ARE- Consumers take the lead
Posted by John Nagley in 
ARE: Here we are. Consumers take the lead
Time certainly has flown. It is going on five years since I have had the privilege of joining the AIDS Response Effort (ARE) team. Since that time, much has transpired. While on the surface we seem to provide many of the same services, many things have changed over the past five years, and I like to think for the better.
Like a fine wine, as we age, character is developed, and flavor is enhanced. We could have only accomplished this by building a quality program, gaining the support of many dedicated individuals, and remaining committed to the delivery of services that addressed the needs of those we have served.
ARE has been privileged to have quality staff providing the consumer identified services that we currently deliver. Here at ARE, we take the consumer’s role in service delivery very seriously. In an effort to ensure that both the staff and the program are in tune with the needs of those we serve, we regularly request that consumers participate in client experience surveys. Additionally, we have encouraged consumers to become much more active in their program delivery. Today, we celebrate the consumer’s active involvement in board representation—holding two seats on the quality management process team and chairing a Peer Advocacy program. The consumer’s role here at ARE has become very apparent and has become essential to the development of the agency as we grow. As we reach out into our community we truly are “putting a face” to those in our region living with HIV and teaching the lesson of positive integration both to those newly diagnosed and to our community at large. We are blessed to have so many knowledgeable consumers that have bravely taken the initiative to step up and speak out.
We truly have moved into the arena of consumers taking on personal responsibility for their health care, and we welcome both your in-put and willingness to take the lead.
Written By: John Nagley
Treatment Diaries
Focus on Resources
At TreatmentDiaries.com, anyone can share their feelings and thoughts at any time of the day or night. The website was created by Amy Ohm a few years ago, and is available to anyone. This site offers the opportunity for patients, advocates, caregivers, and family members to share information and to connect with others affected by and infected with various illnesses. The result is that the feeling that one is going through something alone is no longer a factor.
Although similar to an international, web-based support group, the website is not time limited, and is available 24 hours a day. The site also does not focus on one particular condition, but instead hosts over 1,400 illnesses, including some that are rare. Due to the numerous benefits of the site and the broad sense of anonymity, the site is used by ARE’s Case Management Team as a referral source for all of the agency’s active consumers. For more information, please take the time to visit the website, and feel free to “connect, share, inspire”.
By: Cathy Sencindiver & Amber Clark
Money, Advertising, Politics & Discrimination
Back in Jan 2011, I posted a story about Chic-Fli-A corporate headquarters donating to anti-gay groups & charities. The company is privately owned but they can’t hide where they donate money. Yes, my former dear tasty chicken nugget friends. In today’s world, consumers will find out what they’re doing with the profit & how they donate it.
Chick-Fli-A was recently busted again now sponsoring an Anti-Gay golfing event. Yes, it was lunch food but you can’t tell me they didn’t know where their tasty chicken was going? If it was $1 or $10,000 worth of food it doesn’t matter. Wake up, any group looking for donations have to apply, request & explain what they want and what they’re doing in order to get the free product. Otherwise I’d be asking for free products all the time when I played golf.
Imagine; a LGBTQ individual or someone who just believes in equality. They buy a tasty chicken sandwich and give their money to a smiling clerk. Well, they’ve just supported the other side without knowing it. Does it bother you if you knew? Earlier this year, retail giants Best Buy & Target were boycotted for donating to Anti-Gay political candidates. Now they ‘KNEW‘ where their donations were going. Do you give your hard earned money to anyone knocking on your front door? I didn’t think so or I’ll be knocking…
Here’s a different spin. The recent horrible Gulf Oil Spill in which BP knowingly allowed oil to flow into the Gulf. The country & the World rose up against them boycotting their products. Now that time has gone by, do you still drive by BP gas stations or have you forgiven them? I haven’t forgotten and still won’t give them my money. Large corporations need to know that consumers won’t stand for their actions or in-actions. Consumers need to stand up & not be run over by organizations due to their beliefs. Stand up, speak up. SILENCE IS NOT GOLDEN!!
