Target Audiences

African Americans / Faith-based Communities / Hepatitis C Co-Infection/ Hispanics /Incarcerated / Injection Drug Users / MSM - Men who have sex with men / Native Americans  / Older Adults / PLWH/As - Persons Living with HIV & AIDS / Women / Workplace / Youth & Teens /

See also Communities at Risk section of the CDC NPIN Website http://www.cdcnpin.org/scripts/population/index.asp

African Americans

In Michigan, this is the cultural group that is most disproportionately affected by HIV and AIDS. 

The African American AIDS Advisory Committee was formed to help eliminate the health disparities of HIV/AIDS among African Americans in Michigan. The A4C became standing committee of Michigan's HIV/AIDS Council in 2007.  www.myspace.com/wellnessaids
 

For updated news see Minority Issues.

Programs serving African American's specifically include: Community Health Awareness Group in Detroit, see the Agency directory; also see the Michigan AIDS Coalition special projects.

The Village Drum, Community Health Awareness Group's newsletter. See the archived back issues: Winter 2005  Spring 2004  Spring 2003  Summer 2002  Winter 2002  Spring 2001, Summer 2000, & Spring 1999.

See The Body's HIV/AIDS Resource Center for African Americans

Faith Communities

"A great deal of interest in faith-based initiatives has been expressed by community partners. In response HAPIS/DHAS has developed a technical assistance guide for HIV/AIDS service providers and/or individuals who are interested in working with faith-based institutions," HAPIS Manager, Debra Szwejda. The guide, Faith-Based HIV Prevention Interventions, A Technical Guide for Working with Communities of Faith, February 2003, may be download here in a PDF file.

What faith communities can do to respond to HIV/AIDS

After a faith community decides to get involved in HIV/AIDS initiatives, there are a variety of ways to become involved. From Faith-Based HIV Prevention Interventions, A Technical Guide for Working with Communities of Faith, February 2003, this listing of examples may be downloaded, personalized with agency information, printed (for example in a brochure format) and distributed in your community.

Gospel Against AIDS Based in Detroit, GAA provides training for religious leaders of all faiths in HIV/AIDS education and compassionate treatment of parishioners.

Hispanics

There are several service organizations in Michigan which address the needs of Latinos, including Hispanics Against AIDS (HAA) with offices in Grand Rapids,  and in Detroit, Latino Family Services and Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation (See their web site at: www.dhdc1.org) Please see the Michigan HIV Resources Guide Agency listing for contacts.

Detroit Latin@z, is a new group for  LGBT Herman@s and allies.They represent an empowered LGBT Latino/a leadership providing services and organized events that are enhancing our visibility and influence toward human rights and equality.

For news updates, see the Minority Issues page.

The Body, an online resource for information on HIV/AIDS at www.thebody.com, has launched a free medical "question and answer forum" in Spanish. The site's Q&A; symposium allows users to anonymously post questions about HIV/AIDS, which are then answered by the service's medical experts, Dr. Pablo Tebas and Dr. Jorge Santana Bagur.

Injection Drug Users (IDUs)

The Michigan Injection Drug Use Health Alliance
This group of professionals and volunteers advocates and educates on IDU Health Issues
MIDUHA-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Harm reduction programs provide an array of prevention services. Community Health Awareness Group (CHAG) in Detroit began the first licensed syringe exchange program in that city followed by Latino Family Services. CHAG's Life Points program is integrated into a community outreach program, Taking it to the Streets, that was recognized by the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Community AIDS Resource & Education Services of Southwest Michigan (CARES) in Kalamazoo serves the southwest side of the state providing syringe exchange programs in several communities. The Red Project (formerly HIV/AIDS Services Inc.) based in Grand Rapids also offers a needle exchange for injection drug users. See the Winter Issue of the News. And the HIV/AIDS Resource Center (HARC) in Ypsilanti provides syringe exchange.  Please see the Agency Listing for contact information. 

