World AIDS Day Posted on December 2, 2014 by Philadelphia FIGHT December 1st is World AIDS Day. On this day, we unite in the fight against HIV, support the people that are living with HIV, and reflect on the people whose lives have been most affected by HIV/AIDS. Today we commemorate people who have died as a result of complications with AIDS including activists, peer educators, family members, friends, and others. Today, we are grateful for the people in Philadelphia that were instrumental in the continued success of the AIDS Library and Philadelphia FIGHT, and crucial to the FIGHT against HIV/AIDS across the globe. Click here to learn more about the history of the AIDS Library. Click here to learn more about the legacy of Activist Kiyoshi Kuromiya. Here are resources, including many freely available curricula and lesson-plans, that you can use to educate about HIV/AIDS. For more information, please browse other posts on our blog. If you have any specific inquires, please contact Megan Threats at mthreats@fight.org IN THE AIDS LIBRARY Here are some titles we have in the library that could help an educator create an HIV/AIDS education class or program, or to supplement such a class or program. INTRODUCTORY CURRICULA The New York City Department of Education’s HIV/AIDS Curriculum is available in its entirety. It’s broken down by grade, from K through 12. That page also includes brochures and letters for parents (available in 11 different languages) of kids who are being educated. The Washington State Department of Education publishes the KNOW Curriculum, including materials in Spanish. The Population Council publishes a book of curriculum and activity materials, It’s All One, developed by the International Sexuality and HIV Curriculum Working Group, available to download freely. It’s also available in Spanish and French. The Hispanic leadership organization ASPIRA has an extensive HIV Curriculum with facilitator scripts, activities, and other tools. The entire curriculum is available in Spanish as well. The British non-profit AVERT has an HIV/AIDS Lessons and Activities webpage, as well as pages for: HIV/AIDS quizzes (and quizzes on sex ed, condoms, and pregnancy)A dynamic web-based HIV/AIDS game The United Church of Christ publishes a Curriculum for Multicultural Christian Education, with particular focus on grade school youth. Partners in Health publishes an HIV Curriculum, with a strong emphasis on international health, human rights, TB co-infection, and women’s health. Stanford University’s Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education TeachAIDS Educator Handbook: A Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Prevention Curriculum. UNAIDS sponsors a Grassroot Soccer Skillz Curriculum, aimed at teens. Topics include making healthy decisions, avoiding risks, building support networks, reducing stigma and discrimination, increasing knowledge about testing and treatment, and addressing gender issues. MORE SPECIFIC CURRICULA The Vermont-based Center for Health & Learning has six pages of Curriculum Activities that Support the Use of HIV Positive Speakers. The Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care published an Adaptation of a Curriculum Targeted at Older African-American women. The UCSF Center for AIDS Prevention Studies has a page of Intervention Curricula, including a program for people living with HIV, a harm reduction program aimed at middle schoolers, a prevention program for men who have sex with men, and an adherence program for HIV+ homeless people. The Northwest Association for Biomedical Research has a multimedia HIV Vaccine Curriculum that explores the life cycle and structure of HIV, different vaccine types, and related ethical issues. The CDC’s HIV/AIDS Prevention Research Synthesis Project has a page of “Best-Evidence” Interventions. Folks designing programs can read about them there. Be aware, though, that many of the materials for these interventions are not available for free. The CDC publishes guides for educators and administrators developing HIV/AIDS education programs. These are not curricula, but advice on creating and evaluating curricula. Adolescent and School Health: Sexual Risk Behavior Guidelines and StrategiesHandbook for Evaluating HIV EducationThe Eleven Elements of Successful Prevention Programs EDUCATING HEALTH PROVIDERS AIDS Education is for the pros too! The AIDS Education & Training Center provides targeted Education Programs for Health Providers treating people living with HIV. They have slide sets and full curricula on adherence, cultural competence, testing, “prevention with positives,” women, and many more topics. Baylor College of Medicine International Pediatric AIDS Initiative, in collaboration with the National Institute of Health, UNICEF, and PEPFAR, provides a 376-page HIV Curriculum for the Health Professional. Family Health International has a training manual for health professionals on Contraception for Clients with HIV. The International Training & Education Center for Health provides materials to support the development of International HIV Health Programs. CURRICULUM SUPPLEMENTS For people who are designing their own program or curriculum, but want supplements, there are materials to draw on all over the web. For facts about different aspects of HIV/AIDS, we always point to a few different sets of factsheets (short documents that summarize a topic). For factsheets on the epidemic in the United States, see the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Factsheets page.For factsheets on the epidemic around the world, see the UNAIDS Factsheets page.For factsheets on the nature of the virus, its transmission, and its treatment, see the University of New Mexico’s AIDS Info Net.For factsheets specifically on HIV prevention, sorted by demographics, risk behaviors, and more, see the University of California, San Francisco’s HIV Prevention Factsheets. