Living Healthy, Wealthy and Wise

Growing and Affecting the Community

The Living Affected Corporation has undertaken a growing initiative under the new First Presbyterian Church Garden Project funded through a Argenta beautification grant. As an organization we speak about the dilemma "food" as a social determinant within our "Housing, Education, Food,Treatment, Employment "concept, and  we thought it ideal that perhaps we should consider raising some food organically as a continuing symbol of sustaining one's self and developing a new skill set." said Chief Operating Officer Cornelius Mabin. 

He continued, "we will need volunteers to come share their gardening experience and those who can help us make that project a success." The group hopes to begin following the growing season with either planting a variety of fall weather seeds that will mature in 60 to 120 days before the first cold snap. Plus there are additional vegetables boxes that are available upon contacting the church. If you are interested in sharing your "green thumb" expertise reach out to LA Corp at 379-8203 or info@lacorponline.org

Obama administration takes new action to improve public health

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced new investments that will help strengthen the nation’s public health workforce and fight disease and illness.

“These investments are part of our work to promote public health and they will help strengthen our efforts to fight disease and illness before they happen,” Secretary Sebelius said.
The initiatives include:

• The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is awarding $23 million in grants to 37 Public Health Training Centers to provide training to current and future public health workers in key public health issues such as nutrition and epidemiology, and to enhance the workforce’s basic public health skills.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is providing $25 million to support fellowship programs, similar to medical residencies, and placement of fellows in state and local public health departments, as well as expanding training programs for existing public health workers, focusing on e-learning. This includes funding for 227 new fellows in contract and field positions providing necessary screening services and community education, as well as critical assistance with ongoing public health challenges.

“Public health workers are on the front lines, educating their community members and doing the hard work to ensure we stay healthy and can respond to public health challenges when they arise,” HRSA Administrator Mary K. Wakefield, Ph.D., R.N., said. “These resources will help ensure they have the resources they need to do the job.”
For more information on HRSA’s Affordable Care Act-supported public health workforce grants, see bhpr.hrsa.gov/grants/publichealth/phtc.html

For your consideration and announcement...

 

The Midweek Living and Affected

Hepatitis Testing Saves Lives

By Kevin Fenton, M.D., Ph.D., FFPH, Director, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, CDC, @CDC_DrFenton

 

CDC’s “Recommendations for the Identification of Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection Among Persons Born During 1945–1965” was published August 16, 2012 in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
The new recommendations call for all Americans born from 1945 through 1965 or “baby boomers” to get a one-time blood test for the hepatitis C virus (HCV).
In the United States, hepatitis C is the leading cause of liver transplants and primary liver cancer—the fastest-rising cause of cancer-related deaths. People born from 1945 through 1965 currently account for more than 75% of adults infected with hepatitis C in the U.S. and are five times more likely to be infected than other adults. Each year, more than 15,000 Americans, most of them baby boomers, die from hepatitis C-related illness, such as cirrhosis and liver cancer; and over the last decade, deaths have been increasing steadily. Without expanded access to HCV testing, care, and treatment, mortality among those living with HCV infection, who do not know they have the infection, will continue to
rise into the next decade. (Dr. K. Fenton, pictured)

Studies have found that most persons do not perceive themselves to be at risk and are not screened. This recommendation to conduct a one-time hepatitis C blood test for all persons born from 1945 through 1965 as a standard part of medical care will help to identify persons with hepatitis C and take the first step to link HCV-infected persons to care and treatment. The new recommendations augment current hepatitis C testing guidelines that call for testing individuals with a known risk for the disease.

New treatments are now available that can cure up to 75% of infections, and even more promising treatments are expected in the future. CDC estimates that implementation of these new recommendations will identify more than 800,000 additional people with hepatitis C. Linking these individuals to appropriate care and treatment would prevent the costly consequences of liver cancer and other chronic liver diseases and ultimately save more than 120,000 lives.

CDC has developed an online Hepatitis Risk Assessment tool to help healthcare providers, community-based organizations, and the general public determine risks for viral hepatitis. The 5-minute online Hepatitis Risk Assessment allows persons to determine their risks privately either at home or in a health care setting. The tailored recommendations are based on CDC’s testing and vaccination guidelines for viral hepatitis and can be printed for discussion with a health care provider.
“The new hepatitis C testing recommendations are called for in the Action Plan for the Prevention, Care & Treatment of Viral Hepatitis and are a key component of our national response,” said Dr. Ronald Valdiserri, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health, Infectious Diseases. Ongoing collaboration and education are critical as we continue to work toward identifying more Americans with hepatitis C and preventing the adverse effects of this infection. Please share the new hepatitis C testing recommendations with family, friends, co-workers, and health care providers to help spread the word about this important public health problem.

Horizons Ahead in Living and Affected

FDA Approves Gilead's New 4-in-1 Pill for HIV Treatment

Good news for many. The Food and Drug Administration has just approved antiretroviral that combines four medications to fight HIV/AIDS. Gilead Sciences' "Stribild" previously known as "Quad" will be a once-a-day treatment for adults who have not previously been treated for infection, reports Reuters.

Stribild contains two previously approved HIV medicines and two new drugs. The older medicines, emtricitabine and tenofovir, are currently sold by Gilead in its combination pill Truvada, which was approved in 2004, and are also part of Gilead's Atripla three-drug combination. The newer drugs are elvitegravir and cobicistat.

[Analysts] expect Gilead to aggressively market Stribild and deemphasize its Atripla and Complera combination therapies as Atripla contains a Bristol-Myers Squibb Co HIV drug and Complera contains a Johnson & Johnson drug. ... As a condition of approval, Gilead will be required to conduct additional studies to help further characterize the drug's safety in women and children, how resistance develops to Stribild, and the possibility of interactions between Stribild and other drugs, the FDA said.

Clinical trials demonstrate the new therapy is more effective in some cases than Atripla, adds the New York Times.

Company studies showed that 88 to 90 percent of patients taking Stribild had an undetectable level of HIV in their blood after 48 weeks, compared with 87 percent for patients taking Atripla, another HIV drug that contains Truvada and one other drug.

