheet cake to celebrate the day. The organization also had an editorial piece appearing in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette ( 2.9.12) citing its commitment and a call to action to the local community to become more engaged with this health dilemma. LA Corp also used its Facebook platform as community gathering place to highlight prevention messages and personal "shout out's" from users. Using social media outlets has been an ongoing group strategy in its outreach to Black MSM and beyond.
National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is a national HIV testing and treatment mobilization initiative designed to increase awareness of HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment among Blacks in the United States. The Living Affected Corporation will be unveiling its entire calendar of events on this platform and through its social media sites. The flagship website, www.livingaffected.org will be re-tooled to provide a more stimulating experience for users. Additional publications including the recently released resource guide will be updated and the completion of a magazine dedicated to LGBTQ health issues beyond AIDS and HIV is slated for a June 2012 distribution.

Facebook, Instant Messaging, Skype and More—To Encourage HIV Testing

Last month, we attended the 9th Annual National African American MSM Leadership Conference on HIV/AIDS and other Health Disparities (AAMSM) in New Orleans, LA, to encourage the use of new media in HIV/AIDS programs. Over 350 federal, state, and local health officials, community based organizations (CBOs), HIV/AIDS service providers, and community leaders gathered to share and learn from their peers’ experiences in facing the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the African American MSM (men who have sex with men) community.
We spoke with Kalyani Sanchez, On-site Supervisor at the David Geffen Testing Center at Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC ) of New York City about a social networking outreach program it has piloted called the Leaders in Networking and Knowledge (L.I.N.K.) Project. The program uses social applications such as Facebook, instant messaging, Facetime, Skype, and more to promote and encourage HIV testing. The L.I.N.K. project also provides clients with the resources they need to extend the reach of HIV information to their social networks.
“It’s community taking care of community, getting individuals to get their friends, family, sexual partners, drug-using partners tested, and identifying those individuals that are newly diagnosed and linking them to care,” said Sanchez.
Not only is the project using social networks to deliver the message of getting tested, but it is using mobile testing sites to remove some of the barriers to HIV testing. “We know that there’s a stigma surrounding testing centers,” said Sanchez, “so what we do is bring testing to them in places like parties or even video game challenges…It’s just making testing part of the norm.”
During the pilot of the program, they tested over 900 young MSM — many of whom did not know their status beforehand. To learn more about the L.I.N.K. project view our interview with Mr. Sanchez as www.aids.gov

Black HIV AIDS Awareness 2012

Living Affected: Changing the Course of HIV and AIDS: One Black Life at a Time in 2012

 In recognition of Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, The Living Affected Corporation in cooperation with the Center Disease Control features a message from Dr. Kevin Fenton,( PHD, Director) who has been an ardent supporter of our organizations programs to address HIV and AIDS in Arkansas. In his message he cites that despite newly designed prevention methods such as one pill regimens, glaring social determinants of access to health care, transportation, employment and education specifically impact individuals dealing with this disease. As an organization we are determined to continue to develop programming, advocacy and social networking opportunities that scale up our abilities to craft prevention messages that distinctively address Black men having sex with men, Black women who are now experiencing escalating infection rates and the Black community at large. It is paramount that our local political leaders, policy makers, law makers and faith based leaders become energized in this fight to empower, educate and involve those most vulnerable. Furthermore, at the nexus of this health crisis is also the issues of health access, education, employment and housing that can't be excluded from this dilemma. We encourage consumers, end users, advocates and activist both within the Black community and beyond to pursue decisive and bold initiatives resulting in game changing outcomes. The Living Affected Corporation believes that this disease is not about only loosing precious individuals lives, but the possibility of loosing a generation. 

