Michigan
Public Health Week Partnership Seeks Michigan Hometown Health Heroes
Nominate your Hero by March 5
The Michigan Public Health Week Partnership is seeking nominations for Michigan
Hometown Health Heroes. Do you know an individual or organization that has gone
above and beyond their job responsibilities to create positive, healthy change
in their community? If you know a person or group that deserves recognition as a
Hometown Health Hero for efforts to protect their communities from
vaccine-preventable diseases, improve the environment, promote healthy
behaviors, increase access to health or preventive services, or develop a
new best practice or model program, let us know! Do you have a youth or
parent that has been dedicated to improving the health of students in your
school?? If your nominee does this activity as part of his/her job, you need to
tell us how the person has gone above and beyond normal job duties to address
core public health principles.
If your nominee is selected by the partnership, they will be invited to Lansing
to receive their award during the Michigan Public Health week event at the State
Capitol Rotunda on Weds, April 14, 2010. Awards are presented by MDCH Director
Janet Olszewski and the honorees Legislator and/or Senator if they are
available.
The deadline for submission is March 5. For further information, and a copy of the 2010 Hometown
Health Hero nomination form,
visit the
Michigan Public Health Week web page.
HIV/AIDS Prevention and Intervention Section Awards $2.5 Million for HIV
Prevention Programs
February 3, 2010
LANSING - The HIV/AIDS Prevention & Intervention Section (HAPIS)
within the Michigan Department of Community Health's (MDCH) Division of
Health, Wellness and Disease Control, recently has awarded funds to 17
community-based and non-governmental organizations to provide highly
targeted evidence-based HIV prevention services. Up to $2.5 million is
expected to be awarded annually to these agencies through 2012. See the
entire MDCH Release in DHWDC News, or go
directly to the
PDF file of agencies and funded programs.
Michigan Coalition on Adolescent Sexual Health gets Organized At the January 21 meeting of MiCASH, held in Okemos, the organization
infrastructure of this reinvention of the state Adolescent HIV & STD Networking
Committee was determined. MiCASH will be guided by fledgling Michigan
Organization on Adolescent Sexual Health (MOASH),
which will serve as the parent or lead organization complete with a Board that
includes at least one MiCASH member. MiCASH will have a four-member Steering
Committee comprised of the MOASH director, two community members and a
representative of the State. The Steering Committee will also aid the
collaborative relationship between MOASH and MiCASH. 2010-2011 Steering
Committee members: Ellen Ives (MOASH), Jessi Talamo (MDCH), Cherie Sietz (PPSCM)
and Jessica Daniel (Horizons). The meetings also include an educational
presentation for members. At this meeting Tammy provided an informative overview
of the Michigan Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. The next meeting
will be held on April 22, 2010, location TBA. For more information, contact
Ellen Ives
ellenives@yahoo.com
Women Living 2010 Conference Update Conference planners met via conference call on February 11. The venue
is set for the St. Regis Hotel on West Grand Blvd. in the New Center area of
Detroit for a Saturday August 7. This regional conference
specifically for women living with HIV and AIDS will be open to women from a
tri-state area. Transportation for women living in Ohio is now arranged and will
be provided from Toledo to the conference. The next conference call will be held
on March 18 at 2 pm. To get involved, e-mail
BarbaraMarcotte213@gmail.com.
Planning for HIV women's conference under way Originally printed 1/28/2010 (Issue 1804 - Between The Lines News)
http://www.pridesource.com/article.html?article=39743
The Women Living 2010 conference is coming to Michigan - and organizers are
looking for volunteers and donations to help make it happen. Originally held in
Illinois for the past six years, conference planner Barbara Marcotte's move from
Chicago to Michigan signaled the annual HIV-positive women's event switch, too.
This year, the plan is to hold [the conference] in Ypsilanti on Saturday. July
31 [update: 2/10 - conference to be held in Detroit on a Saturday TBD
in August].
The one-day conference invites women of all ages who are HIV positive to
participate in workshops, listen to inspirational speakers, share ideas and
connect as a community. The event invites women from Michigan, Ohio, Illinois
and any other surrounding states with willing participants.
The next conference call for planning the Women Living 2010 conference will be
held Feb. 11. To get involved, e-mail
BarbaraMarcotte213@gmail.com.
See more on BAAC including the schedule of events
around the state.
"Hoax Video Seen as 'Public Service'" Detroit Free Press , (01.16.2010) Naomi R. Patton; Tammy Stables
Battaglia CDC NPIN Summary
A woman who posted online a video claiming to have infected 500 Detroit men with
HIV now says her action was a hoax designed to encourage testing for the virus.
"If it scared people, my apologies for scaring them," Jackie Braxton said. "I
wanted them to know - one night of pleasure could lead to a life full of pain.
Hopefully, it will serve as a public service."
In the video, Braxton reads from a list of people she said she had infected with
HIV and herpes. "You’re all going to die," Braxton said in the clip, which was
viewed by hundreds of thousands of people.
Health authorities report that walk-in traffic at the city’s HIV testing clinics
was up by 45 percent as of Friday afternoon, while police and health departments
fielded calls from worried citizens.