Wall Street estimates the new combination pill will earn about $370 million in sales next year.

The announcement comes six weeks after the FDA approved Gilead's Truvada to reduce the risk of HIV infection in uninfected individuals. That prevention strategy is known as pre-exposure prophylaxis or PrEP. Truvada became the first medication ever to be approved for HIV prevention in adults, marking a major milestone in the 30-year global epidemic.

About 1.2 million people in the United States are living with HIV/AIDS, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Blacks are the demographic that are hardest hit. Blacks comprise only 12 percent of the population but about 45 percent of all new infections.

The number of new HIV infections in the United States has remained "relatively stable" at about 50,000 per year between 2006 and 2009. But there have been a soaring number of seroconversions among Black men who have sex with men. The trend has been particularly “alarming” among Black MSM aged 13 to 19, according to the CDC. New infections have increased by 48 percent between 2006 and 2009.



OMNIBUS Seeks Advertisers

The OMNIBUS project is seeking advertisers and sponsors to widen its distribution throughout the mid-south. Under the initiative Healthy 20/20 innovations from Health and Human Services, the periodical was the first of its type to deal with health issues and dilemmas that were not HIVcentric, but rather addresses the organizations approach to holistic health. The group believes that "treating the whole individual, is primary to either linking or retaining them in care," said  D. Levi. Although HIV information was included, the tone and scope of the periodical was to be a "broad journal" of lived experiences and jouneys. Also the journal serves as a resource guide with the latest statewide information for consumers and endusers. Advertising and sponsorships contacts are available from info@lacorponline.org  or 501.379.8203 .



Social Networking Event Announces
The Board of Directors of The Living Affected Corporation has announced its schedule of Afterhour Networking sessions for the remainder of 2012. The evenings were designed as apart of the organizations continued outreach to the community as well as prospect for additional board members and or volunteers. If you are interested in sponsorship or in-kind contributions to support our programming vision contact us at 877-902-7HIV The dates are as follows but could be subject to change:

September 5, 2012

October 3, 2012

November 7, 2012

December 5, 2012

For additional details call the office at 379.8203 or email: info@lacorponline for directions or donations.

Raising Hopes of Living Affected

AIDS United: From the Interim President & CEO
Sometimes, working in HIV/AIDS, you wonder if you are doing enough. You wonder if your organization is doing enough. You wonder if the community is doing enough. And then the landscape transforms and even though you can see many obstacles, you can also see a path that is clearer than it has ever been.

I think that is what has happened over the last several months for the HIV community, for AIDS United, and for me personally. The path to ending the epidemic is clear; we have the necessary tools; we need the will and the resources.

The obstacles we face continue to threaten to undermine successful strategies to end the epidemic. Stigma, poverty and divisive health disparities fuel the disease, allowing it to maintain its hold on our most vulnerable communities.

AIDS United has had the honor to be part of several events over the last few months exposing these obstacles and demonstrating success in moving forward toward the epidemic's end. Our Congressional Roundtables in June, with tremendous support from our honorary Congressional co-sponsors, focused on HIV/AIDS in the South and helped shed light on what we have to do to quell the growing HIV firestorm that the region is experiencing.. Our significant contributions to the International AIDS Conference solidified AIDS United’s leadership position in the domestic fight against HIV/AIDS. We, along with our grantees, funders and stakeholders, shared important information about inroads we are making in our prevention, access to care and advocacy work, with numerous special and satellite sessions, poster presentations, trainings, an exhibit booth and more.

I could not be more proud of our organization, our grantees, our advocacy partners and their work; it has been my privilege to serve as Interim President and CEO during this most exciting time.

With your continued support -- whether as a Trustee, donor, advocate, T2 athlete or volunteer, we truly have the capacity to make a difference. Let's continue this amazing momentum together, and end AIDS in America in our lifetime.


'That's So Gay' Still Pervasive on College Campuses, Causes Long-Term Harm

The pejorative term "That's so gay" remains ubiquitous on college campuses and, according to a new study, causes long-term harm to LGBT students who hear it.

Researchers at the University of Michigan queried 114 college students about the term as well as their current health. Nearly 100 of the students reported hearing the term at least once in the past year, while nearly half said they heard the phrase more than 10 times in the past 12 months.
It's not just a minor annoyance for young LGBT people who hear the phrase. The data shows queer students exposed to "That's so gay" more often had feelings of isolation and suffered from headaches, poor appetite, and other eating issues.

“‘That’s so gay’ conveys that there is something wrong with being gay," Michael Woodford, assistant professor at the University of Michigan, told the media. "And, hearing such messages about one’s self can cause stress, which can manifest in headaches and other health concerns."


3 Transgender Women Flee Mexico To Escape Transphobia In 'Crossing Over'

By On Top Magazine Staff
Published: August 27, 2012

The documentary Crossing Overlooks at the lives of 3 transgender Mexican women as they seek political asylum in the United States to escape transphobia in their homeland.

Francis Murillo, Brenda Gonzalez and Abigail Madariaga fled Mexico and are now living in Los Angeles to escape the stigma, discrimination and persecution associated with being transgender in the highly Catholic nation.

“There were various abuses,”Gonzalez says in the film. “They would tie me from my hands and feet to rape me, to abuse me.” (The video is embedded on this page. Visit our video library for more videos.)

The documentary is the first for director Isabel Castro, a Mexican immigrant who recently graduated from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts.

“I have always been passionate about immigration issues and about highlighting the reasons for why immigration is often necessary,” Castro told On Top Magazinein an e-mail. “In exploring this issue, I learned more about the extent of transphobia in Mexico and in the United States and have now become focused on shedding light on the obstacles that the transgender community faces.”

She said she expects to finish the film in January and premiere it on next year's festival circuit.

Castro has also launched a campaign to raise funds to cover post-production costs at IndieGogo.

 

Rainbows Living and Affected

Officer & A Gentleman: Rockmond Dunbar

Sons of Anarchy star Rockmond Dunbar sets a new standard for celebrity HIV activism
By Diane Anderson-Minshall

When he burst onto the small screen in 1994, on TV’s sci-fi semiclassic Earth 2, Rockmond Dunbar was just a wide-eyed, fresh-faced kid from Northern California who was happy to be working in Hollywood. Dunbar was a rather green 21-year-old who shared the screen with other young notables (Rebecca Gayheart and Antonio Sabato Jr., to name two), but he caught the attention of fans—and Tinseltown insiders—right from the start.