The Point of Change
Point of Change in Detroit reached its tipping point to change and has spun off on its own with big plans for expanding its training services.
This substance abuse treatment expansion program, with its training arm, the Comprehensive Outreach Resources and Education (C.O.R.E.) Project is no longer at Community Health Awareness Group (CHAG). On October 1, 2008 with its own 501(c)(3) non-profit status, Point of Change returned to its former location just east of the New Center area on East Grand Blvd. Two familiar faces are running POC, Executive Director and CEO Harry Simpson and Director of Training and Professional Development Ricardo Marble. The Michigan Department of Community Health, Division of Health, Wellness and Disease Control, HIV/AIDS Prevention and Intervention Section continues to fund CHAG for HIV counseling and testing and prevention services. See the full report.
 

Looking for SA treatment programs in your area?http://dasis3.samhsa.gov/PrxInput.aspx?STATE=Michigan

Check the Prevention News page and Prevention Research for updates.

Co-/Infected with Hep C? 

The Hepatitis C Support Project (HCSP) is a registered non-profit organization founded in 1997 by HCV positive individuals to address the lack of education, support, and services available at that time for the HCV population. HCSP’s mission is to provide unbiased information, support, and advocacy to all communities affected by HCV, including medical providers. See the www.mihepc.org. The American Liver Foundation is the nation's leading nonprofit organization for liver health promotion and disease prevention. ALF provides research, education and advocacy for those affected by hepatitis and other liver-related diseases. American Liver Foundation-MI Chapter, 31700 W 12 Mile Rd., Ste. 201, Farmington Hills, MI 48334, 248-489-5400, fax 248-489-0376, e-mail michigan@liverfoundation.org  web site: www.liverfoundation.org/michigan 

Hepatitis Web Study; See Hepatitis Resources

Incarcerated

Michigan provides case management transition for individuals about to be released from prison through collaboration with the Department of Corrections (MDC). AIDS Partnership Michigan www.aidspartnership.org now coordinates this. For more information on the Michigan Department of Community Health's Prevention program in collaboration with MDC, contact the HAPIS office 517-241-5900.

See the Incarcerated section for information and news regarding this population.

Men who have sex with men (MSM)

The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) is currently conducting a Strategic Planning Initiative (“The Initiative”) to address the HIV Prevention needs of Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) in the State of Michigan. HIV Prevention Consultant for the MDCH HIV/AIDS Prevention and Intervention Section Andre Brown announced in November 2009 that he is developing a website to network and share ideas, which can be found at http://mimsminitiative.ning.com.  For further information, contact Andre at browna16@michigan.gov.

The Michigan AIDS Coalition MAC (formerly Midwest AIDS Prevention Project and Michigan AIDS Fund) is involved in cutting edge prevention research targeting MSM and provides a variety of prevention programs statewide. Also, see the listing of AIDS service providers.

The Body has a new on-line HIV/AIDS Resource Center for Gay Men

• African American MSM 

Many Men Many Voices (3MV) is Michigan's newest program for African American/Black gay/bi-sexual men. Both the Michigan AIDS Coalition (MAC) and Community Health Awareness Group (CHAG) have programs in the metro Detroit area. (See the agency listings)

3MV allows for a serious, in-depth and sometimes difficult look into who we are as African American/Black men and the way in which we express ourselves, our love, and our lives in six short sessions.  For more on MAPP's program call Royale at (248) 545-1435 for more information. Call CHAG, (313) 872-2424.

HARC's Legacy Program - The HIV/AIDS Resource Center in Ypsilanti also has a new program reaching African American MSM. Contact Leon Golson at HARC, (734) 572-9355.

See Also young African American MSM

• Latino MSM

Hispanics Against AIDS (HAA) with offices in Grand Rapids provides outreach to Latino MSM on the west side of the state. Detroit Latin@z, is a new group for  LGBT Herman@s and allies.

