Real Living and Affected

Mental stress fuels HIV in gay men

The mental health burdens of racism, homophobia, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder contribute to the HIV epidemic among many young black and Latino men, experts say. The Living Affected Corporation has highlighted this subject as apart of its HEFTE (Housing, Education, Food, Treatment and Employment) concept which we believe is a trajectory to HIV infections. It is imperative that these elements be addressed as apart of the linkage care continuum.

The findings are from a recent study, which is part of a larger research effort called Project-18 that follows a racially, ethnically, and economically diverse cohort of approximately 600 urban HIV-negative young men.

Participants of Project-18 are self-identified as men who have sex with men (MSM), currently live in New York City, and are monitored every six months for three years as they transition from adolescence into young adulthood.

 

Studies show that gay, bisexual, and other MSMs account for more than 50 percent of all infections and more than 50 percent of recent HIV infections in the US, with some 70 percent in urban centers.
The latest findings, published in the journal AIDS and Behavior, support the notion that mental health, drug use, and unprotected sex are inextricably linked.

“The more burden these men face for being persons of color, economically disadvantaged, homosexual, foreign born, and simply discriminated against, impact their mental health,” says Perry Halkitis, director of the Center of Health, Identity, Behavior and Prevention Studies at New York University.

“Our additional analysis found that foreign-born men of lower socioeconomic status demonstrate a greater likelihood of unprotected sex.”

More trauma leads to more mental health burdens and exacerbates risky behavior, such as drug and alcohol abuse and unprotected sex, Halkitis explains. “The fact of the matter is that these psychosocial stressors that gay men experience heighten their vulnerability to HIV.”
Halkitis received $2.9 million from the National Institute of Health’s (NIH) National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) in 2009 to begin his study. While previous studies further conclude that consistent education efforts will aid in the prevention of spreading the disease among this population, Halkitis asserts that the research community must tackle the issue from a psychological and mental health standpoint.

“We take a holistic approach and believe that health states must be considered synergistically,” Halkitis says. “Through this study, what we’ve done is show that these health problems—mental health burdens and risky behavior—are highly related when it comes to this population of gay men and their contraction of HIV.”
Source: NYU

 

V Day: Living Affected

Apps and Social Media to Show You Care

Social media and mobile apps are great tools to help you connect to people. For example, you can connect to your former high school sweetheart on Facebook, share photos with your family on Instagram, send an eCard to your partner, or tweet about the great date you had last night. You also can use apps to track your loved ones’ health, send reminders for appointments and dates, or search for services and locations. For Valentine’s Day, we’ve put together a list of some apps and social media sites you can use to show others you care about them and their health.

Let someone know you’re Facing AIDS for them (It’s not just for World AIDS Day anymore)

Since we launched the Facing AIDS anti-stigma photo sharing initiative five years ago, thousands of people have uploaded photos and messages about how they are Facing AIDS for their partners, spouses, family members, and friends. Valentine’s Day is a great time to upload your image on the Facing AIDS site or with the Facing AIDS iPhone app. With the app, you can send your photo via text message or email, or upload it to Facebook and Twitter to let everyone know you care!

Send an eCard reminder to get an HIV test

Healthfinder.gov has eCards for every occasion, including a reminder to get an HIV test. CDC offers e-cards about STDs, too. What better way to show someone you care than to encourage them to know their status?

Connect someone to HIV testing locations and services

After you’ve reminded your loved one to get an HIV test, help them find a testing site near them using the HIV/AIDS Prevention and Services Locator. And yes, there’s an app for that, too. In addition to testing sites, you also can use the Locator to help them find housing, behavioral health and substance abuse services, and other support services. Raul Posas at MetroTeenAIDS knows the importance of these resources first hand. “At MetroTeenAIDS we know that D.C. youth are active on technology. And in order to get them the information they need to protect themselves – like testing locations and other services – we need to make sure they can access it online and on their phones.”

Keep your loved ones in the know about health care

Help someone you love to learn what’s happening. Follow the HealthCare.gov blog for more about health care coverage. And don’t forget to share how to subscribe to the AIDS.gov blog (under the “Subscribe” menu on the right).

