ASA Spring 2013 Update Newsletter by AIDS Services of Austin

UPDATE A NEWSLETTER for AIDS SERVICES of AUSTIN

VOL XXVI ISSUE 1

AIDS SERVICES OF AUSTIN ENVISIONS AN EMPOWERED COMMUNIT Y COMMITTED TO HEALTHIER LIVES, FREE FROM STIGMA, FOR PEOPLE AFFECTED BY HIV AND AIDS.

Live Entertainment with

COPA KINGS, COTY ROSS, MOUTHFEEL & MORE!

SILENT AUCTION, FAUX GAMBLING & BITES

From some of Austin Best “Joints”

YOUR TICKET PURCHASE INCLUDES 2 COMPLIMENTARY SPECIALTY DRINKS OR GLASSES OF WINE.

“Put your SUNGLASSES ON, because YOU ain’t going home ‘TILL the morning comes.” ~ Frank Sinatra

Visit asaustin.org/viva for more info!

MARCH 2, 2013 8PM-11:30PM • BENEFITING AIDS SERVICES OF AUSTIN HILL COUNTRY RIDE FOR AIDS

APRIL 2 7 2013 HILLCOUNTRYRIDE.ORG

A New Year • New Initiatives • Renewed Hope AIDS Services of Austin begins 2013 with a continued passion for and commitment to our mission. We honored our twenty-five history in 2012 with the launch of the Austin Faces AIDS photo-essay exhibit, telling the story of courageous Austinites living with HIV/AIDS in our community. We continued to highlight throughout the year the impact of our volunteers, donors, supporters and particularly our staff on enhancing the health and well-being of people affected by HIV and AIDS. Today, we embrace our twenty-five years of service to bring innovative and integrated programs to persons affected by HIV and AIDS. ASA, through the support of the Department of State Health Services (DSHS), is expanding its prevention initiatives to not only prevent HIV but also to offer new services to people living with HIV. Our Q Austin program will expand to reach more young gay men to build a stronger community committed to healthy discussions and decisions about relationships. ASA’s testing program is expanding to reach even more at-risk person through HIV testing and with the addition of syphilis testing, and the prevention team is formerly launching the Condom Distribution Network to provide safer sex kits throughout the community to reduce HIV transmission. One of the most exciting expansions of our services is the offering of the Healthy Relationships program. This program will work with HIV positive women and gay men in support groups to reduce stress related to safer sexual behaviors and to facilitate disclosure of HIV status to family, friends, and partners. These services represent a comprehensive strategy to prevent HIV while also reducing transmission of HIV to others. ASA also continues to enhance it service delivery with support from St. David’s Foundation for our dental and medical case management services. ASA will expand its services to the 1,300 dental patients with enhanced treatment plans and follow-up with additional staffing. ASA’s medical case managers will provide comprehensive services to our clients that have complex medical and psycho-social needs. These enhanced services are part of a more comprehensive continuum of services that help: pave the way for our clients and patients to access the resources they need to live well with HIV; expand testing to prevent the spread of HIV; and fight the indifference and stigma in our community, which is the largest barrier to stopping HIV. Our mission, supported by such a generous community, brings the reality of hope to thousands living with HIV. The continued commitment of staff, volunteers, and supporters to ASA’s work means that each person affected by HIV has a place to come to where they are valued and respected. These values are critical to sustaining the hope that each person can live well with HIV and the hope we all have that a cure will come sooner than later. Respectfully Yours,

Paul E. Scott Exectutive Director

ASA is moving forward with a new look. We launched last year for the 25th anniversary, a special treatment of the wellrecognized ASA logo. We received an incredible response from the community, and we are moving forward with the updated logo for 2013. You will see some additional changes in 2013 as ASA launches a new website design and information materials. Keep an eye out for new changes and new communication! And if you haven’t noticed, we got a new look to our newsletter too!

PAVING NEW ROADS IN PREVENTION AND TESTING

As we look to the future of ASA’s services, and our response to the AIDS epidemic in our community, we consider statistics and funding opportunities to better fulfill our mission. We see a greater need for continued HIV prevention and education, especially in people of color and men who have sex with men (MSM). Take a look at our most recent numbers and how ASA is addressing the needs of these communities through new programs and testing. • Most new infections over the past 5 years (2006-2011) are still among White MSM at 39% among all new male infections and 33% among all new infections, 2011 • Hispanic MSM now represent 29% of new male infections (25% of all new infections) over the past five years (2006-2011) while only 27% of PLWHA, 2011 (27% of men living with HIV/AIDS, 2009). • Black MSM represent 13% of new male infections, 2011 (11% of all new infections, 2011) over the past five years (2006-2011) while only 8 percent of the general population, 2012 • Black Heterosexual Women represent 36% of new infections among women, 2011 while only 8% of general population, 2012 • Data from late 2009 shows Hispanics as 23% of Travis County PLWHA; data from 2011 shows Hispanics as 27% of Travis County PLWHA

