The Information Streams of COP 24/7

Register for our Latinos in the Deep South Webinar Series

Re-Conceptualizing Immigration & Gay Marriage in Clinical Practice   Description:   Luis Alvarez, MSW and Attorney Jessica Oliva- Calderin from Georgia will be co-presenting on same gender loving undocumented couples and information for providers that work with them. The webinar will include information on the Defense of Marriage Ace, federal and immigration laws, and socio-cultural impacts that affect this community.   Objectives:  Understand the nuances of immigration and marriage after the overturn of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) Explore the meanings of marriage, same gender loving relationships, and identify in the Latino population Identify the social and familial implications of the same gender loving marriage in Latino and bi-cultural couples Learn how to clinically ponder and incorporate relationship factors in same gender loving couples Date:   July 10, 2014 at 11AM EST/10AM CT   To Register:   https://cc.readytalk.com/r/5uanf4tror0c&eom       The Future Internet Is Not So Free Or Open, In Pew's New Survey by Elise Hu     What we know as the World Wide Web — the main way by which most of us access the Internet — just turned 25 this year. Its existence has allowed for all kinds of learning and free expression, coding and making, rule-breaking and platform-making. One American researcher even links the Internet to a decline in religious affiliation. An estimated 5 billion of us are expected to have Internet access in the next decade, but what will the Internet look like then? How easily will we be able to get, share and create with it? The Pew Research Center reached out to more than 1,400 tech industry leaders and academics, asking about the basic way the Internet will function come 2025. In the Pew report, the threats they see are geopolitical, economic and socially relevant. A lot of the Internet's "future" is already expressed in the current. A few key themes: 1) Control means less freedom: Actions by nation-states to maintain security and political control will lead to more blocking, filtering, segmentation and balkanization of the Internet. Already, China is known for its "Great Firewall," and social media crackdowns in Turkey and Pakistan lately show a global trend toward regulation of the Internet by certain regimes. And that's without mentioning stepped-up surveillance.   Are We Moving To A World With More Online Surveillance? "Surveillance ... at the minimum chills communications and at the maximum facilitates industrial espionage[;] it does not have very much to do with security," said Christopher Wilkinson, a retired European Union official and board member for EURid.eu. 2) Trust is evaporating: "The next few years are going to be about control," said danah boyd, noted Internet thinker and a researcher at Microsoft. Survey respondents told Pew that trust in open communications technologies will continue to evaporate in the wake of revelations about government and corporate surveillance. We've reported on the U.S./China "Cool War" that reignited because of Chinese fears of American corporate surveillance; it's just one flashpoint in a larger theme. 3) The lure of money endangers openness: There's a serious worry that commercial pressures will affect everything from Internet architecture to the flow of information and more deeply endanger the open structure of online life. This isn't limited to prioritization for some content over others, which is the debate over net neutrality. Experts also expect that commercial pressures that preserve copyrights and patents mean the free flow of information will suffer. Leah Lievrouw, a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, has a sense of hopelessness about it: "There are too many institutional players interested in restricting, controlling, and directing 'ordinary' people's ability to make, access, and share knowledge and creative works online — intellectual property rights holders, law enforcement and security agencies, religious and cultural censors, political movements and parties, etc. For a long time I've felt that the utopianism, libertarianism, and sheer technological skill of both professional and amateur programmers and engineers would remain the strongest counterbalance to these restrictive institutional pressures, but I'm increasingly unsure as the technologists themselves and their skills are being increasingly restricted, marginalized, and even criminalized." There is more in the full report, such as the respondents' take on what to do — and what companies will do — to help clear the clutter of content overload. (Hint: Some folks are concerned algorithms and other solutions will overcompensate ...) sourced from www.npr.org Corporate America Go Rainbow PRIDE  In what could be a first for a global fast food outlet, Burger King is making a bold proclamation in support of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community with the launch of a specially packaged burger. Unfortunately although "whoppers" are available in Arkansas, they won't come wrapped in a rainbow wrapper. The "Be Your Way" project was created at a Burger King franchise in San Francisco, where a limited edition "Proud Whopper" sandwich was added to the menu to coincide with the city's annual pride festivities. According to press materials, guests who ordered the "Proud Whopper" found that the sandwich was the same as a classic Whooper, but came wrapped in a rainbow-colored wrapper with the inscription, "We are all the same inside." Take a look at the "Proud Whopper" below, then scroll down to keep reading: The burger's release was documented in a short "Be Your Way" film, which was released on Burger King's YouTube page . We are always looking to engage our guests on a local level and be part of regionally relevant events,” said Kelly Gomez, Director of West Coast Field Marketing, Burger King West Division, in an email statement. Given that a Burger King franchise was perfectly situated along the San Francisco Pride Parade route, she added, "It was a natural fit to be involved and celebrate by giving something back to the community.” The "Proud Whopper" is available exclusively at the Burger King restaurant located at 1200 Market Street in San Francisco through July 3. Meanwhile, proceeds from the sales of the sandwich will be donated to the Burger King McLamore Foundation for scholarships benefiting LGBT college-bound high school students who graduate next year. Last month, Baked by Melissa introduced a special Wildberry Pride cupcake to express their support for the LGBT community, while Charm City Cakes (made famous on "Ace of Cakes") designed a speciality T-shirt emblazoned with a rainbow logo. Meanwhile, Starbucks marked the 40th anniversary of Seattle Pride by raising an enormous 800 square foot rainbow flag over its headquarters in the Evergreen State, while Lucky Charms and Levi's Jeans also introduced special LGBT-relevant campaigns in June.

