Keeping it Real and Out Loud

NAACP Partners Around HIV and AIDS

The NAACP and its partner, Gilead Sciences, announced a Clinton Global Initiative Commitment to Action to expand the unique program, The Black Church and HIV: The Social Justice Imperative, to reach 30 cities across the U.S. that comprise nearly two-thirds of the nation’s HIV epidemic.

African Americans continue to be the hardest hit by HIV. If Black America were its own country, it would rank 16th in the world in the number of people living with HIV — ahead of Ethiopia, Botswana, and Haiti.
The great poet Maya Angelou aptly captured the urgency to address the epidemic when she said:

"It's just a devastating dragon breathing flame that burns out whole neighborhoods, whole families."

The Black Church is the cornerstone of our community, and faith leaders will be the catalyst for social justice.  The conversation about HIV/AIDS must begin at the pulpit and reach the pew to underscore the prevalence of this disease. We have new tools and resources available to engage our community. The NAACP’s initiative, The Black Church and HIV: The Social Justice Imperative, draws upon the institutions already established in the community, using the power of the church in Black communities to fight the HIV epidemic.

Rev. Keron R. Sadler, serves as the NAACP National Health Program Manager (pictured)

The NAACP and pastors across the country have started the fight. One conversation at a time, we are changing the story of HIV in the Black community. Let’s observe World AIDS Day by having that conversation today. End the social injustices, combat the HIV epidemic and ensure that future generations of Black Americans grow up HIV-free.

 For the past 25 years, World AIDS Day has commemorated the lives of more than 35 million people who have died from the disease worldwide. Here in the United States, World AIDS Day raises awareness about the epidemic at home, where more than 1.1 million Americans are living with HIV.
The Living Affected Corporation commemorated the day with a community activity citing partners, service providers and agency volunteers who helped make a difference.

Have you joined us on Facebook yet? If not, Why not! Come follow us with your stories, pictures and experiences on our pages. Do it Today!

 

The 2014 King Post

The Living Affected Corporation commemorates the iconic life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King for his dedication to be a force for change. His ideals, visions and non-violence approach to disrupt a segregationist system and gripping poverty across America continues to resonate in 2014 as our agency shares his passion to continue his work in dismantling social determinant barriers within  housing, education, food, treatment and employment in marginalized communities.

On this day of service we encourage individuals to consider volunteer opportunities with our organization or share your treasure in support of our programming such as policy educational outreach, HIV testing, youth assessments, Southern Women on Women initiative, STRILITE support group for gay men and HIV/AIDS Criminalization project. Thank you Dr. King for being a beacon for social justice in our country as well as demanding that we fully realize that we too are our brothers and sisters keepers then and now. In your honor we will keep on dreaming!!

Living Affected in New Frontiers

Business Card-Sized Chip Diagnoses HIV and T-Cell Counts

 

You're looking what could become the next frontier in global health and medicine across the developing world: A credit-card sized "microfluidic" biochip that scans blood to detect HIV and accurate T-cell counts.

 

The test takes less than 20 minutes and costs about ten dollars, according to new research from scientists at the University of Illinois and Daktari Diagnostics.

The chip is designed to work in a battery-powered handheld device that would “deliver simple HIV diagnostics to patients anywhere in the world, regardless of geography or socioeconomic status,” the researchers say in the paper.

The chip, developed by researchers at the University of Illinois and Daktari Diagnostics, is enclosed in a small chamber. Because cells block electric current, passing a current through a tiny microfluidic pore causes the cells to essentially announce their size and shape. That’s enough to identify the cell by type, so the test can count CD4 and CD8 cells, types of T cells that indicate how healthy the patient’s immune system is.

Once in wide use, the reader would cost less than $1,000 and each test would run less than $10, according to project lead Rashid Bashir.

The microfluidic chip could become a tremendous asset in frontier medicine across Sub Saharan Africa. That region is home to about 70 percent of all people living with HIV/AIDS, according to AVERT. Many areas are without electrical power, telephone service, adequate roads, hospitals or clinics ... which severely impacts conventional testing and treatment strategies.

 

Criminalization Laws Fuel Stigma Against People Living with HIV

Always on the grind. My latest article is the first in a series for the Black AIDS Institute on the impact of stigma on HIV prevention and treatment: "Criminalization Laws Fuel Stigma Against People Living with HIV/AIDS."

 

With 32 states and two territories criminalizing exposure to and/or transmission of HIV, the United States leads the world with "thousands of prosecutions," according to the United Nations-backed Global Commission on HIV and the Law. Some states penalize people for having sex without revealing their serostatus—regardless of whether a condom was used, the person's viral load was undetectable or if the virus was transmitted.