Today, fans know the 39-year-old Dunbar best for his iconic characters from acclaimed series—Kenny Chadway on Soul Food, C-Note Franklin on Prison Break, Pookie on The Game, Jalen on Girlfriends, Detective Mark Gustafson on Terriers, and his latest turn, as Lt. Eli Roosevelt of the sheriff’s department, the rare “good” guy on FX’s outlaw biker drama, Sons of Anarchy.

With fame came an increasing presence as an activist, for gay rights (after appearing in the gay-themed film Punks and on gay TV series Noah’s Arc), African-American visibility in Hollywood, and HIV awareness. For years he’s been one of the few celebrities who has used his fame to push for more HIV testing among black men—with the Black AIDS Institute’s Greater Than AIDS campaign—and he’s taken on roles that show that people with HIV are not stock characters. He played a closeted married man with HIV on Private Practice and the conflicted brother of an HIV-positive man (played by Hill Harper) on Soul Food. Dunbar, who was named one of Television’s 50 Sexiest Stars of All Time by TV Guide, took a few moments on the set of Sons of Anarchy (which returns for its fifth season September 11) to talk about his iconic roles, what it will take to stop HIV, and how a DNA test changed his life.

HIV Plus: Your Sons of Anarchy character, Sheriff Eli, upends TV tradition. Too often when we have black men on-screen, they’re the criminals, not the cops. How do you see the character of Eli? Rockmond Dunbar: Not only a groundbreaking role in general, but he is another representation of a positive African-American male character in a stable, powerful, and impactful job. Sheriff Eli is acknowledged as being the greatest nemesis for the lead characters to date on the show.

There’s a scene on Sons where Jax, who the show centers around, is reading his dad’s journals about his motorcycle club. One line is “A true outlaw finds the balance between the passion in his heart and the reason in his mind. The outcome is the balance of might and right.” Do you think Eli has found the balance between the passion in his heart and the reason in his mind? Yes, he has. In the last episode, when Eli gives Juice [the bikers’ intelligence officer] back his case file he tells him, “You are a criminal, you do bad shit. I’m a police officer, I try to stop you.” This to me clearly demonstrates that Eli knows who he is and what he is really willing to do to bring righteousness and justice to his part of the world. Finding, knowing, and living that balance.

What about the Rockmond in real life? Have you found the balance between the passion in his heart and the reason? No.

It’s been said that Sons of Anarchy is based loosely around Hamlet. If so, where does Eli come in?
Hamlet: Part II.

You’ve starred in some really interesting crime dramas: Terriers, Prison Break, Sons of Anarchy. Why are you drawn to those roles? Not drawn to them, but their spirit and energy are drawn to me. The roles sought me out. I enjoy each of the characters I have played in these series because they are well written and the characters live off the screen.

One of your more notable roles, Kenny on Soul Food, was another rarity on TV: a stable black businessman with a family. There was a lot of talk when you didn’t get the NAACP award for the role. What did you think about that? Everyone has voiced his or her opinion. It is not for the accolades or check that I work. It is for the chance to do great work. Accolades may come in the future, but everything comes in its time.

A lot of fans were pleased to see a show about African-American lives that didn’t have violence. It was a great show that was one of the longest-running African-American dramas featured on television. It was historic and needed. I wish it were still on.

One of the storylines on Soul Food revolved around your character’s brother, Kelvin, played by Hill Harper, coming out as HIV-positive. It was a struggle for both men. Do you think either of the characters was emblematic of how black men feel about HIV? It was a story that reflected real life. One of the millions of stories that can be portrayed.

Sometimes it seems like TV is still quite segregated. Shows with largely black casts, like Girlfriends, Soul Food, The Game, Moesha—well, white people, by and large, don’t watch those shows. Why do you think that is? People watch what they relate to. The networks are marketing to the masses and look to make money off their programming choices. Again, everything has its season.

UPN’s Girlfriends was a hundred times better than, say, Whitney, which gets decent ratings on NBC. What’s the difference? My friends created Girlfriends, and it was a positive reflection of their lives. Political agendas play into what is shown these days, and we need to understand how this figures in the choices being made on what to broadcast.

You had a really well-received role in the indie film Punks, a film about black gay men. What was the reaction to it? I was punished for taking that role. Equally applauded and parodied.

Did that change how you felt about the role? I still believe you do a role because it will change someone’s life. Regardless of the stones that are thrown, I did it with no regrets. I am an artist.

At the time, you told The Advocate that other actors wouldn’t take the role because of the kissing scene with another man. That was a decade ago. Is that fear still there among actors? Yes, the fear never goes away when your concern is how you will be perceived in the industry.

What kind of support have you gotten from the gay community? Tons of support. The most inspirational support was from E. Lynn Harris, a great writer and human being. I was invited to his house for dinner, and not only did he welcome me, but he was overt in his support and celebration of me as a heterosexual actor and the work I had done on-screen.

You also said that “we need to show that unicorns do exist,” which is a lovely statement. Do you think growing up in the San Francisco area helped you be more accepting? Growing up in the Bay Area gave me exposure that helped me be proud of where I am from, of who I was, and who I am today. It was a great melting pot of ideas and cultures.

You’ve joined other actors in promoting HIV testing in black communities. What’s the biggest misconception that prevents folks from getting tested? You can’t get results right away. Wrong. There is a cure for AIDS, so why get tested? Wrong. You can get tested, and in 15 minutes you’ll know the answer. A rapid test helps one know so that you can act immediately. And cost is not a determinant—testing centers all around the country offer free testing. Knowledge is power.

The HIV rate for black men is still soaring. What do you think will stop that? Education.

You played a closeted gay man with HIV on Private Practice. That was a really interesting arc. Did you empathize with the character? Yes, because being who you are and living freely is the most important thing we can do as people. His wife knew that he was sad because he was living a lie, and all she wanted for him was to embrace the truth—be who he was and she would still love him.