You say, but its just a fast food restaurant, what would it hurt? Well after millions of sales=money into groups that promote & support Anti-Gay agendas thus hurting all the progress of so many over the years. Money makes things move and enough people standing up will force a change. Even if you don’t make a choice, you’ve made a choice.
Now, I’m hungry after all this food talk but I think I’ll get a ‘hamburger’ from the competition near Chic-Fli-A…
Tom Thayer
http://beta.news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/popular-chicken-chain-under-fire-anti-gay-marriage-20110131-090004-945.html
http://www.edgenewyork.com/index.php?ch=news&sc&sc2=news&sc3&id=122637
Teen suicides-bullying LGBTQ & Michele Bachmann
Teen suicide, bullying, anti-gay- LGBTQ issues ….
I’ve noted & been watching this early Presidential jocking in the political arena with disgust. Now, a story has surfaced again regarding the ANTI-GAY Michele Bachmann. Her Minnesota district is plagued with what State Public Health officials call, “Suicide Contagion Area” due to the unusual high death rate. 2 years- 9 suicides due to bullying over issues including weight, not fitting in, LGBTQ, and others.
Michele Bachmann & her political train are trying to find a niche in the American public to become a bigoted society. The public already knows of her husband & his counseling group that work to ‘pray away the gay’ and still receive State Funding for their agency. Incredible now-days when tolerance is suppose to be the norm. It frightens me that she actually is a close front runner for candidate. Why aren’t the masses standing up, shouting, yelling and pounding their fists that we, as a supposed politically correct society allow her & others get away with it? In 2012, Minnesota will have same-sex marriage up for voting so you know it’ll get very heated. I know we’re a society where one can voice their opinions (I do here) but not at the point of putting ones life in jeopardy. There is a difference.
The young people who took their lives in her district have stories of pain & suffering. Four of the suicides were by proposed LGBTQ students. Here’s what Michele Bachmann said in 2006 while attending a hearing on anti-bullying bill in the State legislature.
In her opinion that bullying was ‘simply a fact of life’.
- She told state lawmakers: “I think for all us our experience in public schools is there have always been bullies, always have been, always will be. I just don’t know how we’re ever going to get to point of zero tolerance and what does it mean?…What will be our definition of bullying? Will it get to the point where we are completely stifling free speech and expression? Will it mean that what form of behavior will there be—will we be expecting boys to be girls?“
I worry that the slow progressive baby steps we’ve taken forward as a Country will all be at risk with individuals like this if they manage to somehow obtain a high political office. Keep your eyes & ears open. Find out what issues the politicians stand on and either support or oppose them the office. They work for us don’t forget!!! This great country is going through serious pains from government financial issues that’ll effect us all down to who will be in office in 2012. Don’t be silent, its a fight for everyone’s rights not just LGBTQ. Makes me wonder if actually Rodney King had it right when he said, “Can’t we all just get along?”
Tom Thayer
http://motherjones.com/politics/2011/07/michele-bachmann-teen-suicide?page=1
Young girls & birth control pills
How young is too young for birth control pills? 13? 15? What do you think?
We here at AIDS Response Effort, Inc. spotted an intriguing story that caught our attention. We decided to blog about it. So, how young is to young? My wife & I don’t have children so it’s hard for me to answer. If we did have a daughter, I know my wife would have her on the pill on or before the age of 13. She notes back to what happened in her school & to her friends growing up that precautions need to be taken for unwanted pregnancies. When I was in grade school to high school, most of my friends were sexual active at some level & girls got pregnant before graduating. Its still happening.
Just looking again at our local high schools here in Winchester, VA (noted in former blogs) that our city is among the highest HS pregnancy rates in the State of Virginia.