 

"There is already a huge stigma associated with being HIV positive—and these laws do not encourage people to get tested and seek treatment," says Robert Suttle, assistant director of the Sero Project, the Washington, D.C.-based advocacy organization fighting HIV criminalization laws nationwide.
Suttle discovered that he was HIV positive while trying to enlist in the Air Force. Later, following the end of a contentious relationship, a former partner filed charges that Suttle never revealed his serostatus—which Suttle says is not true. He was sentenced to six months in prison under the Louisiana law that criminalizes HIV exposure and subsequently was required to register as a sex offender. 

"One of my concerns around the many HIV-criminalization laws is around interpretation," saysKimberly A. Parker, Ph.D., assistant professor of health studies at Texas Woman's University. "Were they on treatment? Did they use condoms? Did they actually disclose? The implication is that whatever you do, you will be criminalized." 

"Criminalization also has a significant impact on a person's ability to seek treatment," says Suttle. "Many people are not aware that they are HIV positive—and that is especially true among Black people and Black gay men." Notably, African Americans make up some 56 percent of "late testers" diagnosed with AIDS within one year of learning they have HIV. "Sometimes we could be prosecuted for something that we didn't know we had," Suttle adds.

Read the full report HERE.

 

A Monday Refresher and Update

Editors Special Report from Medscape

Syphilis Spike in 2012 'Troubling,' CDC Says

Robert Lowes

The number of cases of primary and secondary syphilis in the United States increased 11.1% in 2012 with men — particularly gay and bisexual men —accounting for the spike entirely, according to the latest surveillance report on sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) from the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC).

Published online today, the annual report contains other discouraging news about STDs, as well as a few bright spots. Gonorrhea posted a 4% increase in 2012, most of that among men. In contrast, the number of reported chlamydia cases grew by a mere 0.7% in 2012, the smallest annual increase since nationwide reporting on this STD began. As with syphilis, the rise in chlamydia cases was exclusively a guy thing.

The incidence of congenital syphilis decreased 10% in 2012 to 322 reported cases.
The CDC review concentrates on syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea because other STDs, such as human papillomavirus infection, herpes simplex virus infection, and trichomoniasis, are not routinely reported to the CDC.

In an interview with Medscape Medical News, report coauthor and CDC epidemiologist Eloisa Llata, MD, said that turning STD upswings into downswings depends in part on clinicians adhering to screening recommendations from her agency and the US Preventive Services Task Force. That sometimes means asking questions about changes in a patient's sexual behavior — such as acquiring a new sexual partner.

"These are difficult conversations to have," said Dr. Llata. "It's easier to talk about diabetes. But we have to get past that. Sexual health is just as important to talk about as other aspects of health."

Syphilis and HIV: "A Twin Epidemic"
                   
Dr. Llata stresses that while everyone is at risk of contracting an STD, some groups are at greater risk. For example, men who have sex with men (MSM) account for 75% of all primary and secondary syphilis cases, according to the agency. In 2012, the number of cases in this population increased 15% compared with 4% for men who have sex with women. The total number of primary and secondary syphilis cases in 2012 was 15,667.

The CDC calls the spike in syphilis infections in MSM "troubling," especially because this and other STDs can put an individual at a higher risk of acquiring or transmitting HIV infection.
The syphilis statistics also alarm Brad Stoner, MD, the president of the American Sexually Transmitted Diseases Association.

"It's a worrisome trend," said Dr. Stoner, an associate professor of medicine and anthropology at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri. "The absolute numbers are low, but the rate increase is high. And so many MSM with syphilis also have HIV. It's a twin epidemic."
According to CDC surveillance data collected in several major cities, 4 in 10 MSM with syphilis are infected with HIV as well.

The anxiety about syphilis has been building for years. The rate of primary and secondary syphilis declined by almost 90% from 1990 to 2000 only to rise each year from 2001 to 2009. The number of cases decreased in 2010 and then plateaued in 2011 before resuming an upward trajectory in 2012.
The risk for syphilis varies by race and ethnicity as well as by sex and sexual orientation. The rate of primary and secondary syphilis in blacks was 6 times that in whites in 2012. For blacks and whites aged 15 to 19 years, the difference was 16-fold.

Gonorrhea Gaining Antibiotic Resistance

How do your skills fit in health care?

Hear how alumni found their fit in health care by combining the skills they had with a degree in Health Administration from the University of Phoenix College of Health Sciences and Nursing.