In November of 2012, ASA was awarded $475,000 for HIV Prevention Services through the Texas Department of State Health Services. The funding originates with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A total of $10 million was available for 2013 for the State of Texas. The funding can be renewed for up to three one-year periods for a total of four years of HIV prevention funding. AIDS Services of Austin received the highest proposal score in the state; receiving a 93% out of a possible 100%. The funding will support two continuing programs at ASA and two new programs. The two continuing programs are Mpowerment and Testing and Linkage to Care (TLC). The two new programs are the Condom Distribution Network (CDN) and Healthy Relationships. CONDOM DISTRIBUTION NETWORK (CDN) The CDN currently works with 11 condom distribution site partners to place condom kits. These include retail partners, ASA service locations, and one recovery center. These sites are located throughout Travis County. The CDN is also a useful method for disseminating flyers, resources, HIV testing information, and event information to community partners and the community at large. HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Healthy Relationships “is a five-session, small group-level intervention with men and women living with HIV/AIDS. It is based on Social Cognitive Theory and, as such, focuses on the development of skills, positive expectations, and building self-efficacy about new behaviors through modeling behaviors and practicing new skills. Knowing that the lives of persons living with HIV/AIDS are stressful, the intervention focuses on building skills to reduce stress in three life areas: disclosure of HIV status to family and friends, disclosure to sex or needle sharing partners, and safer sexual behaviors. While disclosure is addressed, the skills that are developed are decisionmaking and problem-solving skills that enable participants to make informed and safe decisions about disclosure and behaviors.” ASA’s target populations will be men who have sex with men (MSM) and high-risk heterosexual women (HRHW), with an emphasis on women of color. MSM and women were two of the original test groups for this EBI. Transgender individuals can choose to participate with whichever group they feel most comfortable. Facilitators will prioritize forming groups with members that are relatively the same age. Couples will not be allowed to participate in the same group together. MEN ON MONDAY ASA’s Prevention Team tests regularly throughout the Austin area Monday through Saturday. Testing is held at ASA’s Cameron Rd. location every Wednesday as well as off-site to better serve at-risk populations. In an effort to better serve our MSM community ASA has extended our on-site testing to add an additional clinic for men who have sex with men called Men On Monday, every Monday from 4pm – 8pm. We understand that someone in the MSM community may not always identify as gay, straight, or bi-sexual, and may still be experimenting with their sexual identity. This may prevent them from getting tested for fear of answering personal questions in an uncomfortable environment. At ASA all men who have sex with men can get free testing in an accepting environment free from judgment. Testing is anonymous and available with or without counseling. SPECIAL TESTING ANNOUNCEMENTS This year ASA has moved from the OraQuick Mouth Swab Test to the Clearview Finger Prick Test. With faster, painless, and accurate results, ASA’s Prevention Team continues its commitment to the best testing methods available. This year ASA will also offer syphilis and hepatitis C tests for free. Please contact ASA’s Testing Center at 512-458-TEST (8378) for questions or testing schedules.

A SPOTLIGHT ON THE CAPITAL AREA AIDS LEGAL PROJECT The Capital Area AIDS Legal Project (CAALP), a 23-year-old program of ASA, provides valuable legal assistance to people living with HIV and AIDS in Central Texas. Our in-house attorney, Linette Harris, responds to many cases personally in addition to leading CAALP which provides pro bono legal services for low income people who are living with HIV and AIDS. Through referrals to local volunteer attorneys in the community, CAALP undertakes to assist people with a broad range of civil legal issues, including but not limited to, life planning, insurance, discrimination, confidentiality, immigration, public benefits, landlord-tenant disputes, probate and family law. In the summer of 2012, Linette took Bryan’s* case. According to Linette, “it is not uncommon for people with obvious disabilities to be denied social security and disability benefits. It has become increasing hard to prove a person is disabled.” Such was Bryan’s case. Having applied several times, Bryan was consistently denied social security and disability benefits, even though upon meeting him, it is obvious he is unable to work because of a disability. Linette quickly understood that Bryan was affected by a mental disability and had experienced some of the worst of the world. What's more, he was severely affected by the stigma associated with his HIV-positive diagnoses and for years, had never disclosed his HIV status to his loved ones. Further exacerbating Bryan’s mental disability was the fact that he had been incarcerated several times in his history and feared law enforcement. Bryan lived with his brother, sister-in-law, and their children and felt he would lose the love of his family if he disclosed his HIV-positive status. Severely in the closet about his HIV-positive status, he was inhibited by stigma to seek the support of CAALP. When he finally did, he later became so fearful of law enforcement that he called Linette crying and confused when he finally re-submitted his social security application for fear that, if it was denied, he would be sent to jail. Linette compassionately calmed his fears and reassured him there would be no punishment for a denied application and that he was deserving of the benefits that social security would provide for him. Bryan won the suit. With his benefits, he has been able to move into his own home, freeing him slightly from an overwhelming stigma. Linette says, “Working with people like Bryan gives me a sense of purpose and allows me to use my skills to positively transform people’s lives. It takes time and commitment to create transformational positive social change in the legal profession. But, with every client meeting and every volunteer lawyer I can engage to help, I feel like I have an opportunity to create change in our community.” * The client’s name has been changed to maintain his anonymity.

