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Michigan News

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June 2009 News

DETROIT:
"AIDS Is a Highlight of Baptist Meeting’s First Day"
Detroit Free Press , (06.23.2009) Niraj Warikoo
The annual Congress of Christian Education of the National Baptist Convention USA - the oldest and largest African-American religious group - got underway Monday in Detroit, and HIV/AIDS received special attention. “Black folk, we got to get rid of the stigma,” Simone Phillips of the St. Louis chapter of the Red Cross told luncheon attendees. “Why is there such a fear in the black community to get tested?” asked the Rev. Michael Brown of Lake Charles, La. In addition to deep distrust of the government stemming from the notorious Tuskegee syphilis study, speakers said culture plays a role. “We are so deeply rooted in the Lord waiting to take care of me that we sometimes overlook those things the Lord is waiting for us to take care of,” said Evelyn Mason of New Jersey, who coordinated the AIDS forum. Up to 40,000 people from across the United States were expected at the five-day conference.

 

 

State Offices - Dates to be Closed

Due to Executive Order 2009-22 that reduces state spending, the Michigan Department of Community Health will be closed on the dates listed below.  The department will reopen on the next regularly scheduled business day.  Please visit www.michigan.gov for additional information. HIV-specific information can be found at www.michgan.gov/hivstd.

 

 

          Friday, June 19, 2009
          Monday, July 6, 2009
          Friday, July 24, 2009
          Friday, August 7, 2009
          Friday, August 21, 2009
          Friday, September 4, 2009

 

14th Annual National HIV Testing Day Planning

Still planning your NTD events? HAPIS is providing in-kind supplies including HIV testing supplies and condoms for agencies that submited (by fax) a Plan of Action by June 1. National Testing Day materials are available for free. Note: testing supplies were only available for testing sites in Michigan that are funded by the Michigan Department of Community Health. Contact Lisa Taton-Murphy at (517)241-5932, or e-mail:TatonL@michigan.gov.

See May Archived News

 

Around the State

Same Agency - New Name
HIV/AIDS Services in Grand Rapids has changed their name to Grand Rapids Red Project. The website is www.redproject.org
 

Benton Harbor Benefits from Unique Local, State and Regional Partnership
CARES hosts Three AmeriCorps Teams on “Super 5th Day”
On June 5th, 2009, Benton Harbor’s Union Park was spruced up by AmeriCorps volunteers from Indianapolis, Chicago and Detroit. This project, called “super 5th day,” was a collaborative effort by Community AIDS Resource and Education Services (CARES) of Benton Harbor, and three teams from the Indiana AIDS Fund, AIDS Foundation of Chicago, and Michigan AIDS Coalition. The teams are part of the National AIDS Fund’s AmeriCorps/Caring Counts program.
The 5th day is one day a week each team selects a local project that may or may not be AIDS related. The regional effort began several years ago with a project in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. The effort is designed to bring volunteer resources to bear on a local level, to enable resource poor communities to stretch their resources for the greater good. Benton Harbor was chosen for this year’s 5th day because it is fairly centrally located to all three teams.

The National AIDS Fund, which funds all three AmeriCorps teams, is one of America’s largest organizations dedicated to eliminating HIV/AIDS as a major health and social problem. NAF’s primary purpose is channeling critical resources to community-based organizations to fight HIV/AIDS at the local level. NAF provides grants and other support to over 400 CBOs annually, principally for prevention efforts. For more information, go to www.aidsfund.org.


DETROIT HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO CELEBRATE THE 14TH ANNUAL PANCAKE BREAKFAST ON JUNE 6

Oftentimes people are more conscious of the needs of the homeless during the frigid temperatures of the winter. However, the homeless community has special needs throughout the year. The Partnership for a Drug Free Detroit--an initiative of the Detroit City Council, Department of Health and Wellness Promotion, and Bureau of Substance Abuse Prevention, Treatment and Recovery--is hosting the 14th Annual Pancake Breakfast in Cass Park, Saturday, June 6, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., in Cass Park on Temple St. between 2nd and 3rd St. near downtown Detroit.


The event will feature games and a clown for adults and children, free food, live music and resources for the homeless and community citizens encouraging everyone to take advantage of the Department of Health and Wellness Promotion’s free testing and other essentials to assist the homeless. Approximately 1,000 people are expected to attend.
"The partnership's goal is to reduce the use and abuse of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs by 50 percent in the city of Detroit," said Dr. Calvin Trent, Director of the City of Detroit Department of Health and Wellness Promotion and the Partnership for a Drug Free Detroit.

Participants include local and state legislators, representatives from the Mayor’s Office, Detroit Public Schools, the Detroit Police Department, the 36th District Court, the faith based community, youth organizations, and prevention, treatment and recovery providers. Free substance abuse assessment and referral services will be available, as well as free HIV/AIDS testing.
For more information, please call Denice Nixon at (313) 876 0769, or visit the Partnership Web site at www.drugfreedetroit.org 

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