One of the charities you work with is the Black AIDS Institute. Why that organization in particular? The Black AIDS Institute is headed by Phill Wilson. Here is a man who not only talks the talk but also walks the walk. He’s a survivor for over 20 years with HIV. He knows what it means to be tested and receive that call. He also knows that hope can be found and full, productive lives created with the support of organizations like the Black AIDS Institute and the community at large. As they say, we are Greater Than AIDS.

You have a production company, Flypaper Entertainment, with Carol Ann Shine, who you worked with on Punks. Does that give you some freedom to create stories that aren’t out there? Yes. Carol and I are as different as night and day but alike in that we take our differences and create stories that reach out to all types of people. Stories with impact and meaning that show reflections of faces and lives on the silver screen we don’t usually see. We look beyond the apparent to the hidden, the surprising, and the story that you might pass in the blink of an eye and miss a lifetime of wonder. Different types of heroes who more broadly reflect those around us of every hue and belief.

You’re a diplomatic goodwill ambassador from Gambia, the smallest country in Africa. His Excellency President Yahya Abdul-Azziz Jemus Junkung Jammeh invited me to Gambia for an official state visit. The purpose was to build a bridge of art and communication between the people of Africa and African-Americans, to develop communication via storytelling that creates a commonality of language and emotion so that we change perceptions, break down stereotypes, and create new opportunities. This action may take time, but all involved are dedicated to making it happen.

You did a DNA test a few years ago. What did you learn? My DNA test was from my mother’s chromosomes. I utilized AfricanAncestry.com to run my test. I discovered I was from the Yoruba tribe in Nigeria. My new name, given during a ceremony in September 2011 in New York City at a gathering of the Nigerian tribes, is Omobowale (“the child returns home”) Adunbarin (“a man of the people”). I learned more about my heritage and ancestry and have shared that amazing experience with my family and my fans. Recently I took another trip with my mother, my girlfriend actress Maya Gilbert, and her mother to Nigeria and the Ivory Coast. This was a first-time trip for our mothers, and it was an experience that left us all speechless with wonder. We were able to celebrate the current talent in Nigeria as I awarded the best director prize and Maya the best leading actress award at the Africa International Film Festival.

Why was it important to find out about your heritage? Everyone should know about their past, their legacy, the accomplishments of our forefathers, and the accomplishments of our living relatives in Africa. [It offers] a richness of life that expands one’s heart and mind beyond the borders of the United States.

You probably did a lot of odd jobs to support yourself before your acting career really took off. What was the worst one? Everyone has that one job that teaches us how to dream, appreciate, and to never look back but keep on getting up when reaching for the dreams leaves us beaten. For me that job was the grocery store night stocker clerk, aisle 25, dog food. Dog food cans explode in the heat. There was a lot of work each night. Second job was a cow lot where I would shovel shit for compost all day in the heat and sun. Both jobs taught me humility, patience, and commitment. I had made a goal at the start of that summer and I did it. I bought a car and have been driving toward the future ever since.

Ragiing Rainbows Foward

HHS Seeks Input on Streamlining HIV Data Collection, Reducing Reporting Burden for HIV Grantees

 

By Andrew Forsyth, Ph.D., Senior Science Advisor; and Vera Yakovchenko, M.P.H., Public Health Analyst, Office of HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

 

How many different data systems, indicators, and reporting requirements must recipients of federal HIV grant funds navigate? How much time does it take to comply with these reporting requirements and does the reported information result in tangible improvements in the quality of federally funded HIV prevention, care, and treatment services? How do grantees manage different HIV reporting requirements from various federal agencies, and, importantly, what do grantees have to say about the best ways to streamline HIV data collection and reduce reporting burden? HHS wants to know.
In a previous AIDS.gov blog post, we discussed our work to implement the National HIV/AIDS Strategy’s call to streamline and standardize the collection, sharing, and processing of programmatic and fiscal data to simplify administration of HIV services grants. Toward this aim, the Office of HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy (OHAIDP) has launched Phase II of a multiphase project that will culminate in the development of HHS agency implementation plans for streamlining HIV data collection and reducing grantee reporting burden while preserving the capacity to monitor the quality of HIV services and report on program impact nationwide. By reducing undue reporting burden we believe that grantees will free-up capacity that can be devoted to the delivery of HIV services. But to be sure we take steps that meaningfully and measurably achieve our goals, we need to hear from those most affected by the current HIV grant reporting requirements.
To better understand these reporting requirements from grantees’ and sub-grantees’ perspectives, we have published a Request for Information (RFI) “Guidance on Data Streamlining and Reducing Undue Reporting Burden for HHS-funded HIV Prevention, Treatment, and Care Services Grantees,” which invites respondents to share recommendations on such matters as:

• How much time, resources, and personnel costs are required to meet federal HIV grants administration requirements?
• Which requirements are most burdensome and which are most useful for program planning, monitoring, evaluation, or program improvements?
• What specific changes in federal, state, local, or tribal government policies, improvements in public health infrastructure, or other modifications are needed to achieve an optimized balance between data streamlining, reporting burden, and outcome monitoring?
• What specific policies and infrastructure are needed to standardize data requirements at the national, state, and local levels across federal programs supporting HIV/AIDS services?
• What specific solutions have grantees, sub-grantees, or contractors implemented to manage the administration requirements for data collection, monitoring, and reporting?
• Which required indicators and data elements can be eliminated without affecting adversely the capacity to monitor outcomes of HHS HIV services programs?
• What extant HIV data reporting systems or approaches to data reporting are the most effective, efficient, and acceptable for grantees? What recommendations would you offer for facilitating both data reporting and data sharing between funders and grantees?
• How best to measure our progress streamlining data collection and reducing reporting burden?

We appreciate that this is not a simple task and that it’s important to balance the need for information about how federal HIV funds are being used with an awareness that grantees do not have unlimited capacity to report on every potential HIV program item of interest. As such, we welcome your thoughts, perspectives and concerns about this important undertaking. Electronic responses to the RFI are preferred and may be emailed to HIVOpenData@hhs.gov by September 21, 2012. Readers should feel free to use the comments option below to submit comments as well.

