Living Lenses and Periscopes

Living Affected Refreshes Board of Directors

As a part of the organizations on going restructuring and strategic planning outlook, The Living Affected Corporation, Inc. pursued a statewide search for new board members to fulfill oversight of organizational policies, fundraising goals and initiatives plus serving as ambassadors for the group. The new members for 2012 are Ms. Kendra Johnson, Chair ( seated left), Ms. Tonya Estelle ( seated right), Ms. Janee Richardson, (upper left)  Mr. Devarian Anderson (top right) and Ms. Chantelle Davis (not pictured). The board will meet monthly as they begin to explore board development modules that will assist the group with further understanding their roles and impact on the organization as a whole. Utilizing a recently redeployed mission and vision statement, the directors will prepare to embrace the new Vision Statement which reads: " we are the statewide organization that is informed and connected to change the social construct of the community we serve by improving basic human rights."  Through strategic development exercises facilitated by Damon Jackson of The Jackson Group, The Living Affected organization also believes that its mission statement of "transforming communities through holistic health by providing, education and advocacy," will be vital in its efforts. ultimately culminating in creating a Wellness Institute that will effectively change lives in our lives and the community.

With those core elements developed, LA Corp also wanted to refresh its brand through the launch of a new logo identity which pronounces the group's "H.E.F.T.E." ( Housing, Education, Food, Treatment, Employment) concept that supports their idea that these social determinants must be addressed as part of the care continuum paradox. As a sub-grantee of the Arkansas Department of Health, The Living Affected Corporation has been striving to offer as many prevention outlets possible including participating in outreach opportunities and most notably collaborations such as providing leadership in crafting the states Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Plan that will serve as the official community jurisdictional piece regarding the impact of federal dollars extended to Arkansas for HIV and AIDS. The group continues to pursue its media track while releasing it's next version of it's Holistic Health Guide, conclude the sales of it's periodical, "Our Lives, Our Stories," and  execute promoting it's  LGBTQ health journal entitled, OMNIBUS slated for a mid summer release. Additional board positions are open and qualified applicants can submit their interest by e-mail at info@lacorponline.org or by fax 855.792.5483.  Advertising opportunity information can be obtained at 501.379.8903

Comprehensive HIV Prevention Plan (CHPP) 2012 Moves Forward

The Living Affected Corporation's CEO, Diedra Levi, has been spearheading the research and culmination of the states Comprehensive HIV Prevention Plan which will be the overlay of the jurisdictional plan as mandated by the Center's for Disease Control. Each state is required to developed a plan that will provide a  jurisdiction-wide document that should address all HIV prevention activities and inform decisions about how all HIV prevention funds are to be used, including federal, state, local, and, when possible, private resources. If a jurisdiction implements more than one CPG, the comprehensive plan should summarize any multiple or regional plans into one document. The plan, whether designed to be a one- or multi-year document, must be updated annually. As the health department's federal funding for HIV prevention is on a five-year cycle, the CPG's final plan for the 2004-2008 project period should guide the development of the next five-year funding cycle (January 2009-December 2013).  According to Levi, (pictured) there has been an underwhelming and lackluster involvement with producing the plan including information delays and other obstacles that have been unfortunate. "We are going forward despite some setbacks," she said. "There will be a plan in place by the deadline come mid-August. Too much time has elapsed and this is our priority for 2012." she concluded. In order to maximize access to the planning meetings, LA Corp secured the use of the AnyMeeting platform which allow users to participate via both video and teleconference from their remote locations or individuals are invited to the organizations offices. (401 North Maple, Suite A, North Little Rock inside the Argenta Church complex.) The objective of the plan is to guide how HIV prevention programs in the jurisdiction should respond to the HIV epidemic in implementing HIV prevention community planning, partner counseling and referral services (PCRS), health education/risk reduction (HE/RR), capacity building, evaluation, and other health department activities conducted under Program Announcement #04012 (2004-2008), HIV Prevention Projects, Notice of Availability of Funds. The plan must consider all HIV prevention activities regardless of funding. Thus, it is important for the CPG(s) to know and understand the extent and array of prevention funds that will be allocated as a result of both the health department's and other funders' implementation of the CPG's target population priorities and set of prevention activities/intervention, as described in the Comprehensive HIV Prevention Plan. (source: www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/cba ) This meeting recurs every 1 week(s) on Tuesday from 3:30 PM to 4:00 PM (UTC-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada) starting on 6/12/2012 and ending on 8/6/2012 (Add to Calendar) Conference Call : Toll Number: (512) 400-4809 | Attendee Access Code: 921 3821