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has a page of AIDS Info Graphics and an AIDS Awareness Toolkit. The PBS series Frontline has a documentary called The Age of AIDS that’s available to watch online. It’s four hours long, but it’s broken up into chapters that could be good for showing to classes or groups. The TEACH program at FIGHT has a YouTube channel of educational videos on many HIV/AIDS topics. The United Nations AIDS Multimedia Gallery has a collection of videos (including PSAs), photo slideshows, and audio presentations and interviews, mostly focusing on the epidemic worldwide. UNAIDS also publishes a current Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic with more charts, slides, graphics, and multimedia materials. The website Annenberg Learner publishes many HIV/AIDS Animations and Images on its Rediscovering Biology page. The Kaiser Family Foundation has a Global HIV/AIDS Timeline. AVERT has a History of AIDS with an extensive list of news and journal articles for each era of the epidemic For a collection of news articles about HIV/AIDS going back to 1983, see the New York Times AIDS/HIV page. If any of these sites use terminology that’s unfamiliar, we recommend the National Institute of Health’s searchable HIV/AIDS Glossary. The glossary is also available in Spanish.
Updated Fact Sheets from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Posted on January 5, 2015 by Philadelphia FIGHT The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently updated the following four fact sheets: HIV Among African AmericansHIV Among African American Gay and Bisexual MenHIV Among Gay and Bisexual MenHIV Among Latinos The fact sheets include information and statistics on diagnoses of HIV infection and AIDS in each population. Prevention challenges and information about CDC programs and campaigns are also included.
National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Posted on March 16, 2015 by Philadelphia FIGHT February 7th is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is observed annually to highlight the disproportionate burden of HIV among African-Americans. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), African-Americans accounted for 47% of persons who received an HIV diagnosis in 2012. A recent report published by the CDC found that the mortality rate among American Americans with HIV declined 28% between 2009-2012. Despite this progress, African American communities have higher HIV infection and mortality rates than any other groups. The 2012 rate is 47% higher than Latinos, and 13% higher than whites. Here are resources, including many freely available factsheets, that you can use to learn about HIV/AIDS and its impact on Black communities. IN THE AIDS LIBRARY Here are some titles we have in the Library (for more titles, search our catalog here) BOOKS AIDS and African Americans: A Guide for Substance Abuse, Sexuality, and Care, Pamela Blackwell JohnsonAshamed to Die: Silence, Denial, and the AIDS Epidemic in the South, Andrew SkerrittBeyond the Down Low: Sex, Lies, and Denial in Black America, Keith BoykinBrother to Brother: New Writings by Black Gay Men, Joseph Beam; Essex HemphillDoes Your House Have Lions?, Sonia SanchezHealth First!: The Black Woman’s Wellness Guide, Hilary Beard; Eleanor Hinton HoyttHealth Issues in the Black Community, Ronald Braithwaite; Sandra TaylorIn the Life: a Black Gay Anthology, Joseph BeamLetters to an Incarcerated Brother: Encouragement, Hope, and Healing for Inmates and their Loved Ones, Hill HarperLiving with HIV/AIDS: The Black Person’s Guide to Survival, Eric GoosbyMedical Apartheid: The Dark History of Medical Examination on Black Americans from Colonial Times to Present, Harriet WashingtonMy Brother, Jamaica KincaidNot in My Family: AIDS in the African-American Community, Gil L. Robertson IVPush, SapphireRedefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More, Janet MockThe Kid, SapphireThe Black Women’s Health Book: Speaking for Ourselves, Evelyn WhiteThe Boundaries of Blackness: AIDS and the Breakdown of Blackness, Cathy CohenThe Secret Epidemic: The Story of AIDS in Black America, Jacob Levenson DVDS All of UsBlack is — Black Ain’tBroken on All Sides: Race, Mass Incarceration & New Visions for Criminal Justice in the U.S.CoverEnd Game: AIDS in Black AmericaFor Colored GirlsHoliday HeartLife SupportLiving Life to the Fullest: a Guide for HIV Positive African AmericansMarlon T. Rigg’s Tongues UntiedOne WeekOut of Control: AIDS in Black AmericaParis is BurningThe AnnouncementYesterday THE BASICS For a brief introduction to this issue, see the Kaiser Family Foundation’s Black Americans and HIV/AIDS For a longer introduction, see: The Body’s HIV/AIDS Resource Center for African AmericansAvert’s HIV & AIDS Among African AmericansThe Body’s HIV and Me: An African American’s Guide to Living with HIV For statistical introductions, see: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s webpage on HIV among African Americans – for basic factsheets, podcasts, and other resourcesThe U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration, HIV/AIDS Bureau’s factsheet about