Another Living Post

Inspiration and More from the CDC National Conference on Health Communication, Marketing, and Media

 

By Aisha Moore, Communications Director, AIDS.gov

 

Last week I attended the 6th Annual CDC National Conference on Health Communication, Marketing, and Media in Atlanta, which provides a forum for the discussion and exploration of health communication, marketing and media. Topics and panels covered a range of issues important to many of us in the health communications field.
On the Sexual Health in the Digital Age panel, I was joined by leaders in new media including Sally Cherry from the CHARE project , who participated in a training with AIDS.gov in 2009 and became hooked on new media. She presented on using virtual worlds such as Second Life to attend virtual conferences and host HIV awareness day events. Tim Kordic of the Los Angeles Unified School District presented on Project U which uses print, mobile, and web to bring young people information and services on sexual health. This project uses peer leaders to develop the content, and students for the creative. On the panel I shared AIDS.gov’s lessons learned from the past year, including guidance from the Digital Goverment Strategy (PDF 660KB), new data from the Pew Internet & American Life Project , and results from the National Minority AIDS Council HIV and New Media survey. I also spoke about some of AIDS.gov’s accomplishments from this year such as launching the AIDS.gov website in responsive design and the Facing AIDS Mobile App, both of which help our audiences get the information they need and engage with the AIDS.gov project.

Content Syndication
At AIDS.gov we encourage our audience to repurpose information, but recognize that it may often feel burdensome to maintain so many communications channels. Fred Smith from CDC presented on content syndication as a solution to those woes. Mr. Smith mentioned the Digital Government Strategy’s focus on making government content available “anytime, anywhere, and on any device.” CDC does this through an Application Programming Interface (API) that allows them to simultaneously update and display content on the CDC.gov web site, the mobile site (m.cdc.gov), RSS feeds, eCards, and iPad, iPhone, and Android mobile applications. The CDC API goes beyond their own channels, as many organizations (e.g. state and local governments) can include CDC web content on their own sites through the API. In another session, Healthfinder.gov shared that they also have an API. In fact, AIDS.gov also has an API for our HIV Prevention and Service Provider Locator.

Hard to Reach Populations
In the session “Reaching Communities of Color” Dr. Ivor Horn presented on her collaboration with the website My Brown Baby . Dr. Horn is a pediatrician at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC, where she found that more of her patients were heeding her medical advice after they saw her speak on local media outlets. Dr. Horn took the opportunity to become a trusted doctor for families in African-American communities. She teamed up with Denene Millner’s website MyBrownBaby.com to create Dr. Ivor Is In, a monthly column where she shared her expertise and personal experience. A content analysis of the website after the series of six blog posts showed an increase “in the number of mentions of words like child, baby and parents and more health- and medical-related content” – an example of reaching your audience where they are.
Dr. Lisa Solomon of Abt Associates showed how working with Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) can help reach minority students on college campuses. Seven MSIs were funded through the Minority AIDS Initiative Fund administered through the Office of HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy in the US Department of Health and Human Services. Each institution identified social marketing strategies to increase retention and participation of students in evidence-based HIV interventions, testing campaigns, and educational sessions.

Inspiration Shop
On the last day of the conference, the organizers offered an Inspiration Shop. Five presenters gave ignite style presentations about what inspired them. Punam Keller opened the session and reinforced the role of thought leaders as those who give away their ideas to others for the greater good of improving health. CDC HealthComms Works is a platform that inspires her. Andre Blackman of Pulse and Signal shared that programs intersecting innovation and public health inspire him. He mentioned Data, Design, Diabetes which was an innovation challenge that used crowdsourcing to address diabetes care in the U.S. Beyond the examples of inspirational health communications projects, the presenters and participants also shared their personal inspirations and energized the conference participants on the last day.

Participating from a Distance
Trying to gather information for this blog and live tweeting made it a challenge for me to capture everything in the inspiration session. In fact there was so much activity that the hashtag #hcmmconf was trending that morning. After the session I created a Storify to document what was shared and to use as a future reference. I was able to pull from sources including Twitter and Youtube to document the experience. CDC also piloted the NCHCMM as a virtual conference , and all the sessions from the main room were streamed live. Between the activity on Twitter and live streaming, it allowed those afar an opportunity to participate in the conference.

After a few weeks, the hashtag #hcmmconf is still very active, so please join the conversation. Also, don’t miss communication resources from the CDC (including a Health Communicator’s Social Media Toolkit (PDF 2.42MB) and Guide to Writing for Social Media (PDF 1.57MB). Did you participate in the conference? Please share with us your takeaways.

Summer Living and Affected

LA Corp Seeks Growing Organically

The Living Affected Corporation has undertaken a growing initiative under a new Community Gardens Project funded through a Argenta beautification grant. Since the group talk about "food" as a social determinant within our "Housing, Education, Food,Treatment, Employment "concept, we thought it ideal that perhaps we consider raising some food organically as a continuing symbol of  sustaining one's self and developing a new skill set." said Chief Operating Officer Cornelius Mabin.  He continued, "we will need volunteers to come share their gardening experience and those who can help us make that project a success." The group hopes to begin following the growing season with either planting fresh greens such as collards, kale, or spinach. Plus any additional vegetables that could be grown in the raise boxes of the venture. If you are interested in sharing your "green thumb" expertise reach out to LA Corp at 379-8203.


Social Networking Event Announces

The Board of Directors of The Living Affected Corporation has announced its schedule of Afterhour Networking sessions for the remainder of 2012. The evenings were designed as apart of the organizations continued outreach to the community as well as prospect for additional board members and or volunteers. If you are interested in sponsorship or in-kind contributions to support our programming vision contact us at 877-902-7HIV The dates are as follows but could be subject to change:

September 5, 2012

October 3, 2012

November 7, 2012

December 5, 2012 

 

For additional details call the office at 379.8203 or email: info@lacorponline for directions or donations.


(The Living Affected Corporation embraces and signs on to this important statement and proclamation.)

Call to Action: HIV and Young Gay and Bisexual Men in the United States

When new infections among young Black gay men increase by nearly fifty percent in three years,

we need to do more to show them that their lives matter.