Share information and knowledge

Whether you’re living with HIV, working in the HIV community, or caring for someone you love, there’s a lot of information to learn. The National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) AIDSinfo has tremendous wealth of information. In addition to the AIDSinfo online resource, they have an HIV/AIDS glossary app (in English and Spanish), widgets, and more! You can also check out the HIV/AIDS Prevention Bilingual Glossary Widget from the Office of Minority Health. The videos and the HIV/AIDS basics section of AIDS.gov can help start a conversation about HIV. With these tools, you will always have important HIV information at your fingertips.

Protect yourself

February 14 is not only Valentine’s Day—it’s also National Condom Day! The New York Department of Health’s Condom Finder app is a tool to help users find free condoms in New York City and to access sexual health information. Available for iPhone, Android, Blackberry and Windows smartphones, just search for “NYC Condom” to download the app. While this app is only available in New York, we look forward to other cities following suit!
How are you using social media to show you care?
 

Staying Positive and Aware

Justice Department Settles Three HIV Discrimination Cases

As part of its Barrier-Free Health Care Initiative, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has reached three settlements addressing HIV discrimination by medical providers over the past three weeks. Each of the settlements was reached under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities—including persons with HIV disease—in public accommodations, employment, transportation, State and local government services, and telecommunications.

In the settlement announced this week, DOJ found that Woodlawn Family Dentistry of Alexandria, Virginia required a patient with HIV to schedule all future appointments as the last appointment of the day. DOJ determined that, because the patient has HIV, Woodlawn failed to offer him the same options and availability in scheduling future appointments as it offered to other people. DOJ further determined that there was no lawful reason why Woodlawn could not treat the patient at any time during normal business hours. Under the settlement, Woodlawn must pay $7,000 to the patient and $3,000 in civil penalties. In addition, Woodlawn must train its staff on the ADA and develop and implement an anti-discrimination policy.

Earlier this month, the Justice Department announced that it had reached a settlement with Castlewood Treatment Center LLC, of St. Louis, Missouri, which resolves allegations that Castlewood violated the ADA by refusing to treat a woman for a serious eating disorder because she has HIV. DOJ found that Castlewood refused to treat Susan Gibson because of her HIV, despite Castlewood’s determination that she was qualified to receive counseling treatment for her eating disorder, and despite advice from its own medical staff that they were able to treat someone with HIV at Castlewood. DOJ also determined that for months Castlewood staff told Gibson that she was on a waiting list for the program, even though they had no intention to admit her. In the meantime, Gibson’s condition worsened and her health declined. Castlewood’s actions delayed Gibson from receiving appropriate medical treatment for up to seven months. Gibson’s complaint was brought to the Justice Department’s attention by the American Civil Liberties Union, LGBT & AIDS Project .
“Excluding a person from necessary medical treatment solely because of HIV is unconscionable,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Division takes HIV discrimination in any form seriously, and will not allow for the marginalization of those living with HIV.”

Under the February 8, 2013 settlement, the Castlewood Treatment Center must pay $115,000 to Gibson and $25,000 in civil penalties. In addition, Castlewood must train its staff on the ADA and develop and implement an anti-discrimination policy. The Justice Department will monitor Castlewood’s compliance for four years.

Finally, on January 31, 2013, the Justice Department announced a similar settlement agreement with the Fayetteville Pain Center to address HIV discrimination. That settlement resolves allegations that the Fayetteville Pain Center violated the ADA by refusing to treat a woman because she has HIV. The complainant, a woman with HIV who was suffering from back pain as a result of a car accident, visited the Fayetteville Pain Center in Fayetteville, North Carolina, seeking treatment. According to the complaint, the woman was unable to obtain medical treatment because the doctor at the Fayetteville Pain Center refused to treat a person with HIV. The ADA requires public accommodations such as doctors’ offices, medical clinics, hospitals, and other health care providers, to provide people with disabilities, including those with HIV, equal access to goods, services, and facilities. Under the settlement, the Fayetteville Pain Center must pay $10,000 to the complainant and $5,000 to the United States in civil penalties, train its staff on the ADA, and develop and implement an anti-discrimination policy.