HIV/AIDS and African Americans Specific Issues For considerations of HIV/AIDS among African American Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM), see: Back of the Line: The State of AIDS among Black Gay Men in America, a report by the Black AIDS InstituteHIV/AIDS Among African American Gay and Bisexual Men, factsheets by the Centers for Disease Control and PreventionMyths of Black MSM, an article featured in Poz Magazine For considerations of HIV/AIDS among African American Women and other intersecting issues including pregnancy, see: Reproductive Justice and HIV, a factsheet by the Positive Women’s Network-USAUnspoken: Sexuality, Romance, and Reproductive Freedom for Women Living with HIV in the United States, a report by Positive Women’s Network-USABlack* Women and HIV/AIDS: Findings from Southeast Regional Consumer and Provider Focus Group Interviews, an issue brief by the National Alliance of State & Territorial AIDS DirectorsRyan White Providers Address HIV/AIDS among African American Women, a report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services AdministrationWomen and HIV/AIDS, review this page by Avert featuring information about HIV/AIDS among African American womenTransgender People and HIV/AIDS, review this page by Avert featuring information about HIV/AIDS among African American transgender womenWomen and HIV/AIDS in the United States, a comprehensive fact-sheet by the Kaiser Family Foundation NEWS AND PERSONAL ACCOUNTS For personal accounts, see: The Body’s Up Close & Personal, first-person narratives from African Americans living with HIVGreater Than AIDS’ Speak Out campaign, first-person stories aimed at confronting the silence and stigma that surrounds HIV/AIDSJustin’s HIV Journey, Justin shares his experiences as a gay man living with HIVRae Lewis-Thorton’s Diva Living with HIV, Rae shares her experiences as a woman living with AIDS For additional resources, contact the AIDS Library.
World Health Day – Food Access in Philadelphia Posted on April 7, 2015 by Philadelphia FIGHT April 7th is World Health Day. The theme for World Health Day 2015 is food safety. We recognize that access to safe, nutritious food is a critical issue for many people living in Philadelphia. The AIDS Library of Philadelphia FIGHT has a variety of resources available to the public that provide information about accessing nutritious, and at times, free meals in Philadelphia. Some of resources are outlined below: Free Meals in Philadelphia Free Meals in Philadelphia – The Philadelphia Food Access Collaborative updates this resource listing of organizations providing free meals in Philadelphia. The publication includes a weekly schedule for each organization, as well as distinctions for populations that services are catered to including, but not limited to, wheel chair access, women and children only, men only, seniors only, and shelters. The Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger offers a list of resources including: Food Pantries in Philadelphia (find your nearest food pantry on an interactive map here)Free Meals in Center City and University City (click here for a calendar of free meals, click here for a map of free meals)A Food Resources in Philadelphia GuideA Food Resources for Seniors in Philadelphia Guide Additionally, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly referred to as food stamps) offers nutrition assistance to eligible, low-income individuals and families in need of groceries. To see if you qualify to receive SNAP benefits and to apply for benefits, the following options are available to you: Call the SNAP Hotline at 215-430-0556: Residents of Bucks, Chester, and Philadelphia counties can apply for SNAP benefits by phone. Hotline counselors are available Monday-Friday (9am-5pm)BenePhilly Centers offer free one-on-one professional support to help Philadelphians enroll in benefits. To find a BenePhilly Center near you, call 844-848-4376 to schedule an appointment. If you are located in Center City, schedule an appointment at Philadelphia FIGHT (1233 Locust Street, 3rd Floor). Cayden Halligan, Care and Outreach Librarian of the AIDS Library is available to help you from 9am-5pm.Text “SNAP” to 84700 Nutrition Counseling and Meal Program in Philadelphia MANNA (Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance) – MANNA provides “nourishing, healthy, healing food” to people living in Philadelphia battling life-threatening illnesses. The staff at MANNA create and home-deliver meals customized for 11 different dietary modifications to accommodate different diseases. To find if meals may be delivered in your area, check here. MANNA’s Registered Dietitians provide free nutrition counseling in both individual or group consultations. Tips for Food Safety The World Health Organization (WHO) has a number of factsheets and manuals in PDF format available on their website with food safety tips for the public. Most of the resources are available in the official languages of WHO (English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, French, and Russian) unless specified below. Some of those include: 5 Keys to Safer Food (available in the official WHO languages) How to Prepare Formula for Bottle-Feeding at Home (available in the official WHO languages) How to Prepare Formula for Cup-Feeding at Home (available in the official WHO languages) How to Prepare Powdered Infant Formula in Care Setting (available in the official WHO languages) For additional information, contact the AIDS Library at library@fight.org.