President Barack Obama, December 1, 2011

We will never end the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the US until we dramatically lessen the burden of HIV among gay and bisexual men, particularly young men

Across race, age, and geography, gay and bisexual men remain most vulnerable to HIV infection in the United States. Gay and bisexual men are the only group of people in which new HIV infections are increasing each year. They represent only 2% of the US population, yet account for 64% of new infections.

Young gay and bisexual men aged 13-29 comprise less than 1% of the US population, but account for 27% of all new infections. Black young men are especially hard hit by the AIDS epidemic, experiencing a shocking 48% increase in the number of new HIV infections between 2006 and 2009.

Despite alarming infection rates, the response to HIV/AIDS among young gay and bisexual men has never been adequate. Allocation of prevention, research, and other resources to focus on gay men overall or young

men, in particular, has never been equal to their proportion of the epidemic. Negative experiences and other barriers to accessing health care have left too many young men estranged from the services and institutions that could support healthy sexual, physical, and emotional development. Family rejection, social isolation, homophobia, and absent legal protections have perpetuated a cycle of homelessness, unemployment, substance use, and poverty among the most vulnerable.

To achieve the goals of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy for the US – (1) to reduce new HIV infections, (2) to improve access to health care, and (3) to eliminate health disparities – particular attention must be paid to young gay and bisexual men, for too many of whom HIV infection has become a rite of passage to adulthood. We can and must respond to HIV/AIDS in a way that respects and cares for all people living with HIV, while recognizing the unique impact of HIV on young gay and bisexual men.

We have never been better equipped to mount a comprehensive response to HIV among young gay and bisexual men. Social marketing campaigns and affirming messages from the highest levels of leadership are beginning to validate years of hard work promoting equality and dignity. The Affordable Care Act will offer health care to millions who have been denied access for decades. Scientific research has demonstrated both sustained health improvement and a dramatic reduction in transmission among people living with HIV who initiate treatment early after diagnosis.

We can achieve an AIDS-free generation for ALL young gay and bisexual men in the United States, but only if we make the commitment to change today.

A CALL TO ACTION

We, the undersigned, call on ALL AMERICANS to help end the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the US by

demonstrating to young gay and bisexual men that their lives matter. We call on:

POLICYMAKERS

to ensure that all health care services are tailored to the diverse needs of young gay and bisexual men of all colors, with HIV prevention resources dedicated to this population, commensurate with their representation in the US epidemic. We also call on you to look across the spectrum of policies and

services – from schools to housing to civil rights protections – and require they foster supportive and healthy environments that enable young gay and bisexual men to thrive, whether or not they are living with HIV.

GAY COMMUNITY LEADERS

to elevate HIV as a priority for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities, recognizing the heavy impact of HIV on young gay and bisexual men, particularly young men of color, as an important equity issue in the LGBT community. As at the beginning of the epidemic, the LGBT community must engage in thoughtful dialogue about why HIV remains such a dominant challenge, and foster the community cohesion that gives young gay and bisexual men the support

needed to overcome stigma and homophobia and to adopt healthy behaviors, irrespective of HIV status.

COMMUNITY LEADERS

to respond to HIV with equanimity across the community, fighting with equal passion for young gay and bisexual men, heterosexual men and women, and children. Your leadership is essential. We ask you to follow President Obama's example and embrace young gay and bisexual men as family and community members who need to know that they are not forgotten, and that their lives matter.

PHYSICIANS AND RESEARCHERS

to make HIV testing and treatment available to all young gay and bisexual men, and to encourage youth who are living with HIV to initiate and sustain HIV treatment that allows them to lead healthy lives. Additionally, we need a comprehensive HIV research agenda for young

gay and bisexual men.

CORPORATIONS AND PRIVATE FUNDERS

to review your current portfolios and bolster your HIV donor support to programs and services for young gay and bisexual men.

PARENTS, FAMILY, AND EDUCATORS

to love your gay children, unconditionally. You must support your gay youth, and recognize that anti-gay messages harm young people and further the spread of HIV. Parents and educators must insist that all young people receive medically accurate, age-appropriate education that seeks to promote healthy living and delay sexual debut, but that does not spread anti-gay or anti-HIV stigma.

FAITH COMMUNITY

to affirm the value, equality, and dignity of young LGBT people, including their right and need to have access to accurate information about HIV/AIDS and how to protect themselves. Spirituality has an important and powerful influence on young people’s self-esteem and can positively or negatively impact development of healthy behavior. Inclusive approaches that recognize our universal humanity and provide sanctuary where young gay and bisexual men can feel accepted and loved are urgently needed.

YOUNG GAY AND BISEXUAL MEN

to be proud of who you are, to work to achieve your dreams, to love whomever you want, to be empowered to have fulfilling sexual relationships, to lead positive and healthy lives. For those living with HIV, consider starting treatment right away. For those who do not know their status or are HIV-negative, get tested for HIV and adopt practices that will keep you HIV-free. Your life matters.

This is a promising time in the response to HIV/AIDS in the United States. Both Democrats and

Republicans can be proud of their support for domestic and global HIV initiatives. The Obama
Administration has delivered our nation’s first comprehensive National HIV/AIDS Strategy and the
Affordable Care Act will expand health care access widely. We must seize this moment to take critical steps toward ending the HIV epidemic in the United States.



Affected Horizons Ahead

The Living Affected Corporation participated Sunday August 12, in the first Community Day sponsored by the Presbyterian Church of Argenta in North Little Rock. The organization provided a micro health outreach and assisted contacting individuals to benefit from the school supplies being offered for free. "Although turn out was lite at the beginning, we were hoping that some participation would happen later in the afternoon," said LA Corps Desmond Pruitt. "The amount of items donated was fantastic and I really hope that those who participate appreciate this effort." Under the direction of Rev. Ann Russ, the church has been in a revival and rebuilding approach. The church has secured grants for updates and new fixtures including a new piece of equipment for the kitchen. Living Affected has also joined the church's new Community Gardens Project funded through a Argenta beautification grant. Since we talk about "food" as a social determinant within our HEFTE concept, we thought it ideal that perhaps we consider raising some food organically as a continuing symbol of self sustaining one's self." said Chief Operating Officer Cornelius Mabin.  He continued, "we will need volunteers to come share their gardening experience and those who can help us make that project a success." Pictured from left: Derrick Lopp and Cornelius Mabin.