• Young MSM

Affirmations presents for all young gay, bisexual, and transgendered men - the Young Men’s Rap, designed for young men between the ages of 21-29  For more information, call 1-800-398-GAYS.

See the Feature article on YMSM, an interview with David Seal, PhD, Assistant Professor at the Center for AIDS Intervention Research (CAIR), Medical College of Wisconsin. He is the Milwaukee-Detroit Principal Investigator for the Community Intervention Trial for Youth (CITY Project)- a national study of YMSM. The former MAPP and a community-based organization in Wisconsin were collaborators for this study.

• Young African American MSM

APM's Rec Boyz Among CDC's Directly Funded Top 5
At the STD & HIV Conference Awards Luncheon held in Ypsilanti on Friday, November 7, 2008 AIDS Partnership Michigan Executive Director Barbara Murray announced that the APM program Rec Boyz had been recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention staff. The program, which provides outreach to young African American MSM, crosses funding silos by making sure that those who test positive are moved into case management and care follow-up.

Brothers Saving Brothers (BSB)
is a new program at Horizons Project, funded through Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS). BSB targets Young African American Men who have Sex with Men, ages 13-24. The purpose is to equip them with the knowledge and skills needed to prevent the transmission of HIV/AIDS and STI' s. This is done through providing traditional outreach, motivational interviewing, confidential and anonymous counseling and testing, a skills building workshop that is also entitled BSB and community involvement. For more information about BSB or if want to get tested for HIV, please contact 313-924-8230 or 313-971-5193.

MPowerment
There are two groups in Detroit; one is a program of the Michigan AIDS Coalition; the other is a program of AIDS Partnership Michigan. (See the agency listings) There is also one at CARES in Kalamazoo. See the Agency listings.

Young Brothers United
Young Brothers United Youth Community Advisory Board acts as a think tank and project linked to the YMSM communities of color in the city of Detroit. Young Brothers United addresses such topics as YMSM services, rights, benefits, education, employment, skills, trainings, volunteerism, peer-lead workshops, culturally relevant programming, and collaboration. The Board also addresses issues relating to healthcare, domestic violence, community unity, unemployment, lack of recreational and cultural activities, public transportation, homelessness, substance use, and the overall quality of life for young men of color. Looking at the impact that a lack of education has on the African American communities we realize it’s time for a change. See More on YBU.

 

Native Americans

There is a Coalition on HIV Prevention among Native American Youth in the upper peninsula. Contact the Region 8 RCPG Coordinator for more information. Also, see the Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan Inc. website for more information on Indian Health issues. www.itcmi.org.

For any news items, see the Minority Issues page.

Older Adults

“Older and Wiser: Many Faces of HIV” DVD
Created by AIDS Community Research Initiative of America, this DVD is a product of ACRIA's Year One Older Adults HIV Health Literacy Initiative. The DVD is free and is accompanied with a discussion manual. This video was created to make the public aware of the prevention and treatment needs of older adults as well as facilitate open, honest and empowering dialogue between and among health care providers and older adults. To view the video recently uploaded to YouTube, Part 1:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNQlu1rXOv0 And Part 2, here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBJtX3ywaGw&feature=channel_page. ACRIA would like your feedback on this DVD. If you watch it, please take a moment to complete this short survey:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=rvmAPDKby5pusmcAx4Hodw_3d_3d
 

 Persons Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH/As)

New Just Diagnosed Resource Center: Now at TheBody.com!
Browse through TheBody.com's newly launched Just Diagnosed Resource Center. Whether you've just found out your status or you're an HIV/AIDS worker looking for powerful materials, we've got a huge amount of information, personal stories and words of wisdom.

