World AIDS Day event remembers; prompts action

We couldn’t be happier with the outpouring of support at this month’s World AIDS Day festivities. Much good can happen when we unite for a common cause. Thank you for being willing to fight HIV/AIDS with us.

World AIDS Day was an opportunity to remember those we’ve lost and make our greater community aware of this devastating disease through fundraising, advocacy and general awareness.

CARES spent December 1 talking to various media outlets in the region about potential cuts to ADAP funding. Did you know the Governor may make dramatic cuts to more funds next summer? We warned our community that over 5,000 people in our local communities would have their lives put at risk if these cuts indeed happen. News stations responded well by helping us share our concerns to the public.

That night, we united with other HIV/AIDS organizations at Tower Theatre. Approximately 200 people came out in support of the cause. Volunteers from MAC Cosmetics were kind enough to donate their time greeting our guests and handing out red carnations in memory of those who have passed. The Sacramento Women’s Chorus opened the evening with a moving performance followed by passionate speeches and testimonials from area advocates including the former Capital City AIDS Fund Board President, Ted Ross; Dr. Donna DeFreitas; and a local community member Miguel C. Diaz.

Please consider joining us in the future for more events in our community. You can learn more about our efforts and upcoming events by visiting www.caresclinic.org.

Odds & Ends

CARES is pleased that the Ryan White CARE Act was authorized for another four years.   It would appear that Sacramento is safe for at least the near future from further budget cuts on the federal level. 

State budget cuts took funding for the Early Intervention Program from CARES earlier this year.  Some of that funding has been made up by a five year grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration for substance abuse treatment services for recently incarerated people with HIV.  The grant provides about $370,000 each year for intensive substance abuse services, using a program called “Living in Balance.”

CARES was also thrilled to receive a one year grant from Kaiser Permanente to provide outreach and HIV testing for youth aged 14-24.  CARES staff will be training 12 youth leaders to educate and test their peers about HIV and other STD’s.  We deeply appreciate the support from Kaiser for this important work

National AIDS Policy Community Discussions

White House National HIV/AIDS Community Discussions and “Call to Action”

Community input will influence the new National HIV/AIDS Strategy

The White House Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP) is conducting local community discussions to offer the public a chance to provide input as the White House works to fulfill President Obama’s pledge to develop a National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS). The President believes that we must re-focus national attention on the domestic epidemic.  He has articulated three goals for the NHAS: reducing HIV incidence, increasing access to care and optimizing health outcomes, and reducing HIV-related health disparities. 

To participate in a community discussion, plan on attending the San Francisco meeting on October 16 from 6pm to 8pm at UCSF Mission Bay Conference Center, 1675 Owens Street, San Francisco, 94143  (866) 431-8273     http://www.ahl-missionbay.com/index.cfm

For more information on the White House Office of National AIDS Policy and the development of a National HIV/AIDS Strategy visit the ONAP website. http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/onap/

Potential HIV Vaccine

We’ve received lots of inquiries about the potential success of an HIV vaccine in Thailand.  CARES echoes the sentiments conveyed by Dr Fenton of the CDC below:

Statement on RV 144 HIV Vaccine Trial from Dr. Kevin Fenton, Director, CDC National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD & TB Prevention, and Dr. Jonathan Mermin, CDC Director of the Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention (September 22, 2009)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention welcomes the encouraging results of the RV 144 HIV vaccine trial, the first evidence of efficacy from an HIV vaccine candidate. We join the numerous researchers, advocates, and people affected by HIV around the world in congratulating our colleagues involved in this trial and the thousands of trial participants. Given the continued severity of the epidemic here in the United States and around world, any step forward in developing an HIV vaccine for all populations is welcome news. While there is still work to be done to improve on the levels of efficacy of any vaccine candidate, the results from this trial provide hope that we will one day have an effective and safe vaccine that can help put an end to the epidemic and save millions of lives around the world.

Until that vaccine is developed, current proven HIV prevention tools remain our most effective defense against the HIV epidemic. We must continue to apply, expand, and promote a comprehensive prevention approach – utilizing effective behavioral prevention programs, increasing the availability of condoms and sterile syringes, increasing HIV testing, and continuing the development of emerging biomedical tools. All of these will be essential to curbing the spread of HIV, both now and when the time comes for an effective vaccine. Today’s promising results reinforce our belief that we must not give up on efforts to develop cutting-edge HIV prevention tools, to fight this evolving epidemic on all fronts.