HIV Vaccine Awareness Day Posted on October 2, 2017 by Philadelphia FIGHT HIV Vaccine Awareness Day (HVAD) is observed annually around the world on May 18th. The day serves as an annual commemoration of the need for and commitment to the ongoing search for a vaccine. There is no vaccine for HIV. As noted by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, “HIV vaccine development has been challenging largely because of the unique characteristics of the virus.” There have been continuous efforts to develop an effective HIV vaccine since the late 1980s. The clinical RV144 vaccine trial conducted in Thailand in 2009 is arguably the most successful trial to date. Scientists combined two vaccines that failed on their own, which lowered the rate of HIV infection by 31 percent. Researchers are fervently making strides to create a vaccine for HIV. The number of new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths worldwide have decreased by more than one-third in the past decade which may be attributed to the tremendous advancement of HIV prevention and treatment. Please check out the references highlighted below for more information. IN THE AIDS LIBRARY Here are some titles that we have in the library BOOKS AHFS Drug Information 2015, American Society of Health System Pharmacists – note, if you find this text difficult to navigate check out Medline Plus and/or Daily Med. https://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=50900#.VVzO4tLBwXAhttps://blog.aids.gov/2015/05/bulletin-hiv-vaccine-awareness-day-2015.html AVAC.org https://www.avac.org/event/vaccines-vivo-advances-aids-vaccine-researchhttps://www.avac.org/hiv-vaccine-awareness-dayhttps://www.avac.org/blog/prevention-line-webinar-series This day is especially important to the librarians. https://www.hvtn.org/en/resources/hiv-awareness.htmlhttps://www.aids.gov/news-and-events/awareness-days/hiv-vaccine-awareness-day/https://aidsinfo.nih.gov/education-materials/hiv-aids-awareness-days/158/hiv-vaccine-awareness-day https://betablog.org/croi-2015-neutralizing-antibodies-provide-hope-hiv-vaccine/ easy-to-digest research updates. This year brought the launch of long-awaited initiation of clinical trials building on positive results from the RV144 “Thai” trial. This effort is led by the Pox-Protein Public-Private Partnership (P5), including the the HIV Vaccine Trials Network, who will join the webinar to provide a status update of their current vaccine research and development program. We will also feature Janssen, part of Johnson & Johnson, to provide an overview of the research program they are moving forward that focuses on a cross-clade vaccine product. This webinar will be the next installment in our Prevention on the Line series, a year-long dialogue on pressing issues in HIV prevention research and implementation. For advocates planning HVAD activities or simply looking for an update on the latest in the field, AVAC is updating its “HVAD Toolkit”, which includes a range of materials with HIV vaccine research highlights. The updated Toolkit will be available shortly at www.avac.org/hvad. Please email us if you’re looking for a specific resource right away. We look forward to commemorating another HVAD with all of you as we continue to work toward the ultimate goal of a vaccine to prevent HIV. AVAC would especially like to thank the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, the US Agency for International Development, and our civil society partners in countries for supporting and partnering in HVAD and other vaccine advocacy initiatives. We look forward to hearing your voices and questions in this discussion. And, as always, please email us at avac@avac.org with questions, comments and suggestions. Best, AVAC