The State of HIV and AIDS in Arkansas

State HIV/AIDS Department/Division - Website
CDC HIV/AIDS State Profile - State Profile (PDF Doc)
National Center for HIV, Hepatitis, STD and Tuberculosis Prevention - Website
Find an HIV Testing Site HERE!
	State Population:	Black Population # and %
	2,861,400	445,400 - 16%
	Total	Percentage
Black Population Poverty Rate:	173,200	39%
State Cumulative AIDS Cases:	4,562
State's Black Cumulative AIDS Cases:	1,861
State's Total New AIDS Cases:	197
State's Black New AIDS Cases:	108
State's Black Annual AIDS Case Rate: per 100,000	30.6%
State's Total Persons Living with AIDS:	2,415
State's Total Black Persons Living with AIDS:	1,005
Source - Kaiser Family Foundation State Health Facts: www.statehealthfacts.org

Our Lives, Our Stories Book Event Success

The release of "Our Lives, Our Stories, The Untold Stories of Women with AIDS," was celebrated last Sunday at the Pyramid Gallery in Little Rock. The event feature participant's sharing their thoughts and stories from the Plus Club program of The Living Affected Corporation.  LA Corp CEO,  Diedra Levi, moderated the event beginning with the origins of the program and observed that there has been a unfortunate attention deficit in Arkansas on women who are either living infected or affected by the disease. The program was devised to address the lack of social interaction and networking opportunities of other women who may similar stories or situations. "I was really honored to tell my story," said participant Connie Roebuck. "It was a chance to tell how this has affected me and caused me to be known in my community not as "Connie" but "The Condom Lady." Roebuck also announced to the audience that despite her journey she would be marrying her fiance in March. Other participant Diane stated, " I was glad to share my story, so that others may learn something from my mistakes and choices." She continued "having to tell my husband and children were among the hardest things to do. But once I told them, they said that it didn't matter." Local book reviewer Amos Lassen stated that his website had garnered over 700 hits reading his review of the book.  After a brief Q & A session the women were available for autographs and individual interaction. Additional book release events are being scheduled and further information will be posted to this site. Books are available at the gallery or can be directly purchased from this site. Proceeds from all books published by The Living Affected Corporation will support future organizational programming and operations. To make donations, contributions or in-kind commitments contact us at info@lacorponline.org or use our secured Pay Pal portal at www.livingaffected.org  Need more info,  reach out and touch at 877.902.7HIV  Your support in this effort is always welcomed!

Trending in Red

SAVE THE DATE for two important The Living Affected Corporation events being held in Little Rock. Please join us for our second  book release event February 5, 3pm - 5pm, at Pyramid Gallery 1001 Wright Avenue in Little Rock, Arkansas featuring the periodical, "Our Lives, Our Stories, The Untold Stories of Women with AIDS. Contributors to the book will be present to read and share their stories live as well as autograph copies. Sponsored by a grant from Tibotech Pharmaceuticals, the book was the outcome of The Plus Club program which as apart of the organizations Linkage In Need Communities to Care initiative.The program was created in response to the lack of support groups that focus on women in Arkansas. The Living Affected Corporation is committed to promoting empowerment and inclusion while decreasing the prevalence of HIV/AIDS through education, advocacy and dismantling social and economic barriers for marginalized communities. Included in the book is also a local HIV/ AIDS resources. For more information contact info@lacorponline.org or call 877-902-7HIV To help us continue offering these types of resources please consider purchasing a copy which can be ordered from this platform using our secured Pay Pal link found in the right side margin.

As apart of the National Black HIV Awareness Day, The Living Affected Corporation will be hosting an on-line Facebook check in February 7, at 10 AM and will participate in the  SEX Week activities on the campus of Philander Smith College from 12 - 4 pm.  Participants of the online session will be encouraged to "check-in" and share prevention messages, opinions and positive shout outs to those living infected or affected by the disease. The organization has been highly supportive of harnessing the power of the Internet, social networking platforms and interactive websites that are favorites of MSM and the LGBTQ community at large. Recently the Center for Disease Control and numerous other government entities such as Health and Human Services and HRSA have been rapidly developing a variety of mediums in their arsenal of prevention tools. LA Corp has been exploring funding sources to support their mission to embrace technology as a pathway to link marginalized communities to care providers.
The SEX Week activity will include the organization disseminating printed materials and incentives as a partnering opportunity with both the campus student government and Gay Straight Alliance to promote prevention messages to the student body. Please join us for both on line or either visit our informational booth at Philander Smith College. Don't forget that your donations are vital to our mission to address the sexual health of marginalized communities. Donate today at our secure portal on www.livingaffected.org

