MAP Advocate
AIDS Advocacy Update
Vol. 7 No. 5
March 20, 2001
Prevention Grant Cuts for University Programs
Hearings Held to Promote Education in Greater Minnesota
MAP Partners on Health Care Access
Prevention Saves Money
Little Relief Promised for Housing Crunch
Take Action! Use your gift of gab
Prevention Grant Cuts for University Programs
A bill [HF 1877] to prohibit HIV prevention funding for the "U"
was introduced by Rep.Tim Wilkin (R-Eagan) and six other House health
committee members. The change affects services provided through the Program
in Human Sexuality and Youth and AIDS Project. These programs have been
criticized in the extremist conservative press because of their work with
gay and bisexual men and youth. Expect a similar bill in the Senate. It's
time to call your Senator and Representative to register your concern.
Loudly!
Hearings Held to Promote Education in Greater
MN
Hearings were held in the House on March 12 and the Senate on March 20
on bills proposing new funding for HIV general education and awareness
in Greater MN [HF854/SF708]. Hearings on bills to restore funding for
the HIV education programs in Greater MN schools are expected to be scheduled
soon [HF847/SF708], as are hearings on bills to promote HIV workplace
education [HF846/SF827] and STI prevention [HF943/SF828].
MAP Partners on Health Care Access
MAP has teamed up with other health advocates to advance bills [HF560/SF
491] to improve services for people with disabilities or chronic conditions
who depend on managed care. One provision ensures direct access to a specialist,
while another allows patients to continue to see the same doctor for a
period of time despite disruptive changes in their health plan. MAP is
also part of the 100% Coalition, advocating for increases to the Medical
Assistance Income Standard for people with disabilities [HF 1132/SF 890].
Prevention Saves Money; Send Your Check Today
A dollar spent on STI prevention saves $12 in health costs. Similarly,
a dollar invested in family planning saves three, and has the added advantage
of helping prevent STIs and expanding access to sexual health education.
Just as HIV prevention funding is under attack, so are the State's family
planning dollars. Let lawmakers know this year they can keep your rebate
checks to invest in something useful. Make your point by letting MN SafPlan
send the message on a "check" to your legislator. Contact familytreeclinic.org/check
or fax your name and address to 651-642-2423.
Little Relief Promised for Housing Crunch
Stable housing is critical to sustaining the health of people living with
HIV. Having the third lowest vacancy rate in the nation has created a
severe low-income housing crunch in Minnesota. 75-80 percent of adult
residents at homeless shelters are working. Housing costs continue to
outpace wages. With things getting worse, the Venture budget takes a big
step backward by investing only $24 million on a one-time basis; a far
cry from last year's $93 million one-time investment.
It's true that legislators listen to their phone calls, but they also listen to public opinion. What is public opinion? It's people talking to other people about the issues they care about. How can you form public opinion? It's simple. Talk to your friends and family about what you read in the MAP Advocate.
Take action this week by talking to someone about the Governor's budget which reduces HIV prevention funding by a half million annually. Tell them why you care about this issue. Then tell them why they should care, as well.
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Last Updated:
Friday, March 30, 2007
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