AIDS Library 30th Anniversary Posted on September 13, 2017 by FIGHT Celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the AIDS Library Join us on Friday, November 10, 2017 at 5:30pm for a reception with the exhibit Still Fighting for Our Lives featuring materials from William Way’s Philadelphia AIDS Library graphic collection. This will be an evening of art, music and memories as we remember the past, honor library volunteers, and look to the future. THIS IS A FREE, PUBLIC EVENT. RSVP Required
Black History Month and National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Posted on February 27, 2014 by Philadelphia FIGHT In honor of Black History Month and National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, the AIDS Library will be hosting a special viewing of The Announcement. Join us this Friday, February 28, 2014 at 2pm in the AIDS Library for a viewing of The Announcement, which will be followed by a discussion. For those unfamiliar with the film The Announcement, click here. For a PDF of the flyer: National Black HIV AIDS Awareness Day
Hepatitis C Information Posted on May 1, 2014 by Philadelphia FIGHT May marks Hepatitis Awareness Month, hepatitis is a condition of liver inflammation that is a group of viral infections that affect the liver. In the United States, hepatitis is most commonly caused by Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C viruses. According to the CDC, an estimated 4.4 million Americans are living with chronic hepatitis; most do not know they are infected. I would like to take this opportunity to share resources and information about Hepatitis C also known as HCV. In the AIDS Library Here are some titles that are available in the Library. The Hepatitis C Handbook, by Matthew DolanHepatitis C, The First Year: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed (2nd Edition), by Cara Bruce and Lisa MontanarelliDr Melissa Palmer’s Guide to Hepatitis & Liver Disease, by Melissa PalmerHCV/HIV Coinfection Information, by the American Liver Foundation Information for People Living with Hepatitis C For basic information see, What I Need to Know about Hepatitis C, from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases – with easy-to-read text. It is also available in Spanish here.Hepatitis C – an interactive tutorial, from the Patient Education Institute. It is also available in Spanish here.Patient Education Resources, from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for printer-friendly color materials.Newly Diagnosed: Hepatitis C, from the American Liver Foundation – a comprehensive, printer-friendly guide.First Steps with HCV for the Newly Diagnosed, from the HCV Advocate People with further questions can call 877-HELP-4-HEP, a national support line from The Support Partnership (TSP), a collaboration of four national Hepatitis C organizations. For information on HCV treatment, see Treatment Factsheets from HCV AdvocateHerbal Dietary Supplements Glossary, from HCV AdvocateHepatitis-related drug medication information, from DailyMed of the National Library of Medicine For help paying for treatment, see Project Inform’s list of Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs) For specific issues for people living with HCV, see: Hepatitis & Tattoos, from the Hepatitis C Support ProjectDiet and Nutrition for people living with HCV, from the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA)Alcohol and Hepatitis C, from the DVAVaccinations of Adults with Hepatitis C Infection, from the Immunization Action Coalition For HCV information related to specific populations, see: African Americans and Hepatitis C, from HCV AdvocateViral Hepatitis: Information for Gay and Bisexual Men, from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention For information about HIV/HCV coinfection, see A Guide to Hepatitis C for People Living with HIV, from Treatment Action Group – printer-friendly, with statistical informationHIV, Hepatitis C, and You, from The Body – colorful, printer-friendly, and contains stories from people living with an HIV/HCV coinfectionA Guide to HIV and Hep C Coinfection, from the Hepatitis C Support Project – colorful, printable, and