All three settlements are part of the Department of Justice’s Barrier-Free Health Care Initiative, a partnership of the Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney’s offices across the nation, to target enforcement efforts on a critical area for individuals with disabilities. The initiative, launched on the 22nd anniversary of the ADA in July 2012, includes the participation of 40 U.S. Attorney’s offices. The Division expects the initiative to address access to health care for people with HIV and those with hearing disabilities, as well as physical access to medical facilities. In 2012, the Division and U.S. Attorneys offices reached two settlement agreements regarding access to medical care for people with HIV and four settlements regarding access to medical care for people with hearing disabilities.
Since President Obama announced the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) in July 2010, the Department of Justice, under the leadership of Attorney General Eric Holder, has taken unprecedented steps to enforce civil rights laws that protect the rights of persons living with HIV or AIDS and to educate the public on these issues. The NHAS Federal Implementation Plan calls upon the Department of Justice to enhance cooperation with other Federal agencies to facilitate enforcement of Federal antidiscrimination laws. Information about the important role that enforcement of antidiscrimination laws can play in changing the HIV/AIDS epidemic can be found in an excerpt from the NHAS (PDF 90KB).

For more information on the ADA and HIV visit www.ada.gov/aids. Those interested in finding out more about these settlements or the obligations of public accommodations under the ADA may call the Justice Department’s toll-free ADA information line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TDD), or access its ADA website at www.ada.gov. ADA complaints may be filed by email to ada.complaint@usdoj.gov.
- See more at: http://blog.aids.gov/2013/02/justice-department-settles-three-hiv-discrimination-cases.html#sthash.WdqwYg68.dpuf

Keeping it Real Living and Affected

Scaling New Media in People of Color Communities

Today we call our readers attention to three new videos released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Living Affected Corporation has been at the forefront of engaging as well as seeking to further harness the power of social media. As an organization, it has been our mission to explore various platforms, while experimenting with creative prevention messaging to continue to address the issues of HIV and AIDS infections within communities of color. This blog site was launched in 2012 as apart of strategy to widen our appraoch through both old and new media, plus seeking to enhance "a digital interaction and or experience" for our readers. We encourage readers to share their stories, comments and or offer their own expertise as we move forward with upgrading and formatting all our online platforms.

• HIV Among African Americans discusses the impact of HIV on African Americans and what actions can be taken to mark National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.
• Factors Driving the HIV Epidemic Among African Americans highlights social factors—often referred to as social determinants of health—that contribute to the HIV epidemic in black communities in the United States.
• HIV Among African American Women talks about an encouraging decrease in new HIV infections among black women.

Learn more about video sharing in response to HIV here. For more information about the national HIV/AIDS awareness observances, visit AIDS.gov.

Living Affected Participtes in Regional Conference

Jefferson Comprehensive Care System, Inc. (JCCSI) will be hosting their 5th Regional HIV/AIDS Conference in Arkansas, March 7-8, 2013. The conference will discuss the unique epidemic of HIV/AIDS in the South amongst youth, gay Black men and communities of color. The conference will feature Paul K. Halverson, Director and State Health Officier of the Arkansas Department of Health and Patricia Nalls, Founder and Director of the Women's Collective of Washington, D.C. The two day event will also feature a planned schedule of topics ranging from substance abuse to HIV policy issues.
Founder and CEO, Diedra Levi, will lead a workshop on Consumers and Advocacy, in which she will highlight key elements necessary in advocating for high impact prevention programming. Also the significance of understanding the impact of stakeholders sharing their lived experiences with policy and law makers.
 JCCSI was awarded a grant from Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for the Part D program in August 1999. Part D is unique from other HRSA funded programs because our focus is on women, infants, children, and youth (WICY) and their families who are infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. As part of our commitment to fulfill the goals of Part D, we have begun planning for this monumental occasion to take place on March 7-8, 2013. The theme for the conference is entitled, “Uniting In The Fight To End HIV/AIDS.”

This event will be held at the Hot Springs Convention Center/Embassy Suites Hotel in Hot Springs, Arkansas. For more information contact:www.jccsi.org or 870.534.3448

Staying in the Living and Affected Mix

Using Video to Mark National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day



Today, we highlight videos—both new and old—that are available through AIDS.gov and can be used to generate conversation about the disproportionate impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic on African American communities.
Each year, individuals across the country take part in AIDS.gov’s Facing AIDS photo-sharing initiative. The goal of Facing AIDS is to reduce HIV-related stigma and to promote HIV testing. This year, more than 1,400 individuals and groups participated in Facing AIDS as part of World AIDS Day alone.
Today, we are releasing a special compilation video of photos from the 2012 Facing AIDS campaign. The video, “Facing AIDS for National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day”, supports NBHAAD’s key messages. Please view and share this video in your local NBHAAD events and in other events commemorating Black History Month.