- Thomson Reuters study released this past March reported that 18 percent of girls ages 13 to 18 were on some form of oral contraceptive in 2009. These figures represent a 50 percent increase in birth control prescriptions since 2002 — a mere seven years earlier.
- approximately 750,000 teen pregnancies occur each year in the United States, many of which are not intentional. And as of 2009, 46 percent of high school students reported being sexually active.
Those statistics shows”abstinence only’ does not work. Parents need to think back to when they were young & their early sexual experiences. Most hope their children won’t follow their choices but with technology today, Internet, movies, TV shows that glorify pregnancy its like the world is bursting at the seams. I was too young during the 60′s “Free Love” and ”hippie” days but that was a sexual revolution. It seems to be happening again but on a much larger scale. The Commonwealth of Virginia still hangs onto abstinence only policy which hasn’t worked. Sexual activity leads not only to possible pregnancy but exposure to STI/STD’s and even HIV infections if the person takes unprotected risks. With ARE’s Health Presentation Classes for younger audiences we stress abstinence; but if not, to be careful, protected and cautious from what’s out there to catch. The elephant is in the room but no one see’s it….We try to educate….
tom thayer
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/22/teens-birth-control_n_906994.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000009
Amy Winehouse -addiction
After hearing about Amy Winehouse’s death this weekend I thought of the sad world in which she lived. She had so many issues from drugs, alcohol, pills, weight issues and even ‘cutting’ herself. I (and our agency ARE) work to educate residents in local rehab houses on the risks associated with the drug lifestyle they are in.. Its sad to see & hear their stories about the struggles which takes me back to Amy. She was surrounded by fans and people, but were they her friends or just triggers to continue or assist her bad habits which ended up taking her life away to soon?
If you’ve never attended a A/A or N/A meeting for addicts I can tell you from experience, its quite eye opening. I’m not a trained drug counselor but you see people who are required to attend due to court charges, some who need to attend because they’re on parole and then you have some who really are trying to change. I’ve heard the term: you can’t change your behavior till your “sick & tired of being sick & tired”. Only when addicts get to that point they accept change. People who’ve never seen or worked with drug addicts don’t realize how drugs do alter the person, their body & their mind. It controls and consumes them.
Amy Winehouse was in too deep it seemed. At this point, its not known what killed the celebrity star but only an autopsy will show. At the end, her tragic story of drug addiction and bad choices over her lifetime took its toll. The vicious cycle of addiction is full circle. Drugs leads to risky behavior which deepens into illness or death if the person can’t break the cycle. We have clients who contracted HIV through drug usage so we know how the risks are increased. In this area, Winchester is known as the ‘Rehab Capital’ in Virginia for its town size. HIV infections among drug users is on the rise not only in this area but the country as a whole. Amy Winehouse’s story just brings home the drug problem that plagues our world. A sad loss of a talented soulful singer. I only hope she’s at peace now & maybe an addict will see her death as a wake up call to make changes in their own life.
Tom Thayer
Criminal act or not?
A story out from our ‘neighbors’ to the North (Canada) has folks buzzing. A judge there has ruled that HIV/AIDS is no longer a ‘deadly disease’ in a case where a HIV+ male knowingly infected others. For those who didn’t know, it is a criminal act to knowingly pass HIV in most areas due to it being a deadly disease if not treated. This Canadian ruling could open legal doors & be contested beyond the border soon. The judge stated that with medications now days, HIV/AIDS can be a manageable disease.
How would you feel if someone you meet & slept with didn’t inform you about their status? And you were infected thus changing your life completely? Would you feel the person should be held accountable for their actions or lack of warning to you, or was it your fault for not being careful? These questions came to mind as I think ‘what if it was me’? Would you notify the authorities & risk having your name in the public court records & friends disappearing because they ‘think’ you have ‘IT’?
Working here at our AIDS Service Organization in Winchester, VA we have seen this happen way too often. I can only imagine what takes place in a larger city.