THE HILL COUNTRY RIDE FOR AIDS IS AN ANNUAL CYCLING AND RUNNING EVENT IN BEAUTIFUL CENTRAL TEXAS, STARTING AND ENDING AT REUNION RANCH. RIDERS, RUNNERS AND VOLUNTEERS PROVIDE LIFE SAVING SUPPORT FOR THOUSANDS OF CENTRAL TEXANS LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS. HILLCOUNTRYRIDE.ORG

2013 Calendar of Events FEBRUARY

APRIL

Valentine’s Day Viva Promotion / All day long, you can buy 2 Viva tickets for $75! Shoot Cupid’s arrow and invite a friend! Thursday, Febuary 14, All day! Online! asaustin.org/viva

ArtErotica Saturday, April 13 Old Home Depot at St. John’s and IH-35

MARCH Viva Las Vegas Saturday, March 2, 8PM - 11:30PM Shoal Crossing Event Center, 8611 N. Mopac Expressway National Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS March 3 - 9 Events to be announced Texas HIV/AIDS Coalition: Advocacy Day at the Capital Monday, March 4, 10AM - 5PM First United Methodist Church Family Life Center National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Sunday, March 10

Hill Country Ride for AIDS Saturday, April 27 Reunion Ranch, 850 CR 255, Georgetow MAY HIV Vaccine Awareness Day Saturday, May 18 This year ASA is partnering with the Black Faith Based Health Initiative on several HIV prevention and education opportunities. Keep an eye out for these upcoming events! Cut Out AIDS Cut-A-Thon Saturday, May 18 National Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Sunday, May 19

Welcome Board Officers Anna Sanchez, Chair

Fred Sultan, Treasurer

Anna Sanchez is a native Austinite and 24-year financial services industry veteran. She joined Wells Fargo in 2000 where she served as the Wells Fargo Community Development Lender, specializing in affordable housing construction finance. Currently, she serves as Vice President and Senior Relationship Manager in Business Banking, where she supports mid-size businesses with their financial needs.

Fred Sultan represents clients in Texas and throughout the U.S. in commercial litigation matters including business tort, breach of contract, breach of warranty, employment, trade secret, construction, probate, real property, and securities litigation, arbitration, and appeals.

Kevin Witcher, Chair-Elect

Nedrea Clayton Westbrooks, Secretary

Kevin Witcher received his Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from the University of Texas at Austin in 1988. He joined The Chubb Group of Insurance Companies in Houston in June of 1989 in the Executive Protection Practice, specializing in Directors & Officers Liability, Employment Practices, Crime, and Kidnap Ransom insurance coverages. In 2007, he took a new position managing the Austin and San Antonio Territories for Chubb out of Austin

Raised in Tucson, Arizona and moved to the Austin area in 1991. Nedrea received her MA in Human Services from St. Edwards and her BA in Business from the University of Arizona. Additionally, she is a certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR), certified Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF) and instructor. Nedrea has over fifteen years of progressive experience in various Human Resources and Organizational Development positions. Nedrea currently holds the position of Organizational Development Consultant at Seton Healthcare Family.

ASA Staff Directors Paul E. Scott, Executive Director | Susan Campion, Chief Programs Officer | Mathilde Hyams-Flores, Director of Clinical and Quality Management | Erin Becnel, Director of Access Services | Brooke Bell, DDS, Jack Sansing Dental Clinic Director | Marianne DeLeon, Director of Development | Lisa Owens, Chief Financial Officer

THE MISSION OF AIDS SERVICES OF AUSTIN IS TO ENHANCE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF THE COMMUNITY AND PEOPLE AFFECTED BY HIV AND AIDS.

The Prius Project 2013 will Launch in March! Special thanks to A List Partners and Pride of Austin Capital Partners. facebook.com/AIDS.Services.f.Austin youtube.com/user/AidsServicesOfAustin twitter.com/asaustin

PO BOX 4874 AUSTIN, TX 47465

WWW.ASAUSTIN.ORG

ADAPTABILITY • COLLABORATION • DIVERSITY • INTEGRITY • RESPECT