Welcome to the August 2008 Edition

The MAP AIDSLine Update is a quarterly publication sent out to social service providers in order to highlight important HIV news or issues, inform providers of program changes and new resources, release up-to-date information on existing or new AIDS Service Organizations, and spotlight upcoming events.

MAP AIDSLine Modernizes!

The MAP AIDSLine is working to add new ways to get HIV prevention and service information to people how and when they want it. The MAP AIDSLine now offers a chat feature through the MAP Web site. Online community educators can provide:

• Answers to basic questions regarding HIV, including transmission concerns, current statistics and basic resources.
• Accurate and non-judgmental risk assessments to help determine risk of HIV infection or transmission, locate an HIV testing site if needed and offer realistic suggestions on steps to reduce risk.
• Personalized assessments for people living with HIV to help locate resources and information.
•  Assistance navigating the Minnesota AIDS Project Web site, including the HIV Resource Guide, to find information.

The AIDSLine Online chat feature is available Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. All AIDSLine Online chats are anonymous and confidential.

Learn more about this feature and access it at www.mnaidsproject.org/aidsline .

COMING SOON! An online HIV Risk Calculator and HIV Services Locator! Users will access these features through MAP’s Web site. An individual can anonymously assess their risk of HIV infection or transmission by answering a series of questions related to risk behaviors. The Risk Calculator then offers recommendations on how to minimize future risks as well as offering testing locations. If the user is HIV-positive and needing resources, they can complete the online Services Locator. After answering questions about their individual needs, the quiz will make referrals to appropriate agencies and provide the information from the AIDSLine HIV Resource Guide. AIDSLine Update readers will be among the first to know when these tools go live!

HIV Event Highlights

The MAP AIDSLine tracks information on a variety of support groups, training opportunities, special events and other conferences of interest to HIV providers. Below is a sample of upcoming events. For additional information or to inform us of events, please contact the MAP AIDSLine.

Coming soon – the AIDSLine will be organizing a Centralized Calendar for all AIDS Service Organizations in the state. To add events to the calendar, please send detailed information about your event to mapaidsline@mnaidsproject.org.

Allen Spear Forum – Regan Hofman

Tuesday, September 16 th, 2008

7:00 p.m.

Westminster Presbyterian Church

1200 Marquette Ave

Minneapolis, MN

As editor-in-chief of POZ magazine Regan Hofmann is responsible for the editorial direction of the publication and Web site for those living with or affected by HIV. Her vision and goals for POZ include: raising HIV/AIDS awareness, highlighting how the epidemic has changed dramatically to include women and people of color and fighting the stigma that remains since the disease was first identified in 1981.  Regan will discuss her own experience with HIV after finding out her positive status as well as discuss the issues facing us today in trying to stop HIV, including updates from the recent International Conference on AIDS in Mexico City. This event is free and open to the public.

Rochester AIDS Walk

Saturday, September 20 th, 2008

6:30 p.m.

Silver Lake Park West Pavilion

Rochester, MN  

The Professional AIDS Network (PAN) announces the 8 th Annual Rochester AIDS Walk. Every single penny raised by the Walk goes to people living with HIV in Southeast Minnesota. The funds can be accessed by low-income individuals and families and are used for such important things as medical supplies, prescriptions, food, utilities, and other necessities. For pledge forms or more information, contact PAN at 507-202-3361. Pets are welcome!

West Central Minnesota AIDSWalk

Saturday, September 20 th, 2008

10:00 a.m.

Big Ole Park

Alexandria, MN  

Join the Rural AIDS Action Network (RAAN) and the MINNKOTA Health Project for the 5 th Annual West Central AIDSWalk. Join them as they help raise awareness and remembrance. Walker registration begins at 9:30 a.m. There is free lunch for the first 150 walkers following the walk. For more information contact RAAN at 1-877-536-7226 or MINNKOTA at 1-877-871-4636.

