When it comes to the fight against HIV/AIDS in DC, the rest of this month is going to be hectic all the way up to World AIDS Day Events taking place November 28 to December 2nd.To move forward, however, there are several things that need to happen this month. Here's a list of what they are and what you can do to help make them happen.
State Board of Education: We need the State Board of Education in DC to approve the proposed health education standards. The DC State Board of Education is currently reviewing draft guidelines to improve the health and well-being of young people in the District of Columbia. These draft standards are supported by the DC Healthy Youth Coalition and include complete, unbiased, comprehensive information regarding nutrition, sexual health and HIV prevention. What you can do click here to take action now and tell the DC State Board of Education that health and HIV education in DC schools is crucial.
Michelle Rhee and the Department of Education: Simply put we need a status report and we need a plan when it comes to the health and well being of DC Public School Students. The status report is the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, conducted every two years in partnership with the CDC. We got a preview of the 2007 YRBS data in September, but while we were expecting the final data in October, we are still waiting for the release. What you can do: Please take action now. send an e-mail to Michelle Rhee asking for three things. 1. Timely release of the 2007 YRBS Data. 2. Specific goals for how to improve upon the 2007 YRBS Data when the survey is conducted again in 2009. 3. An action plan for evaluating the new data on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and questioning students.
Shannon Hader and the HIV/AIDS Administration: The most important thing we need from the HIV/AIDS Administration this month (HAA) is the release of the 2001-2006 HIV/AIDS Surveillance Data. For to long, we've been fighthing the HIV/AIDS epidemic in DC blindfolded, and this data is going to go along way to giving us the details we need about where new HIV infections are happening. Of all the items on this list, this is the one I'm most optimistic about. I'm looking forward to a presentation on the new data this Thursday. What you can do: Join us on Thursday, or check back here for the information. Make a commitment to learn about the epidemic in DC so you can be part of getting the word out.
Mayor Fenty and the City Council: Overcoming the stigma around HIV/AIDS in DC continues to be a major factor in our local epidemic. It's a topic we heard a lot about at the November 2007 Speakout as well as the May 2007 Speakout. On way we can help overcome stigma is for our community leaders to be out and visible and talking about HIV/AIDS. We need Mayor Fenty and our elected officials to be out and visible on World AIDS Day. Mayor Fenty has been invited to participate on a World AIDS Day Town Hall at Howard University and I hope he'll be able to join us. What you can do: encourage the elected officials you know in DC to be out and visible on World AIDS Day, and make a personal commitment to participate in a World AIDS Day event this year.
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