Challenging Times

We’re all aware that we are in the midst of an economic slum.  A day doesn’t go by in which we don’t hear the woes of the economy:  layoffs, bankruptcy, budget cuts, and people in misery.  It’s a far cry from the soaring house values and fat bonuses of a scant year and a half ago.

But what does that mean to us?  How does it impact HIV/AIDS care and prevention?  The California State budget was agreed upon by legislative leaders and the governor earlier this week and will face a vote soon.  The impact on HIV/AIDS services is still unclear. 

Since much of CARES funding is from federal sources, we are fairly certain, although not sure by any means, that CARES will continue to provide most, if not all, of the services we have offered in recent years.  We are watching the reauthorization of the Ryan White Care Act with great interest since it is by far the largest funder of services.  We anticipate that the RW Care Act will be reauthorized for at least one year without any major changes.

But change is coming and we feel it is important to be out front of that change as much as possible.  Here is what we’re doing to make sure that we are here as long as we are needed by people living with HIV/AIDS:

• We’ve established a monetary reserve in case federal and/or state funding is reduced.  Next year’s budget might be much worse than this year; there is no guarantee that additional cuts won’t occur in 2009 even with budget approval.
• We’re doing our best to engage other groups to help in the fight against HIV/AIDS.  Area churches have been very supportive of the Are You the Difference? campaign and are volunteering in droves to help with transportation and community awareness.
• We’re asking people who are interested in spreading the word about HIV prevention to become part of an “army” of prevention advocates who will show up in matching t-shirts at concerts, bars, and other gathering places of those who might be at risk for HIV infection.  They’ll pass out condoms and lube packets along with information about free HIV testing and prevention information.

Let’s not forget that we can’t let down our guard in these challenging times.  We must continue to be vigilant in fighting the spread of HIV and in providing the care necessary for people with this disease.  We just have to be more creative, more efficient and more cooperative and collaborative.

It has been said that the Chinese symbol for danger is the same as the one for opportunity.  We decide which way to read the symbol.  Let’s choose to see the opportunities and focus on moving forward.

Are You the Difference?

At an event celebrating its 20th Anniversary, CARES unveiled the Are You the Difference? campaign on June 4.  The campaign is an effort to help end new HIV infections in the Sacramento area in 5 years. 

To introduce the campaign, the 400 attendees were treated to an inspirational video which can be viewed at http://areyouthedifference.org/. 

The campaign is part of a larger Strategic Initiative for HIV/AIDS Care and Prevention that was developed by five committees of community members.  Overall goals of the Initiative are:

• People know their HIV status and early diagnosis is the norm.
• Behaviors that lead to HIV infection are understood by all.
• All communities are open and accepting of people with HIV/AIDS.
• The disproportionate impact of HIV/AIDS among social and ethnic minorities, specifically gay men, African Americans, and Latinos, is a priority.
• Funding is sufficient for services needed by people with HIV/AIDS.

For more information about the Initiative and to find out how you can be involved, see our website  www.areyouthedifference.org or email jbenorden@caresclinic.org.

Walk-In STD Treatment & Testing Begins

CARES will officially begin STD testing and treatment to anyone who walks in on Monday, March 30.  Just ask for the testing department at the reception desk and you will be helped as quickly as possibly.

If insurance is available, it will be billed.  If not, no one will be turned away because of an inability to pay.

Everyone testing for STD’s will be encouraged to get an HIV test as well.

Hello world!

STD and HIV Rapid Walk-In Testing FREE at CARES

CARES is pleased to announce that it has begun offering a walk-in clinic for STD diagnosis and treatment along with its free Rapid HIV testing.

CARES was approached by Dr Glennah Trochet, Sacramento County Health Officer, about the possibility of offering STD diagnosis and treatment.  The county has lost funding for several of its community health clinics and the availability of STD diagnosis and treatment at the remaining clinics may challenge the resources available 

According to Bob Kamrath, CARES Executive Director, “We feel offering STD testing fits well with our mission.  We know there is a close link between STD and HIV and we know that the highest rate of positive HIV tests has come from STD clinics.  The STD walk-in clinic provides another tool in our efforts to stop the spread of HIV. In addition, it’s also a great opportunity to provide education about HIV prevention.”

CARES will be able to treat those with positive STD results and will encourage all who come for STD testing to also get tested for HIV.

Since encouraging people to drop in for free HIV tests, CARES has diagnosed 49 people as HIV positive.  All of those people have been linked to care – either at CARES or at other local providers.

Walk-in hours for STD and HIV testing are from 9am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday.  Call Amanda Chi at 916.916.6253 for more information.