In my humble opinion, I personally think it should stay on record as a criminal offense just for the fact alone that people out there often lack consciences or worry about the consequences of their actions towards others. They need to held accountable for what they do on the road, street, workplace and bedroom.
Tom Thayer
Sources from:
http://www.poz.com/articles/Canadian_Ruling_Nonlethal_1_20843.shtml
Blood Needed ‘but’ not from Gay Men!
I’ve never really thought about the ‘rules’ of giving blood till this story surfaced the other day. A young man in Gary, Indiana was REJECTED because he ‘appeared’ to be gay. Wow.. Talk about sterotyping someone. The young man swears he’s straight but is a bit effeminate. So, the big question here is WHY after so many years is the male gay population is still being targeted & rejected for donating blood due to their lifestyle choice?
This silly rule in question was inacted in 1983 by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) during the height of the AIDS Epidemic when testing for HIV+ individuals wasn’t avaliable. Ok, I can see it back then, but this is 20+ years later & the rule still stands? Why, I ask when there are numerous HIV tests on the market & donated blood is screened anyway. Why turn away someone who is willing to give much needed blood just because they are gay? Last time I gave blood, I was asked my lifestyle choice questions as well without thinking a thing about it… But for a gay male, should he ‘lie’ and say he’s straight just to give blood or be ‘honest’ and rejected, embarrassed and sent away feeling even worse? Amazing to me that no one has challanged this silly rule with a lawsuit years ago. It is outdated and needs to be eliminated from the questions asked. In our town we have blood drives due to the desperate low supply levels and they’ll take just about everyone ‘but’ a gay male. Seriously people, wake up, step up and demand a change. I’ll get off my soapbox now but think about it……Info on this story found at
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/man-says-rejected-blood-bank-seeming-gay-151627659.html
Tom Thayer
Surfin’ it Safe…
This is a reminder, this post contains HIV prevention messages that may not be appropriate for all audiences. Since HIV infection is spread primarily through sexual practices or by sharing needles, prevention messages and programs may address these topics. If you are not seeking such information or may be offended by such material, please exit this page.
My name is Robert. I’m 24, gay, kind of quiet and shy. It would be nice to meet someone and have a relationship, not just a one night stand. It’s just not that easy to meet gay men my age here in the Shenandoah Valley. I seem to have better luck hooking up with men online, especially on a website called Manhunt. The problem is that they are mostly older men not interested in a real relationship and some of them are even married and pick up guys on the side. Not really what I’m looking for but what else can I do?
The last time I hooked up was a really bad experience. I found out right away that the guy I was with was all about him getting off and not me. I had condoms, but before I could get them out, he rolled me over and forced me to have have anal sex. It happened fast and I was afraid to stop him. I was really worried about getting HIV or an STD, especially after I learned there is more risk of getting an infection when you’re a bottom. I knew the only way to find out if I had HIV was to get tested so I went to AIDS Response Effort in Winchester and found out they have free HIV testing.
I also started thinking about what I could do differently so I wouldn’t be taken advantage of again. The next time I met someone online I told him from the beginning that I want to use condoms. You know what? It wasn’t that hard to do and it made me feel like I had more control over what happens to me. I know I don’t want to get HIV or an STD, and if something as simple as using a condom can protect me I know I can do it.
AIDS Drug Assistance Program.. ADAP
As of July 14, the wait list to receive lifesaving AIDS medication through the nation’s AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAP) had risen to 8,689 people across 13 states in the US.
The number of people waiting to receive medication through state-run AIDS drug assistance programs (ADAP) has increased more than 5,000% since Aug 2009, according to the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors.
The Commonwealth of Virginia has 837 HIV+ individuals on this ‘wait list’..
What if this was your spouse, family member, friend or partner on this ‘ wait-list’ for meds? With all the budget cut backs, lives are now at stake not just with HIV+ individuals. Cut backs are across the board for every illness. Makes you think a bit about what’s at stake here.
Tom T.
info from http://www.housingworks.org
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