aimed at patientsHIV and Viral Hepatitis, from the CDC – including statistical info For HCV info in language other than English, see A enormous amount of info in Spanish, from HCV AdvocateMultilingual HIV and Hepatitis C Factsheets, from Multicultural HIV and Hepatitis Service – in Akan, Amharic, Arabic, Bosnian, Burmese, Chinese, Croatian, Greek, French, Indonesian, Italian, Khmer, Korean, Macedonian, Portuguese, Serbian, Spanish, Shona, Somali, Swahili, Tagalog, Thai, Turkish, VietnameseMultilingual Hepatitis Health Information Handouts, from the Refugee Health Information Network – in Arabic, Burmese, Chinese, French, Hmong, Karen, Korean, Kreyol, Portuguese, Russian, Somalia, Spanish, Tagalog, VietnameseForeign Language Publications, also from HCV Advocate, in Bulgarian, Chinese, French, Hmong, Korean, Russian, Spanish, and SomaliHCV Info in Urdu, from the Hepatitis Trust in the United Kingdom For issues around benefits, see A Guide to Hepatitis & Disability, from the Hepatitis C Support Project For personal stories about HCV, see: HCV Advocate’s Personal StoriesThe Hepatitis C Trust’s Personal StoriesHepatitis Australia’s Treatment, Life, Hep C, and Me Research, Provider Information, and More To follow clinical research and other HCV news, see Hepatitis Clinical Studies Around the World, from the U.S. National Institutes of HealthNAM AIDSmap’s Hepatitis C news pageHepatitis C Research and NewsHIVandHepatitis.com, for news focusing on co-infectionRecent News in HCV Care, from Project Inform For statistics, see: Hepatitis C Statistics and Surveillance, from the CDC – for in-depth statisticsHepatitis C FAQs for Health Professionals – for a narrative that puts those statistics in context For provider information, see: Viral Hepatitis Action Plan (2014-2016), a comprehensive printer-friendly cross-agency action plan from the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Justice (DOJ), and Veterans AffairsFree, Online CME Course for Primary Care Providers, from ACT-First a collaboration between the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), American College of Physicians, DVA , CDC, and Project ECHO, a course aimed at improving primary care physicians’ knowledge of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis CHIV & Hepatitis Coinfections: Management & Treatment Guidelines, from the Hepatitis C Support ProjectConsiderations for Antiretroviral Use in Patients with HIV/HCV Coinfection, from the U.S. Department of Health and Human ServicesTesting Recommendations for Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection, from the CDC For prevention with certain populations, see: Viral Hepatitis And Men Who Have Sex with Men, from the CDCInjection Drug Users and Viral Hepatitis, from the CDC National Hepatitis Testing Day: May 19, 2014 National Hepatitis Testing Day is on May 19th. The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention National Prevention Information Network allows you to search for hepatitis testing events in your area or register testing events to help build hepatitis testing resources here. HCV Testing Locations in Philadelphia Below is a listing of locations in Philadelphia where individuals can be tested. 11th Street Family Health Services of Drexel UniversityBaker IndustriesBEBASHI: Transition to HopeFairmount Primary CareFamily Practice & Counseling Network Health AnnexHunting Park Health Ctr.Latino Commission on AIDSLax Center at Philadelphia FIGHTMary Howard Health CenterPrevention Point PhiladelphiaSt. Christopher’s Hospital for Children – Division of Adolescent MedicineTPAC (Philadelphia AIDS Consortium)Veteran Affairs Medical CenterMazzoni Center (809 Locust location)Y-HEP (testing available for people up to 24 years of age) Information regarding addresses, testing hours, walk-ins/appointment guidelines, and contact information for the above locations is available by clicking the Search Resources tab on the AIDS Library website.