Hotlines for PLWHA's.

www.mipwa.org  A website for Michigan persons living with HIV/AIDS

Positive Partnerships: Consumer Involvement in Ryan white CARE Act programs
http://hab.hrsa.gov/publications/positive/executive_summary.htm

Your Rights as a Person Living With HIV
What are your fundamental rights as an HIV-positive person? Twenty years ago, a group of AIDS activists created a list of rights called the "Denver Principles" -- a list that many AIDS advocates and others still live by today.
http://www.thebody.com/asp/novdec03/foundation.html?m22

Michigan Positive Action Coalition
The Michigan Positive Action Coalition (MI-POZ) is a group of people living with HIV/AIDS who advocate for themselves and others living with, or at risk for this disease. Our goal is to increase grassroots leadership and participation by persons living with HIV/AIDS in legislative education activities. Through training and capacity building activities, MI-Poz will assist people living with HIV/AIDS in learning how to advocate for themselves and impact our community by increasing legislators’ knowledge, accountability, and responsiveness to issues that impact their constituents living with HIV/AIDS, leading to increased and more comprehensive support of HIV care and prevention activities. MI-Poz seeks to inform other PWA’s (Persons with AIDS) and the community at large of legislative and health policy issues which impact HIV prevention and care and act as an independent voice of PLWHA’s (Persons Living with HIV/AIDS) free from restrictions on our speech or activities as an informed, educated and empowered group of citizens.  MI-POZ  www.mipoz.org

Program for HIV + MSM
Are you an HIV positive man who has sex with other men and been confronted with the problem of what it might mean to become infected with an STD or transmit HIV to someone else? There are safe ways to continue to live healthy, happy lives which may include the sexual, sensual and intimate relationships we all deserve.

If you've ever wondered what was really "safe" or had any other concern related to your sensual/sexual and/or substance use (if applicable) and how to deal with these in a non-judgmental and supportive peer environment, think about checking out one of the new Prevention Options for Positives/ POP programs throughout the state.

Any questions about these programs in general--contact Mark Peterson petersonm4@michigan.gov

New Prevention for HIV Positives Online Resource Center
The new Prevention for HIV Positives Online Resource Center, developed by the HIV Medicine Association (HIVMA), houses links to provider education materials and tools such as guidelines, pocket cards and office posters; patient materials like hand-outs and answers to commonly-asked questions; resources for high-risk populations; information on counseling, testing and referrals; and links to national prevention for positive programs. The CDC supports the project as part of the Advancing HIV Prevention Initiative.
http://www.idsociety.org/HIVprevention
 

Further resources on this site, see the Care Section and the Women's section; and the Medical News section for treatment updates. See the Feature article on a new prevention program for PLWH/As from the Michigan HIV News, Winter 2002 Issue.

National Resources

HIV Anonymous - will help you locate and meet people who have HIV. You can upload or view photos, post messages, place or read personal ads, etc; get support from people with or affected by HIV; join on-line meetings and chats.

Just diagnosed? Trying to figure out if you should start treatment?
Single, HIV-positive and looking to meet someone? Connect with others at The Body's Community Center! www.thebody.com/bbs/forums.html

NAPWA - The National Association of People with AIDS, founded in 1983, is the oldest national AIDS organization in the U.S. It advocates on behalf of all people living with HIV and AIDS in order to end the HIV pandemic and the human suffering caused by HIV. See the Website - www.napwa.org

See also Co-infected with Hepatitis C
 

Women

Information on this page includes programs and news specifically of interest to women. See the quarterly News, Winter 2000 Feature articles on Prevention for Women; and Summer 2000 issue, features women living with AIDS. 

The STITCHES Doll Project
This project provides a unique opportunity for women and girls living with HIV and AIDS to tell their own story in a creative and therapeutic way by creating a doll. The dolls are added to a collection that has travelled the U.S. providing a tool for education about HIV and AIDS.
http://stitchesdollproject.org/

Workplace

This HIV in the Workplace section will cover news and issues particular to the workplace, i.e. the Americans With Disabilities Act.

Youth/Teens

This section of our website is for teens/youth as well as those who plan programming for them. There is an emphasis here on gay, lesbian, transgender and bi-sexual youth and their special needs. Here you will also find news updates related to teens/youth.

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