Aware Enough?

As a Black person, I can tell you that an awareness day is rhetorical because we are aware. We simply haven’t had enough. We haven’t had enough of dying when we don’t have to. We haven’t had enough funerals. We haven’t had enough of seeing someone darken and waste away. We are aware. We are aware that Black gay men are more at risk. We are aware that Black gay men are more likely to be infected. We are aware that Black gay men are more likely to not get the proper treatment and die from this disease. We are aware that Black women are 20 times more likely to become infected with HIV than White women. We simply haven’t had enough.

I am aware that the right person hasn’t been infected and stood up to say that I have HIV. I am aware that the conspiracy theories are still rampant in my community and most think that Magic Johnson was able to afford a cure. I am aware that there is no cure. I am aware and can call names of people who eat a nutritious diet and ingest special herbal treatments to keep the effects of HIV at bay. I’m aware that that’s not enough. I’m aware that the treatment now can bring you back from the brink of death once you have had enough. But we haven’t had enough.

In Arkansas, we still have a death a month of some young gay male less than 30 years of age from a disease they didn’t have to die from so young. Are people aware that poverty and homelessness are more than likely a part of the journey for this young man? Are you aware that if you go up under the bridges of Little Rock that you would find that about 40% of these homeless people are gay? Are we aware that parents beg for a mental diagnosis from a psychiatrist instead of accepting that their child is simply gay? Are we aware that one of the most popular ministers here will dunk a child under the cold waters of baptism twice to try to wash away that homosexual demon (that the child might not be aware of) out of them? Yes, I believe we are aware but I don’t believe we have had enough.

I’m aware that if the Atlanta housewife, NeNe, said to take your medication if you have HIV, then we might get some results. I believe if, while on American Idol, Nicki Minaj says to take your medication for your HIV, we might get some results. I even believe that if, from the pulpit, preachers preached love, we might have some results. But they don’t which translates to we haven’t had enough.

When it comes to Black people, I know that when we have had enough, we move and shake mountains. Rosa Parks had had enough. Harriet Tubman had had enough. Colin Powell had had enough. When Rodney King was beaten, we had had enough. But for Black folks and dying from or baring half the burden of HIV/AIDS we haven’t had enough. There is no fight, no riot, and no march. There is the perpetuation of shame, guilt and isolation.

I would like to see Legislators fighting for a chance to speak at a National Black HIV Awareness Day. Each representative will want to tell about how they fought for housing, education, food, treatment and employment that the lack thereof was a trajectory to HIV/AIDS. Senators will tell their stories of how they fought for HIV decriminalization, syringe exchanges, HIV prevention, vaccine and cure funding. National Black HIV Awareness Day should not be a continuation of a festival of free t-shirts and wristbands which is usually attended by those that are well aware. We need to be passionate enough because we have had enough and go door to door spreading the word that the end of AIDS is near. When we find that the masses of those most impacted are aware and they have had enough; maybe National Black HIV Awareness Day will be a celebration of change.

Diedra J. Levi, CEO

The Living Affected Corporation

 

February Roll Out

LA Corp : Taking a Licking and Keeps on Ticking, 2.0

The Living Affected Corporation's forward momentum and aggressive approach to its mission had some significant 2012 beacons, milestones and important "firsts" for the organization. Within its three year existence as a stand alone entity, LA Corp  strives to survive despite internal growing pains, local infrastructure challenges, organizational audits and reviews, access to skilled personnel and marginal funding sources. The Living Affected Corporation's struggle to continue addressing HIV and AIDS disparities in Arkansas has been daunting in scope. Using President Obama's groundbreaking National HIV AIDS Strategy as a road map, Living Affected has been a chief proponent of bringing all stakeholders to the table in the movement to end the disease. The group has discerned that due to its rural nature as a state there have been challenges supporting access points or sustaining credible contacts, assessing community needs and scaling up available resources. Yet through collaborations and partnerships the organization has been vigilant in reaching out into the Central Arkansas area and beyond. Here is a continuing snap shot of those accomplishments:

Arkansas Comprehensive Plan: LA Corp led a core group to complete the state's CDC mandated Comprehensive Prevention Plan as a deliverable of the Arkansas Community Planning Group.(www.facebook.com/ArknasasHPG ) Under the groups leadership the plan was offered an overview of services, epi-data, challenges and future needs. Subsequently the plan was accepted and merged into the state's Jurisdictional Plan which offers a blueprint to funding prevention programming and services. This was the first time that a local community based organization engaged in producing this instrument.