Social Networking Event Announces

The Board of Directors of The Living Affected Corporation has announced its schedule of Afterhour Networking sessions for the remainder of 2012. The evenings were designed as apart of the organizations continued outreach to the community as well as prospect for additional board members and or volunteers. The dates are as follows but could be subject to change:

September 5, 2012

October 3, 2012

November 7, 2012

December 5, 2012 

For additional details call the office at 379.8203 or email: info@lacorponline for directions or donations.

Tongues Untied Prepares for October Launch

A new Black Gay Men's Support Group tentatively structured as "Tongues Untied" and is planning its debut October 10, 2012, 6-7:30 pm at 401 North Maple Street, in North Little Rock. Under the guidance of The Living Affected Corporation in conjunction with ADH's newest sub-grantee, Strilite, the venture will be designed to further support efforts to " HIV prevention message" within the same gender loving community and beyond. Member Derrick Lopp  stated, "I think that this is our time to have a gathering of this type. I'm very excited in how it will take off and be used."

"I believe that we need places to share our thoughts and challenges especially before crisis situations set in," said Facilitator Desmond Pruit. The new group will have both an open forum and topical format based around a 90 minute frame or as the group decides. Pruitt stated that "we plan to begin with identity issues and how they impact our lives."  Chief Operating Officer, Cornelius Mabin emphasized that this project was always apart of the Strilite vision. From its inception, the members viewed having such a group would be vital to their mission to "provide peer to peer mentoring, support and prevention education against maladies such as HIV in our community." Furthermore, " it's become imperative that as we deal with individuals holistically, we must wholeheartedly support their vision of "reaching our present to change our future." As planning is completed, times will be confirmed and announced on all the organizations digital platforms. Pruitt is a graduate of Philander Smith College with a B.A. in Organizational Management, Master's Degree in Human Resources from Webster University and was formerly employed by Verizon. He currently serves a resource volunteer for the organization and will facilitate the meetings. Additional meetings will be held November 14, 2012 and December 12, 2012. Dates are subject to change due to scheduling.



Periscopes Up and OUT

Secretary Sebelius Approves Indicators for Monitoring HHS-Funded HIV Services

 By Andrew Forsyth, Ph.D., Senior Science Advisor; and Vera Yakovchenko, M.P.H., Public Health Analyst, Office of HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius recently approved the use of seven common core indicators for monitoring HHS-funded HIV prevention, treatment, and care services. What are these indicators and what are the next steps in this effort?

Last month, we reported that the Secretary had directed leaders of HIV/AIDS services programs within the Department of Health and Human Services to develop and implement common, core indicators for monitoring HIV programs and services; streamline related data collection; and reduce undue reporting burden on HIV services grantees. We’re pleased to announce that Phase I of this multi-phase effort is now complete.

On July 24, 2012, Secretary Sebelius approved a package of seven common core indicators that were generated following multiple consultations with a group of federal and non-federal stakeholders and that are consistent both with the Institute of Medicine’s recommendations for monitoring HIV services and indicators deployed by the National Quality Forum (NQF) and the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).

These new HHS common HIV indicators, which were informed by relevant treatment guidelines and empirical evidence, include the following:

Measure	Numerator	Denominator
HIV Positivity	Number of HIV positive tests in the 12-month measurement period	Number of HIV tests conducted in the 12-month measurement period
Late HIV Diagnosis	Number of persons with a diagnosis of Stage 3 HIV infection (AIDS) within 3 months of diagnosis of HIV infection in the 12-month measurement period	Number of persons with an HIV diagnosis in the 12-month measurement period
Linkage to HIV Medical Care	Number of persons who attended a routine HIV medical care visit within 3 months of HIV diagnosis	Number of persons with an HIV diagnosis in 12-month measurement period
Retention in HIV Medical Care	Number of persons with an HIV diagnosis who had at least one HIV medical care visit in each 6 month period of the 24 month measurement period, with a minimum of 60 days between the first medical visit in the prior 6 month period and the last medical visit in the subsequent 6 month period	Number of persons with an HIV diagnosis with at least one HIV medical care visit in the first 6 months of the 24‐month measurement period
Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Among Persons in HIV Medical Care	Number of persons with an HIV diagnosis who are prescribed ART in the 12-month measurement period	Number of persons with an HIV diagnosis and who had at least one HIV medical care visit in the 12-month measurement period
Viral Load Suppression Among Persons in HIV Medical Care	Number of persons with an HIV diagnosis with a viral load <200 copies/mL at last test in the 12–month measurement period	Number of persons with an HIV diagnosis and who had at least one HIV medical care visit in the 12-month measurement period
Housing Status	Number of persons with an HIV diagnosis who were homeless or unstably housed in the 12-month measurement period	Number of persons with an HIV diagnosis receiving HIV services in the last 12 months

It is noteworthy that several of the proposed indicators have been submitted for National Quality Forum endorsement and may be adjusted slightly during this process in order to achieve consistency across HHS and key consensus development groups.

“The approval of these seven common core indicators by the Secretary is an important milestone in our efforts to respond to the National HIV/AIDS Strategy’s call to standardize data collection and grantee reporting requirements for federal HIV programs,” commented Dr. Ronald Valdiserri, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health, Infectious Diseases. “These common core HIV program indicators will facilitate our efforts to monitor and report on progress toward achieving the Strategy’s goals and we are grateful to the strong support of leaders across HHS agencies for coming together to make this happen.”

Many will recall that developing common core indicators represents only Phase 1 of an ambitious, cross-agency effort to streamline data collection and simplify administration of HHS HIV services grants. Phase II, which officially launched in mid-July, will entail the development of operational plans by HHS agencies that support HIV services to implement these core indicators across their funding programs, as well as the identification of strategies to streamline data collection from grantees and reduce undue grantee reporting burden by at least 20–25%. This will require ongoing engagement of federal and non-federal stakeholders and will culminate in the completion of these planning documents by mid-October 2012. After this time, key HHS agencies will transition to Phase III, when they’ll address the implementation challenges anticipated and pave the way for achieving the goals of reducing red tape while improving the delivery of HIV services in the U.S. Full deployment of all these streamlining activities is anticipated by the start of Fiscal Year 2014.