 

For gonorrhea and chlamydia, the most widespread of the 3 STDs examined in the new report, the disease burden falls mostly on adolescents and young adults. Of the 1.4 million cases of chlamydia reported in 2012, 69% occurred in individuals 14 to 24 years of age. Likewise, this age demographic accounted for 58% of the nearly 335,000 cases of gonorrhea.

As with syphilis, Dr. Stoner said the increase in gonorrhea is discouraging.

"The national experience with gonorrhea is that it has plateaued since the mid-1990s and it's been creeping up intermittently since then," Dr. Stoner told Medscape Medical News. "We have another opportunity to do more detection and prevention."

The CDC noted that treating gonorrhea is problematic because antimicrobial resistance has lessened the effectiveness of fluoroquinolones and cefixime. The only treatment that the agency now recommends for gonorrhea is dual therapy with ceftriaxone and either azithromycin or doxycycline. And ceftriaxone could be the next victim of antimicrobial resistance. For more information call The Living Affected Organization at 379-8203. Source: www.medscape.com

Currents and Trending News

Op-ed: Why The CDC’s Latest HIV Report Is So Alarming

And what the CDC is doing to offset high HIV transmission rates among transgender women.

BY Leela Ginelle

A December report by the Centers for Disease Control says that an estimated 27 percent of transgender women are HIV positive, and that HIV prevalence for transgender women is nearly 50 times as high as for other adults.

In a New York City study, more than 90 percent of newly diagnosed trans women were African-American or Latino, and more than half were in their 20s.

But what accounts for these catastrophic numbers?

For one, the behaviors the report lists are like an encyclopedia of oppression and its outcomes, including "drug and alcohol abuse, sex work, incarceration, homelessness, attempted suicide, unemployment, lack of familial support, violence, stigma, and discrimination, limited health care access, and negative health care encounters."

It's a cycle that's been outlined by transgender activist Dean Spade and others: a young trans woman will be kicked out of her home by unaccepting parents, and, because her legal identity is still male, she would be barred by appropriate shelters and services. Experiencing homelessness and societal stigma, employment is often unattainable.

"When trans women aren’t able to find jobs because of direct or indirect discrimination,” Transgender Law Center attorney Sasha Buchert says, “they turn to street economies to feed themselves and to pay for the health care they need, and street work often places trans people at greater risk of contracting HIV and violence, especially for trans women of color who face racism, sexism and transphobia."

Societal prejudice toward trans women is still widespread, affecting access to housing, education and employment. The report notes that trans women are more likely to live in transient housing than other populations, and to be less educated.

The health care system itself can prove unwelcoming. While HIV-positive trans women are as likely to have health care coverage as other HIV-positive people, trans women are less likely to be on antiretroviral therapy. Buchert believes education on the part of care providers could improve this condition.
  
"Social service agencies could help by becoming more competent in working with transgender clients," she says. "Often, rather than enduring the stigmas they face at such places, trans women will simply forego the assistance, and miss the opportunity to check their HIV status or learn tools to reduce the likelihood of obtaining the virus."

This is, in part, because of the way that HIV prevention services are structured, according to Jaxon Mitchell, an HIV Prevention Specialist with the Cascade AIDS Project.

"Historically, HIV prevention and sexual/reproductive health services in general, have been organized by gender,” Mitchell says. “For trans folks, gendered spaces almost always carry social and structural barriers. HIV prevention and testing services geared toward women frequently fall under the greater umbrella of reproductive health, which lacks the cultural competency to attend to the needs of trans women and carries many additional barriers."

In an almost nauseating twist to all this terrible news, it seems that law enforcement is compounding the problems of young transgender women by profiling them as sex workers, and seeing possession of condoms on their part as evidence of criminal activity, rather than precaution against the disease that's crippling their community.
  
This practice, which is being carried out in New York City and elsewhere, contradicts legal precedent, says Buchert.

"This use of condoms as per se evidence of illegal activity has already been struck down by the Supreme Court as a violation of privacy in Griswold v. Connecticut, which involved the use of condoms as evidence to prosecute for using contraception in 1960," Buchert says. “[The practice] is likely a constitutional violation of privacy, and it is an unconscionable public health hazard to use condoms as the basis of evidence of illegal activity. The impact of prosecuting individuals based on possession of a condom can only have a chilling effect the use of protection, and will create a larger public health threat for everyone, and especially for transgender women."

The CDC's report also details a "high-impact prevention approach" to reverse the trends it found. Some of the work begins with providing support to community groups that distribute condoms, conduct HIV testing, and operate referral networks and services. The CDC also announced plans to update the National HIV Surveillance System, the program to which new diagnoses are reported, so that transgender people are better identified within it.