Although Braxton hid her face in the video, police identified her and picked her
up Friday at a college where she said she is studying health administration.
Braxton agreed to take an HIV test, the results of which showed she is not
infected.
Law enforcement officials and legal experts said they are unsure whether Braxton
can or will be charged with a crime. "Our folks are looking at various state
laws that might apply to a situation like this," said John Roach, a spokesperson
for the police department. "I don’t see a crime," said Richard Krisciunas, a
University of Detroit Mercy Law School professor and a former Wayne County
prosecutor.
"AIDS Network Promotes
Awareness Effort" Lansing State Journal , (02.19.2010)
The 2010 theme for Michigan’s annual Black AIDS Awareness Campaign is “Black
Life is Worth Saving,” and the Lansing Area AIDS Network is taking part along
with several other groups. LAAN will benefit from the “Red Alert” fashion show
staged this Saturday night by Radiating Excellence in All Aspects of Life; the
event begins at 7 p.m. on the campus of Michigan State University; contact
real@msu.edu . Numerous observances are
planned for the 21st annual Black Church Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS,
March 7-13; contact Kaye McDuffie at 517-394-3719 ext. 26 or
kayemcduffie@hotmail.com . The
fourth annual Women, Girls and HIV Awareness Day will be observed at MSU on
March 10; MSU Case Hall Black Caucus is the sponsor; contact Jenise Noble at
nobeljen@msu.edu or McDuffie.
Man not afraid to tackle tough
topics Andy Fitzpatrick • The [Battle Creek] Enquirer • February 15,
2010 Jan de la Torre wants you to be healthy, and he's
passionate about it.
The prevention specialist works for Kalamazoo-based Community AIDS Resource and
Education
Services, but he also describes himself as a healthy sexuality educator. It's a
job that brings him into
contact with the public in sometimes awkward -- but important -- ways.
See the entire
article. See the flyer for his
upcoming presentation in Battle Creek on Feb. 25.
"Ingham Urges More HIV
Screenings" Lansing State Journal , (02.02.2010) Scott Davis
Ingham County and Lansing-area health officials say an uptick in new HIV
infections starting in 2008 underscores the need for more HIV testing,
particularly among African Americans and young people.
According to officials, the infection rate among blacks in the county is five
times that of whites. Ingham was second only to Wayne County in HIV infection
rates statewide in 2009. Data show Ingham recorded 29 new cases in 2005, 21 in
2006, 20 in 2007, 23 in 2008 and an estimated 25 last year. Approximately 150
Ingham residents are HIV-positive and do not know it, said county officials.
Dr. Peter Gulick, Ingham County Health Department’s director of the
HIV-hepatitis division, attributes its relatively high rate of reported
infections to aggressive screening efforts. Other area counties perform fewer
screenings, he said.
Several events are scheduled as part of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on
Sunday and Michigan’s Fifth Annual Black AIDS Awareness Campaign. These include:
*On Feb. 8, the Lansing Area AIDS Network will provide free, anonymous HIV
testing and counseling from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 913 W. Holmes Rd., Ste. 115,
Lansing. No appointment is required.
*The Ingham County Health Department will offer free testing and counseling on
Feb. 10 and 14, 8:30-10 a.m. and 1:30-4:30 p.m., on the agency’s second floor,
5303 W. Cedar St., Lansing. No appointment is needed.
*The Black Child and Family Institute, 835 W. Genesee, Lansing, will host the
community forum “HIV and African Americans” from 6-8 p.m. on Feb. 16.
*The Michigan State University Case Hall Black Caucus will sponsor local
observance of the fourth annual Women, Girls and HIV Awareness Day, 7-9 p.m.,
March 10 in Holden Hall. For more information, e-mail Jenise Noble at
noblejen@msu.edu .
Clean Works helps lower HIV
transmission from intravenous drug use
An interview with Steve Alsum, coordinator for Clean Works, a needle exchange
and disease prevention program, an ancillary program of The Grand Rapids Red
Project.
http://therapidian.org/clean-works
New Survey of Detroit Residents
Finds Population Facing Significant Hardships but Maintaining Hope
The Washington Post/Kaiser Family Foundation/Harvard
University Survey of Detroit Area Residents reveals a population that is facing
some of the worst effects of the current economic recession. Home of the
nation’s domestic auto industry, Detroit’s residents have been at the forefront
of the country’s economic woes. The survey illuminates the experiences and needs
of those living in the midst of this economic catastrophe, including questions
about job loss and job security, views about the future of the Detroit area, the
U.S. auto industry, and the future for American workers more generally. It looks
at the stark differences in experiences and attitudes of those living in the
city of Detroit compared with the surrounding suburbs. It also explores how
Detroiters feel about their local, state, and federal governments, particularly
in light of recent federal government action such as the economic stimulus and
the aid provided to General Motors. The Washington Post featured a collection of
articles built upon the findings from the survey. The survey is online at
http://www.kff.org/kaiserpolls/posr010610pkg.cfm.