Black History Month 2012 in an age of HIV and AIDS

The Living Affected Corporation commemorates Black History Month 2012 with our continued call to the Black community to become more aggressively engaged in the struggle to address HIV and AIDS among its people. It is vital that more voices are raised among city leaders, community organizers, activist and state policy makers as this disease widens it penetration with more cases either being detected or even more alarming going undetected. It is paramount that the Black community began to demand some accountability from our public health systems, lawmakers and of those who share the responsibility of devising the prevention mechanism that will help stem the tide of HIV and AIDS. The Living Affected Corporation can not do it alone. This battle in 2012 requires an "all hands on deck" approach as the statistics report a 48% increase among Black men who have sex with men and the scope of the infections range from 13 to 24 years of age. LA Corp has been at the forefront of creating programming wrapped in prevention messages to educate as well as empower those to make healthy choices. You can help us in numerous ways such as purchasing a copy of our current publication, Our Lives, Our Stories, make a donation, volunteer or offer technical assistance.  Ladies and Gentlemen, this is not about saving a life, its about saving a generation. This is your call to action, let's not forget that "silence equals death."

Statement by Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on African-American History Month

Today, we celebrate the start of African-American History Month. African-Americans throughout history have made significant contributions to scientific health research, medicine, and public health. Two notable examples include Dr. William Augustus Hinton, the son of former slaves, who became the first black professor at Harvard Medical School and gained an international reputation for his medical research, and Dr. Charles Drew, a physician, researcher, and surgeon, who forged a new understanding of blood plasma that allowed blood to be stored for transfusions.
As we celebrate the impact of African-Americans who serve as doctors, nurses, caregivers, and health care decision makers, this year’s theme for African-American History Month, “Black Women in American Culture and History,” gives us the opportunity to reflect specifically on the contributions African-American women have made to health care. One shining example, is my predecessor, Patricia Roberts Harris, who served as the first African- American United States Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare (which during her tenure became United States Secretary of Health and Human Services), and was also the first African- American woman to serve as a United States Ambassador.
While we take time this month to recognize these contributions, we also reflect on the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: “Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane.” And despite the progress we have made, we know that underserved communities may not have equal access to high quality health care. Low-income Americans, racial and ethnic minorities, and other underserved populations often have higher rates of disease, fewer treatment options, and reduced access to care and coverage.
Here at the Department of Health and Human Services, we are working toward a healthier America and at every level, in every agency of our Department, you will find African-Americans playing an essential role in the critical work that we do. We are committed to ensuring that all Americans achieve health equity by eliminating disparities and doing what we can to improve the health of all communities.
The new health care law, the Affordable Care Act, will help reduce health disparities by expanding health coverage to 34 million Americans, preventing the worst insurance company abuses, and bringing new funding to community health centers, an important safety net for underserved populations.
Programs throughout the Department---from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Minority Fellowship Program, designed to increase workforce diversity for African-Americans in the areas of behavioral health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s HIV/AIDS Testing Initiative, designed to reach out to specific high-risk populations---work to increase representation throughout the health workforce and improve outcomes.
Combined with the Department of Health and Human Services’ Strategic Action Plan to Reduce Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, these are key initiatives guiding us in our efforts to improve access to quality care and reduce health disparities. Today, we rededicate ourselves to the work of making sure that every American child, no matter where they were born or what color their skin is, has the chance to reach their full potential. We can and will continue to ensure justice in health care and improve the lives of millions of Americans.

Join us Wednesday February 15 for the first HIV PJA Strategy Webinar of 2012…

Is HIV Surveillance a Tool for Prevention Justice?
Wednesday February 15, 2012 @ 3:30 ET/ 2:30 CT/ 1:30 MT/ 12:30 PTClick here to register and receive information on how to join the webinar.

Background:

What is HIV surveillance? How is this data collected and used? How is it changing?

A recent CDC report estimated that about half of all people with HIV are receiving medical care. In the era of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy and an expanded focus on treatment for prevention, some public health jurisdictions have begun expanding their use of HIV surveillance data to link out-of-care individuals with services and more efficiently target scare resources. As this new role takes hold, we seek to help HIV prevention justice activists understand the basic elements of HIV surveillance, how it can (or can’t) be used to link people to care, and what important questions we should be asking.

Our panel of experts will share experiences from communities on the front lines of implementing these important systemic changes.

Click here to register and receive information on how to join the webinar.