The CDC says it will also award grants to researchers to develop new HIV prevention interventions, like the Life Skills program aimed at trans women aged 16 to 24, and Girlfriends, which targets adult trans women. In addition, the organization gives financial rewards to groups that provide effective HIV prevention to "young transgender people of color and their partners" for more than five years.

Given the CDC's history of ignoring or misclassifying transgender women in its data, however, Mitchell is skeptical about these new programs' likelihood for success.

"For years, transgender women have been misclassified as MSM, or Men Who Have Sex With Men, which has created a situation where trans folks in general have not been counted,” Mitchell says.

The CDC’s funding relies on research, which can create a loop in which trans women are always excluded.

"Without broad research demonstrating what we all know empirically — that HIV infections among trans women, especially trans women of color, are unconscionably high — funding for programs designed to meet trans women’s unique needs will never be a priority."

LEELA GINELLE is the communications and development intern for TransActive Education and Advocacy. Content courtesy of www.advocate.com

Forward Moving in 2014

Need Utility Assistance? LIHEAP Announces Services

After the mass intake days in Pulaski County earlier this week, applications will be accepted at the following locations and times:

• Arkansas Workforce Center of Jacksonville, #2 Crestview Plaza in Jacksonville. Applications will be accepted on a walk-in basis on Thursdays only, 9 am until Noon and is limited to the first 50 customers.

• Arkansas Workforce Center of Little Rock, 5401 South University in Little Rock. Applications will be accepted on a walk-in basis only, Monday-Wednesday, 8 am until Noon and is limited based on staff availability. For more information in Pulaski County, call 501-603-0909.

In Clark County, applications will be taken beginning January 7th at the mass intake day, 9 am - 1 pm at the Clark County Fairgrounds, 1201 Highway 67 in Arkadelphia.

After the mass intake day in Clark County, applications will be accepted at the following locations and times:

• CADC Arkadelphia Senior Activity Center, 1305 North 10th Street, Monday & Tuesdays from 1 - 4 pm. Call 870-246-9871 for more information.

• Gurdon City Hall, 103 Maple, Wednesdays, 9 am until 1pm.

In Lonoke County, applications will be taken beginning January 8th at the mass intake day, 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Lonoke Community Center, 1355 W. Front Street in Lonoke.

After the mass intake day in Lonoke County, applications will be accepted at the following locations and times:

• CADC Lonoke County Office, 117 South East Front Street, Monday through Wednesday, 8 am until Noon. Call 501-676-0019 for more information.

• Ward Municipal Complex, 405 Hickory Street in Ward, Monday through Wednesday, 8:30 am until Noon. Applications are made by appointment by calling 501-676-0019.

In Union County, applications will be taken beginning January 8th at the mass intake day, 8 a.m. until Noon at the TAC House, 1101 North West Avenue in El Dorado.

After the mass intake day in Union County, applications will be accepted Monday through Wednesday, 8 am until Noon at the CADC El Dorado Office, 1426 North West Avenue. Call 870-864-0067 for more information.

In Saline County, applications will be taken beginning January 9th at the mass intake day, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Gene Moss Building in Tyndall Park, 913 E. Sevier in Benton.

After the mass intake day in Saline County, applications will be accepted at the CADC Administration Building, 321 Edison Street, Monday through Wednesday, 8 am until Noon. Call 501-315-1121 for more information.

In Ouachita County, applications will be taken beginning January 9th at the mass intake day, 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Carnes Park, Teen Town Building, 955 Adams Street in Camden.

After the mass intake day in Ouachita County, applications will be accepted at the CADC Ouachita County office, 313 Jefferson, Monday through Wednesday, 8 am until Noon. Call 870-836-3200 for more information.

In Hot Spring County, applications will be taken beginning January 10th at the mass intake day, 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. at the 4-H Youth Center, 1407 Martin Luther King Blvd in Malvern.

After the mass intake day in Hot Spring County, applications will be accepted Monday thru Wednesday, 8 am until Noon at the Arkansas Workforce Center of Malvern, 1735 E. Sullenberger. Call 501-337-8401 for more information.

Applications will also be accepted in the following counties:

In Calhoun County, applications will be accepted every Thursday beginning January 9th at the CADC Hampton Office, 210 S. Lee St, from 8:30 am until Noon each Thursday. Call 870-798-2457 for more information.

In Columbia County, applications will be accepted Monday thru Wednesday beginning January 6th at the CADC Magnolia Office, 1503 North Vine, 8 am until Noon. Call 870-234-6444 for more information.