HIV/AIDS and Aging Posted on September 11, 2014 by Philadelphia FIGHT Thursday, September 18th is National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day In honor of National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day I have put together a comprehensive list of resources available on the web about HIV and Aging. If you are in the Philadelphia area, join the LGBT Elder Initiative for the event listed below. Gettin’ Older with HIV Date: Saturday, September 20, 2014 Time: 10am – 12:30pm Location” 330 S. 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA (St. Luke & The Epiphany) Details: a free community workshop to update people living with HIV/AIDS, caregivers and service providers about the unique issues facing LGBT people with HIV/AIDS as they get older In the AIDS Library Materials focusing primarily on aging Aging with HIV: A Gay Man’s Guide, by James MastenAging with HIV: Psychological, Social, and Health Issues, by Janice E. Nichols et alWhat People Over 50 Need to Know About HIV and AIDS, by the PA Department of Health – a pamphlet, available in both English and SpanishThe New Ourselves, Growing Older: Women Aging with Knowledge and Power, by Doress-Worters and Paula Brown – part of the Our Bodies, Ourselves seriesNutrition in Aging, by Eleanor D. Schlenker Materials with sections focusing on aging: The Alternative Health & Medicine Encyclopedia, by James E. Marti – with a chapter called “Aging”Doctor, What Should I Eat?, by Isadore Rosenfeld, M.D. – with a section called “Aging: No One Lives Forever – But It’s Worth a Try”Extended Health Care At Home: A Complete and Practical Guide, by Evelyn M. Baulch – with a section “Care for the Elderly”The Gay Men’s Wellness Guide, by Robert E. Penn – with chapters called “Older Gay Men,” and “Aging”Natural Family Doctor: The Comprehensive Self-Help Guide to Health and Natural Medicine, by Dr. Andrew Stanway et al – with a section of “The later years” and “Death and bereavement”Our Bodies, Ourselves, by the Boston Women’s Health Book Collective – with a sections on “Midlife and Menopause” and “Our Later Years”The Planned Parenthood Women’s Health Encyclopedia, by Planned Parenthood – with an entry on “Aging” and entries on many other issues related to AgingThe Women’s Complete Wellness Book, by Debra R. Judelson, M.D., and Diana L. Dell, M.D. – with chapters called “Mature Years: Ages 46 to 64” and “Older Years: Ages 65 and Over” The Basics For a brief introduction to this issue, see AIDS InfoNet’s Older People and HIV. For a longer introduction, see: The AIDS Community Research Initiative of America (ACRIA)’s HIV and Older Adults and Preventing HIV in Older Adults booklets, available in both English and SpanishAIDSinfo’s HIV/AIDS: Adults 50 and OverPositively Aware’s issue Aging with HIV: You’re Getting Older and Better For a statistical introductions, see The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s webpage on HIV/AIDS in Persons Aged 50 and Older – for basic statisticsGMHC’s Growing Older With the Epidemic – for more detailed epidemiological trends and policy recommendations For a comprehensive patient handout, see the HIV Training and Resource Initiative’s Coming of Age: A Guide to Aging Well With HIV, a 68-page booklet filled with clear explanations of the aspects of medical care and practical advice for staying health. Specific Issues For considerations of HIV risk among older folks (and people having sex with them), see: HIV Among Older Adults: Age-Specific Issues in Prevention and Treatment, a paper by a University of Illinois social work professorThe British non-profit NAM’s Having Older Sexual Partners Increases HIV Risk for Younger Gay Men For safer sex / prevention messages aimed at older adults, especially those at high risk, see: ACRIA and GMHC’s Still Got It at Sevety: Sexuality, Aging, and HIVServices & Advocacy for GLBT Elders’s Ten Things Every LGBT Older Adult Should Know About HIV/AIDSThe National Resource Center on LGBT Aging’s An HIV/AIDS Trainer’s Perspective – for tips on talking with older adults about HIV/AIDSavailable in English, Spanish, Russian, Haitian Creole, and Chinese.The AIDS Institute’s webpage for National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day (NHAAD, September 18th), which includes a toolkit (at the bottom of the page), including posters, brochures, and PowerPoint presentations For more on the way HIV can effect aging, see ACRIA and GMHC’s Aging Before Your Time? – with a rundown of common manifestations of again and the way that HIV effects many of these issuesThe Black AIDS Institute’s Living Longer with HIV/AIDS Includes Developing Chronic DiseasesScience Daily’s Premature Aging Caused by Some HIV Drugs Medscape Medical News’s HIV Speeds Brain Aging For a couple other specific issues around living with HIV in older age, see: The Well Project’s Menopause and HIVAIDSMeds.com’s Exercises Guidelines Published for People with HIV Over 50 News & Personal Accounts For news, see The Body’s Aging and HIV/AIDS: ResearchAn Aging Epidemic, originally published by Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange For personal accounts, see ACRIA’s Let’s Face It: Older Adults Speak About HIV – a booklet with twelve personal stories, available in both English and SpanishAging with HIV – a blog by James Masten, a Therapist and Social Work professor, which includes both professional opinions and personal opinions as someone working in the field for over 20 years.AARP’s Meet 6 unforgettable