Streaming and Living Affected

Afterhours Networking Event Schedule Event Announces

After successfully launching its Afterhours Networking event last week, the Board of Directors of The Living Affected Corporation has announced it's tentative schedule for the events. Board member Davaron Anderson stated, " we didn't know how well it would go, but we felt that it was a success and seemed to be something that would allow us to engage the community socially while sharing our vision and mission." He continued, " hopefully as these events develop, it is our goal to seek additional board prospects, donors, and volunteers to share in our work."  Anderson concluded, " we all are excited about the possibilities and opportunities to reach out to interested individuals and other organizations." The proposed dates are as follows: September 5, October 3, November 7, December 5.


10 Years and the Dialogue Continues” – HIV Prevention as Social Justice for Black Gay Men/MSM 2013 and Beyond

 The only National conference for and by Black gay men, the 2013 National African American MSM Leadership Conference on HIV/AIDS and other Health Disparities will be held in Los Angeles, CA from January 17– 20, 2013. Staff members of The Living Affected Corporation have expressed interest in attending this important and one of kind leadership building and networking event.  In press releases, organizers have shared that they are looking forward to another large turn out with the help of the residents, government officials and the host committee of Los Angeles. The conference theme, 10 Years and the Dialogue Continues” – HIV Prevention as Social Justice for Black Gay Men/MSM 2013 and Beyond reflects the renewed sense of unity and commitment to an end of HIV. NASEM Founder and CEO, Rudolph Carn stated that "there is strength in our diversity and we have seen that we, as a community are a powerful force to be reckoned with."

Also included in the event will be the introduction of the fifth Creating Responsible Intelligent Black Brothers (CRIBB) Fellowship participants. Plus a new first time conference partners, UCLA Health and, Hope & Healing (H3) conference. The H3 conference will take place the day before the 2013 conference starts.

Its purpose is to:
1) explore the current research, examining the intersection of behavioral, psychological, socio-cultural, and biomedical risk factors contributing to the HIV epidemic, as well as protective and resiliency factors among Black MSM
2) Develop and sustain local and national relationships between current and aspiring investigators, and community based participatory research collaborative to advance research and training aimed at reducing HIV among Black MSM
3) Generate reports, monographs and manuscripts that document key issues and provide recommendations for future research, programs and funding opportunities.

You can discover conference information by visiting: www.naesm.org for additional information about the conference or call (404) 691-8880. If you are you interested assisting staff members with attending the conference through donations call 501.379.8203 or www.lacorponoline.org

What Have We Learned As Black Gay Men?

By Rudolph H. Carn, Founder and CEO – NAESM
Since the beginning of the AIDS epidemic Black gay men have been dying quietly with nobody to call. Black gay men were shunned by their families and friends for living with AIDS. It was the shattering stories of how toxic the meds were and that the medical professionals and healthcare providers did not fully understand the disease. Here we are two decades later. Black gay men are still dying and becoming infected at alarming rates. We must ask ourselves, “What have we learned?”
Many of us felt the need to go further than asking health officials for answers. We made ourselves a part of the solution. We rolled up our sleeves and began to fight HIV/AIDS. We felt that Black gay men were better prepared to help Black gay men than any ethnic group or gender. No one knew the depth and breath of Black gay men’s feelings better than men who had walked the same path and faced the same obstacles and rejection. We were brothers by more than genes and physical characteristics. We were brothers because the spirits of brothers who led the fight two decades ago connected our souls. We promised them we would not give up nor would we give in to the pressures inside or outside.
What have we learned as Black gay men? I believe some of us have gotten stronger and wiser in the fight against the epidemic of HIV/AIDS. We learned from our past. We know now that some of the choices needed to change if we were going to remain uninfected or live a strong and healthy life with HIV/AIDS.
We learned that we needed to educate and re-educate brothers about their long term choices. We had to lead by example whether we wanted to or not. We had to show some brothers the difference one day could make. It could make the difference between putting on a condom and taking twenty pills a day.
I wish I could say we learned to fight the system without fighting each other. We could have all done better. We sometimes allowed our passion to overshadow our need to get along with each other. In my younger days, I was outspoken and sometimes arrogant at any cost. I didn’t weigh the consequences. I pushed my way through the red tape to get around the obstacles because brothers were dying. I felt I was racing against the windstorm. When I look back and when you look back, we all must examine the sole purpose of the organizations that we gave birth to. Did we create these agencies in the spirit of love or in the spirit of competition? We know by experience that the AIDS Service community is competitive and sometimes cutthroat. But let us not forget that
the true mission is not the castles we build here on earth but the brothers we save and protect from HIV/AIDS. Whether we feel the urge that we are racing against a clock or sick and tired of the statistics going up and going down and up again. There is still a need to treat each other with love, respect and dignity.
There is an African proverb that says, “When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion.” In my own words, when Black gay men unite, we can overcome the odds. We can overcome the dissension that overshadows our voices in a room. We can rise above the criticism that lingers in the air. We can even run faster if we learn to pass the baton of leadership to brothers whose legs are stronger and muscles are bigger. The baton could be technical assistance to the ASO with only two staff and no money. I remember those days when I wondered how I was going to make payroll. Those days were not easy. They caused sleepless nights and fatigue. On a positive note, the rough spots make us ready for the bend in the road. Most of us face the unknown, every year when we race against the clock to submit grants and continuation applications. We know that our agencies cannot remain effective if we lose major funding. So, we ready ourselves for the next bend in the road. Sometimes, we have to wait for the answer and for the next leader to be prepared.
The cure for AIDS may come long after my life and your life. But the fact still remains, we hope for a cure for AIDS. When it is all said and done, we want to leave a legacy that says, “Black gay men united and their voices and deeds crippled the affects of HIV/AIDS. They stood ready for a cure and ready to continue the fight.”