In Dallas County, applications will be accepted Monday thru Wednesday beginning January 6th at the CADC Fordyce Office, 410 E. 4th St Monday through Wednesday, 8 am until Noon. Call 870-352-8894 for more information.

In Montgomery County, applications will be accepted every Wednesday beginning January 8th at the CADC Mt. Ida Senior Activity Center, 158 Senior Drive, 8 am until Noon. Call 870-867-0151 for more information.

In Pike County, applications will be accepted every Tuesday beginning January 7th at the CADC Glenwood Senior Activity Center, 229 Betty St, 8 am until Noon. Call 870-356-4212. Applications will also be accepted every Monday beginning January 6th at the CADC Murfreesboro Senior Activity Center, 120 E. Court, Ste. A, 8 am until Noon. Call 870-285-2312 for more information.

Applicants for LIHEAP assistance must meet income guidelines. For a household of 1, monthly countable income is $1,482. The income eligibility limits are set at 60% of the state's median income level. Countable income includes check stubs, child support, unemployment, housing utility assistance, SSI, SSA, TEA, VAS and retirement benefits.

To apply for assistance, the household should bring proof of income for all household members 18 years or older for the previous month, proof of child support, proof of unemployment for all household members age 18 and older, proof of social security, retirement, pensions, workman's comp or disability, proof of utility allowance and if no income, proof of how bills are being paid. Social security numbers and birthdates for all household members are required. Failure to provide verification requested may result in delay or denial of assistance. Allow agency 35 days to make payment. For more information, call your local CADC office.

CADC is a private nonprofit community action agency that was formed in 1965 to fight and win the "War on Poverty." The mission of CADC is to improve the quality of life and build strong communities in Arkansas. For more information, please contact your local CADC office.





 

Living Affected in a New Year

A New Day in Health Care Coverage
by Secretary of Health and Human Services, K. Sebelius

January 1st marks not only the beginning of a New Year, but an exciting new day in health care as millions of Americans will now be able to access care, thanks to the coverage they found at the Health Insurance Marketplace. For many of the newly insured – people like Molly from Charlottesville, VA or Mark from Austin, TX – it will be the first time that they can enjoy the security that comes with health coverage. The Living Affected Corporation will continue to offer enrollment and education services throughout the open enrollment period ending March 31,2014. Call 379-8203 for appointments or info@livingaffected.org for more information.

For consumers whose Marketplace coverage begins on January 1, we’re doing everything we can to help ensure a smooth transition period. If consumers have questions about their new private insurance coverage, they can contact their insurance company [PDF 189KB] directly. Consumers can log into their account on HealthCare.gov to find their insurer’s customer service line or browse through a directory on HealthCare.gov [PDF 189KB].

Before you go to the doctor or pharmacy using your new insurance for the first time, check out this tip sheet, and make sure to:

• Get your insurance card or a temporary card with your new plan’s information. If you don’t have your card yet, ask your insurance company to give you another way to confirm your coverage.
• Make sure you know when your first premium payment is due and pay it by the due date;
• Check to see which doctors and pharmacies are in your network.

And at your first visit:

• Bring your insurance card with you to the doctor or pharmacy. If you don’t have a card, ask your doctor or pharmacy what other proof of insurance they may accept.
• If you thought you enrolled in health coverage but aren’t showing up in the system, call your insurance company directly. If you don’t have your insurer’s contact information call the Marketplace Call Center (1-800-318-2596) and a trained representative can provide it to you.

We’ve also developed a number of consumer tips on HealthCare.gov to help people understand their new private insurance coverage. The topics include:

• Make sure you’re covered. Consumers who think they’ve signed up for Marketplace health insurance, but haven’t heard from their insurance company can get help finding out if they’re covered.
• Get prescription medication under your new plan. Marketplace health plans will help pay the cost of certain prescription medications. Consumers can get help finding out if their prescription is covered and how to apply for an exception if the medication is not currently covered by their plan.
• Get medical care and find a doctor. Consumers can get help finding doctors and other health care providers covered by their new Marketplace plan.
• Get emergency care. Consumers can get important information on utilizing emergency care, and making sure they know that their insurance company can’t charge more for emergency room services at an “out-of-network” hospital.
• Appeal a health plan decision. Consumers have the right to appeal a decision when an insurance company refuses to pay for a specific treatment or service. We can help guide consumers through the appeals process.

As we continue to give consumers information to help them understand their new Marketplace coverage, we’re also continuing to work to ensure that every American who wants to enroll in Marketplace coverage by the end of the open enrollment period on March 31^st, 2014, is able to do so—and enjoy the security and peace of mind that comes with having quality health coverage.