people over 50 living with HIVHelena Bushong: In Her Own Words – the story of an HIV+ older transwomanHow to Age with HIV – Gracefully, a personal narrative from POZ magazineThe Graying of AIDS, a photo series with personal narratives For video personal accounts, see: Aging POZitively – a 35-minute video profiling three older HIV+ adultsAARP’s Standing Up to Stigma – an article and 6-minute video profiling a retired doctor who was kicked out of an assisted living facility because of his HIV statusThe Graying of AIDS – the website of a documentary currently in progress, with dozens of interviews Info for Providers For longer introductions about HIV/AIDS and aging aimed at providers: Achieve Magazine published an entire issue in 2009 called Growing Older with HIVACRIA, the American Academy of HIV Medicine, and the American Geriatrics Society publish a blog updated periodically with comprehensive information about HIV and Aging called the HIV and Aging BlogACRIA published a report called Research on Older Adults with HIVThe U.S. Administration on Aging hosted a webinar in June of 2011 aimed at providers called Positive Aging: HIV Turns 30The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS published a report in 2013 called HIV and Aging For clinical research on HIV/AIDS and aging, see: University of California, San Francisco’s HIV InSite’s pages HIV and Aging: A Paradigm Shift in the Management of HIV Disease, a narrated slideshow, and HIV and Aging: Related Resources, an aggregation of journal articles, conference reports, provider education modules, and moreACRIA’s HIV & Aging Research: A Roadmap for the FutureThe University of Michigan’s Center for the Demography of Aging’s Research Network on HIV/AIDS and the Elderly – for research around the worldThe Body’s Updates from the First International Workshop on HIV & AgingCritical Interventions in Aging’s article on Religion, Spirituality, and Older Adults With HIV: Critical Personal and Social Resources For An Aging EpidemicThe Body’s Aging & HIV/AIDS: Research page – which collects dozens more studies and reports on the topic For an educational video aimed at providers, see the AIDS Education & Training Center’s HIV and Older Adults, a 28-minute video about co-morbities, treatment, psychosocial issues, the importance of testing older adults, and more. Upcoming Webinars For upcoming webinars, ACRIA HIV & Aging Training All webinars take place from 1-3pm EST. Health Promotion for Older Adults Living with HIV (October 22, 2014) REGISTER HERE This two hour webinar will provide an overview of how HIV progresses and affects the overall health of older adults. This information will then be related to how service providers can play a role in promoting and helping older adults living with HIV stay linked to care and maintain viral load suppression. Sexual Health of Older Adults (December 17, 2014) REGISTER HERE This two-hour webinar is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of sexual activity among older adults and the need for effective and tailored HIV/STI prevention messages to help improve sexual health. Data on the sexual activity and function of older adults will be provided from a number of sources, including ACRIA’s research with older adults. Resiliency of Older Adults Living with HIV/AIDS (November, 12, 2014) REGISTER HERE This two hour webinar will provide an overview of the different types of resiliency qualities and how their associations with positive healthy behaviors impact the health of older adults living with HIV. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Varying times. HIV/AIDS, Aging, and Social Service Providers Webinar: Why Should I Care and What Can I Do? (September 16, 2014) 12:00-1pm EST REGISTER HERE HIV/AIDS, Aging, and Health Care Providers Webinar: What All Practitioners Should Know (September 17, 2014) 1:00-2:00pm EST REGISTER HERE
What HIV Testing is Like When You’re Queer, Black and Undocumented Posted on August 13, 2014 by Philadelphia FIGHT As written by Alan Pelaez Lopez. Originally published on Black Girl Dangerous. “Last fall, I received a call from an old partner I had not spoken to in six-months. In the middle of debating whether to answer or not, I accidentally accepted the call and heard his voice. I went to get tested and I’m HIV positive, you need to get tested, he quietly explained. He sounded tired, filled with the kind of panic that comes after days of shock and denial. It was the same tone I remembered carrying in my voice one day in Boston as a glass bottle flew towards me—then shattering as it hit me—followed by an older White male calling me “illegal.” I heard his voice and I could not breathe. I was scared for him, for me, for life. After the phone call, all I could think was: Can I even get tested?Growing up undocumented and queer on the East Coast meant only seeing a doctor when my temperature was over 104º or there were free clinic drives at local non-profits.” Read the story in its entirety here. In Alan’s article, he narrates the barriers that many people face when trying to access HIV testing. Many organizations, clinics, and hospitals require a state or federal identification card to receive an HIV test. Each year, the AIDS Library publishes the HIV Testing Guide available here. For a listing of organizations included in our guide that do not require the use of an ID to get tested contact our Public Services and Reference Librarian, the editor of this blog, Megan Threats at mthreats@fight.org