Free Training: Women and HIV Prevention: Strategies for Developing Innovative Programs

Prevention Works will be holding a one-day training program primarily for service providers with a background in HIV/AIDS. It will be held on August 20th from 10 am to 4 pm at 2501 Benning Rd. NE.

This is part of their series of trainings facilitated by technical experts from the Harm Reduction Coalition in New York, specifically their African American Capacity Building Initiative.

By the end of the training, participants should be able to identify the areas of influence that place women at increased risk for contracting HIV, identify the steps of conducting a community assesment, and develop a sample HIV prevention program plan.

Spaces are limited. To reserve a slot, please send an email to Mary Beth Levin: mlevin@preventionworksdc.org

Free Training: Working with At-Risk Youth

Free Training: Working with At-Risk Youth
Thursday, April 23, 10am-4pm
Prevention Works!
2501 Benning Rd NE

This is the second in our series of monthly trainings facilitated by technical experts from the Harm Reduction Coalition in New York.

The description is as follows: “Interacting with youth to educate, empower, and enlighten is the most beneficial thing one can do to ensure that the youth of today can build self-efficacy to be leaders who act in the spirit of self-determination for tomorrow. This workshop is open to providers of youth who are interested in learning how societal factors (racism, sexism, heterosexism, militarism, etc.) play a role in youth’s at-risk behavior, and how to mitigate the dangers involved that place them at-risk. Participants will look at not only how to incorporate social factors into their prevention intervention programs, but also consider activities, such as advocacy, and peer education that can be used as effective harm reduction strategies for at-risk youth at their own programs and agencies.”

Spaces are limited so please reserve a space now by sending an email to Mary Beth Levin, Director of Programs and Services: mlevin@preventionworksdc.org.

Prevention Works 9th Anniversary Event

On November 27th PreventionWorks! will celebrate their 9th Anniversary by honoring the founding executive director of PreventionWorks!, Paola Barahona.

As most of you know, PreventionWorks! is a harm reduction program that operates primarily via a mobile service vehicle. Our clients are served weekly at 12 needle exchange sites located near active drug strips. PreventionWorks! also accepts and services walk-in clients at their main office.

Please come out and support PreventionWorks and Paola. The suggestion donation for this event is $50. For more information and to RSVP, click here.

Job Opportunities: HIPS, Prevention Works, and La Clinica Del Pueblo

Here are some recent job postings of interest. Please contact the agencies directly.

HIPS Program Administration Assistant: HIPS Program Administration Assistant provides administrative and logistical support to the Executive Director and Program Directors. The Program Administration Assistant provides general bookkeeping to the organization and ensures HIPS programs are well prepared to meet the needs of HIPS clients and stakeholders. Find out more at www.hips.org.

Pevention Works Clinical Supervisor: The Clinical Supervisor is responsible for managing the day-to-day activities of the FOCUS drug treatment adherence program for low-income residents of the District of Columbia who are current or former drug users, living with HIV infection, and struggling with their HIV care and/or treatment regimen. Find out more here.

La Clinica HIV Prevention Conselor (Bilingual): This position will conduct HIV prevention counseling, testing, and referrals in the District of Columbia. Find out more information here.

Speakout Reports: Substance Use Breakout Group

Several organizations co-sponsored a DC HIV/AIDS Speakout on May 17th, 2007. I will be posting the reports from each of the breakout groups throughout the next week. The final outcome document from the Speakout will be published on the DC Fights Back Website. If you'd like to get involved, please be sure to join this yahoo group.

The Substance Use Breakout group covered a lot of territory during their discussion. At the top of the list of their priorities, of course, is a city funded needle exchange program. Progress is being made on the hill that may in fact make this possible. Other recommendations included providing substance use training to HIV providers, creating a 12-step support group specifically for HIV positive individuals, and creating a mentor program or peer hotline.

click here to see the flip-chart notes from the substance use breakout group.

Thinking about Needle Exchange in DC

A recent article in the New York Times profiling DC's lone needle-exchange program has once again got the city talking about needle exchange. The article clearly states the problem in the first paragraph: "The nation’s capital is the only city in the country barred by federal law from using local tax money to finance needle exchange programs. It is also the city with the fastest-growing number of new AIDS cases."

This article was picked up by DCist.com. They write: "Daniels relies on $385,000 in private donations to deal with a huge and pressing health problem, reaching only one-third of the District's estimated 9,700 intravenous drug users."

A number of local organizations signed on to a letter on needle exchange that was sent to Congress last month. There efforts may be paying off. POZ Magazine reports "Representative Jose E. Serrano (D-NY) plans to push for the removal of legislation that prevents Washington D.C. from using local tax money to fund needle exchange programs."

The image used in this post is from a fashion show created by Oleksiy Zalevskiy to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS in the Ukraine. To find out more click here

PreventionWorks DC

Since 1998 PreventionWorks has provided needle exchange and other harm reduction services in the District of Columbia. The mission of PreventionWorks is to curb the spread of HIV and other blood-borne diseases among injecting and other drug users, their sexual partners, and newborn children.

PreventionWorks' needle exchange service operates on private donations. The District is the only city in the nation barred by federal law from investing its own locally raised dollars to provide needle exchange. This is despite scientific research proving needle exchange reduces the transmission of blood-borne viruses. in fact, needle exchange programs in other major cities, like Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Baltimore, and Philadelphia are all supported by state and/or local government dollars.

Effectiveness of Needle Exchange

Scientific research on needle exchange shows:

• Needle exchange programs reduce HIV and Hepatitis transmission;
• Needle exchange programs do not encourage the use of illegal drugs; and
• Needle exchange programs provide an effective means of getting drug users into drug treatment.

Since December 1998 PreventionWorks has properly disposed of over 2 million contaminated needles and syringes.

Services

PreventionWorks believes everyone deserves the right to be treated with respect and dignity. When provided with compassionate support and adequate resources, individuals are then empowered to make healthy decisions.

PreventionWorks offer the following free harm reduction services.

• HIV Counseling and Testing
• Drug Treatment and Referrals
• HIV and STI Prevention Education
• Safer Sex Material Distribution
• Needle Exchange
• Viral Hepatitis Education
• Food and Clothing Distribution
• Overdose Prevention
• Support Groups

PreventionWorks' services are based on a harm reduction model. Harm reduction is a way to improve and save lives by providing support for positive change in a respectful and nonjudgemental environment.

For more information visit www.preventionworksdc.org.