Sidewalks Saving Lives

Saturday, September 27 th, 2008

9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Minneapolis, MN

Communities of color account for a combined total of 65% of the approximately 56,300 new HIV infections occurring in the United States in 2008. Sidewalks Saving Lives seeks to create an intergenerational public health campaign aimed at reducing the HIV/AIDS epidemic in North Minneapolis with an emphasis on the African American community. Several community partners are collaborating on this event including: Kwanzaa Community Church, Avenues for Homeless Youth, Hawthorne Area Community Council, Homewood Arts Studio, Juxtaposition Arts, Northside Arts Collective, and the University of Minnesota Center for Urban and Regional Affairs. The partners will paint the first ten of twenty sidewalks across North Minneapolis with artworks reinforcing HIV/AIDS prevention messages. To learn more, contact Rev. Alika Galloway, Co-Pastor at kwanzaachurch@gmail.com.

AIDS Service Organization Spotlight

Twin Cities HOPE (Health through Outreach and Prevention Education) is designed to integrate HIV, Hepatitis C, and substance abuse prevention in both treatment and incarceration settings. The program targets adults, people of color, people leaving corrections facilities, and people at risk for Hepatitis, HIV, or substance abuse. The program is a collaboration between Access Works, Minnesota AIDS Project, and Resource Recovery Center.

Circles of Hope is a 4 week, 8 session series presented by HOPE that focuses on health and wellness and helps clients recognize triggers and the addiction mindset, build healthy supportive relationships, provide HIV intervention, and examine healthy, holistic relationships in an IDU community. The group currently meets at the Recovery Resource Center and at the Alliance Methadone clinic. To learn more about when Circles of Hope meets, contact the HOPE program.

HOPE sponsors a monthly health fair at Recovery Resource Center. Anyone in the targeted populations can come to the monthly health fairs on the 4 th Tuesday of every month from 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. At the health fair, individuals can get the vaccinations for Hepatitis A and B, get tested for Hepatitis C and HIV, and get flu shots.

To learn more about the HOPE program, contact Betty at 612-752-8094 or Tommi at 612-752-8095.

Program Updates

• HealthPartners Specialty Center now offers a Support Group for anyone living with HIV. Participants do not need to be a patient at the clinic in order to attend the support group. To learn more about the group and when it meets, contact Tim Himango at 651-254-7898 or email at timothy.w.himango@healthpartners.com.

• The Twin Cities Branch of the American Red Cross no longer offers HIV/AIDS education classes or speakers. If you have any questions, need referrals for speakers, or requests for classes, contact the MAP AIDSLine at 612-373-2437.

Programs are constantly undergoing change, and the AIDSLine wants to make sure each provider’s knowledge is current. We update the on-line HIV Resource Guide daily to reflect these changes.

Keep the community updated of changes with your program, e-mail mapaidsline@mnaidsproject.org.

Volunteer Opportunities

Clare Housing

Clare Housing relies on the generous gifts of time, energy and spirit given by their volunteer workforce of over 150 people. If you have time or a talent that you would like to share with them, let them know! Help is needed with household assistance, evening meal preparation, yard maintenance, as well as administrative help. Contact Event and Volunteer Manager Lee Haugee at 612-236-9527 or email at lee.haugee@clarehousing.org.

If you have any upcoming events or news you would like to see highlighted, please send an e-mail to mapaidsline@mnaidsproject.org.

You’re receiving this e-mail because you either received this Update in the past, or were deemed as an appropriate individual to receive the AIDSLine Update. If you do not wish to receive this e-mail, follow the link to Unsubscribe and remove yourself from the mailing list.

If you or a client has any information or questions on HIV or resources available to those living with HIV, please have them contact the AIDSLine at 612-373-AIDS(2437) or toll free at 800-248-AIDS(2437).

Last Updated: Wednesday, October 1, 2008
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Content Notice: This site contains HIV prevention messages that may not be appropriate for all audiences. Since HIV infection is spread primarily though sexual practices or by sharing needles, prevention messages and programs may address these topics. If you are not seeking such information or materials, please exit this Web site.