Training and Capacity Building: As a group, LA Corp moved to enhance its STRILITE program with all members receiving Voluntary Counseling and Testing Training.

Each member was equipped with testing kits which included OraQuick Rapid HIV Antibody tests, safe sex kits, and prevention information. This capability allowed each participant to offer immediate "on site" testing as well as necessary counseling in their respective areas.

The training distinctly provided the program with Black MSM personnel to be mobilized as "mobile" units to serve within the access area. Additional capacity building included Informed Trauma training, strategic planning, peer leadership, D- UP DEBBI and public speaking training modules.

Community Mobilization: 2012 was filled with community interaction ranging from testing activities at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, as well as on the campus of historically Black College, Philander Smith College, participating in Community Leadership Forums and the Black AIDS Testing Tour across the state. The year culminated with the groups signature event, The HELP Fair which served as a high impact HIV/AIDS testing event which tested over 100 individuals, offered social services information and highlighted the groups "HEFTE" (housing, employments, food, treatment and education) concept dealing with individuals from a holistic approach.

Expounding on the at concept, LA Corp collaborated with First Presbyterian Church's Community Garden project in establishing its own Food Justice Project with its symbolic "planting seeds of empowerment and hope in the community." Spearheaded by the LA Corp volunteer James M,( pictured) the project accepted donated above ground garden boxes during the fall planting season. McLaughlin decided to plant "healthy alternatives" that often are not available in some neighborhoods which are often located in "food desserts," where such fresh vegetables are not available. The project is slated to continue into the 2013 planting season while adding additional elements such as a proposed community forum and cooking demo to the program.

Speakers Bureau: LA Corp provided its expertise in the area of health disparities by dispatching it staff to various public speaking request. Team members addressed the Pine Bluff Arkansas Lion's Club, made appearances on the Effrim Elliot cable show, addressed BCD empowerment center clients, presented before ARCPG, participated in online chats,webinars, teleconferences and numerous radio interviews and spotlights. Appeared as panelist during World AIDS Day activities in both Little Rock and Jonesboro, Arkansas including radio spotlights and interviews. Appeared as panelist during December's World AIDS Day activities in both Little Rock and Jonesboro, Arkansas. 

Publications and New Media: The group continued to offer an array of publications including its Holistic Health Guide which offered local contact numbers for physicians, providers and the unique "hand holders" navigators listing. OMNIBUS, the first ever Arkansas LGBT Health guide was devoted to covering various layers of health concerns throughout the LGBTQ community.

LA Corp has fully embraced new media while updating its web presence with newly format web page(www.livingaffected.org) revamping its Facebook page (www.facebook.com/livingaffected ) and cross pollinating with social activitst and commentator, C. Mabin's long running CorneliusOnpoint. (www.corneliusonpoint.blogspot.com )

2012 has proved to be a tremendous organizational year filled with triumphs and temerity in its sojourn on being an important partner in seeking to end HIV and AIDS.

Meanwhile looking to 2013, the organization has looked internally at its structure for necessary changes, taken an inventory of its impact in its service area in search of viable outcomes and has firmly reassessed its capacity to continue in its role as a service provider in the HIV/AIDS arena. While the road has been long and winding, The Living Affected Corporation has been a trailblazer in the fight to scale up the focus on Black gay MSM infection rates, dared to ask to "hard questions" about data reporting and its validity, worked with area researchers whom will be apart of the future foot soldiers seeking a vaccines, demanding that resource allocations be reviewed and being a paramount collaborator both statewide and regionally as the premier organization dedicated to ending HIV and AIDS. Come join us as we move forward in 2013, make your financial contribution on this page, purchase a publication, volunteer or offer your unique way to help us continue our mission to transforming communites through holistic health by providing, education, and advocacy. Do it today!