Rainbows Moving Forward

Registration for the 2015 National African American MSM Leadership Conference on HIV/AIDS and Other Health Disparities Opens

 

The NAESM staff,  planning committee and participating sponsors including, ViiV Healthcare, Edge Media Network, The HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN), Gilead Sciences and The UCLA H3/The Black Gay Research Group (BGRG) are gearing up to present the 12th installment of the National African American MSM Leadership Conference on HIV/AIDS and other Health Disparities which is scheduled to take place during the MLK weekend January 15-18, 2015 at the Renaissance Concourse Atlanta Airport Hotel located at One Hartsfield Centre Parkway Atlanta, GA 30354. For more information on the conference or to register, submit an abstract or apply for a scholarship please visit the NAESM Inc. website at www.naesm.org

 

NAESM 2015, as the conference is affectionately called, is the only national conference planned by Black gay men to highlight emerging social, political, structural, and behavioral trends that impact our communities by bridging health educators, advocates, policy makers, researchers, and PLWA’s in a weekend full of learning, sharing, and growth.  As with our previous Atlanta conferences, we are expecting another large turnout of healthcare providers, government officials, PLWHA’s, researchers and community members. During NAESM2015 there will be a continuation of the Creating Responsible Intelligent Black Brothers (CRIBB) Fellowship which will induct is 7th cohort class.

This years’ conference charge is “Leading the Movement: Pursuing Health Equity through Social Justice.” With HIV prevention rapidly changing through the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), social impediments will continue to impact our communities’ abilities to access housing, employment, education, public safety, and even access to health care.

NAESM's Executive Director Amistad St. Arromand says that “For years, in the health world, there has been a bit of a divide between those who are primarily focused on medical care and those who are focused on public health and social justice. Both medical care and social justice interventions are critical to black gay men, and advocates for both should be on the same team, given a shared interest in keeping people healthy.”  With a continued focus on ensuring the national capacity to conduct social justice and HIV prevention work, NAESM 2015 is allocating double the number of registration scholarships awarded to younger gay men ages 19-25. 

NAESM 2015 will have over 40 abstracts and poster presentations dealing directly with the public policy, public health, and social justice issues that impact the everyday lives of black gay men. Registrants have the opportunity to take advantage of the early registration rate of $275.00 through July 31st 2014. Opportunities to exhibit in the revamped marketplace and advertise in the souvenir booklet are also available. More information is available on the NAESM website or by contacting the headquarters at 404-691-8880.

 

Transgender Lobby Day Scheduled

Transgender Lobby Day in Washington D.C., July 14-15, 2014. Transgender people and allies are invited to participate. There is no cost to register. Organizing entities are working to ensure that participants reflect the diversity of our communities.

Currently local activist and advocate Ms. Tommy Luckett launched a Go Fund Me (www.gofundme.com ) crowd funding widget to outreach to possible supporters in her campaign to attend the event. Luckett has participated in numerous conferences including AIDS Watch and Arkansas HIV Planning Group meetings.

The Transgender Lobby Day is a joint project of National Center for Transgender Equality, Trans People of Color Coalition, Trans Latin@ Coalition, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, PFLAG National, Black Transmen, Inc., and Black Transwomen, Inc.

 On Sunday, July 13, there will be an optional reception that is open to all attendees. On Monday, July 14, there will be a policy conference featuring best practices on a variety of advocacy topics. Featured officials will also brief participants on the status of federal policy that affect transgender people.

On Tuesday, July 15, there will be lobbying training prior to scheduled meetings with members of congress. Both the policy conference and lobbying training will take place at Meeting House of the Friends, located at 2111 Florida Ave, NW. Details of the event are still forthcoming, so please check back regularly for updates. Recommended hotels will be announced in late May.

For more information, please contact: ncte@transequality.org.

 

 

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Pericopes UP and OUT

Can you believe that that first two quarters of 2014 have come and gone as of today? Where the heck did all that time go, not to mention all that was covered and who knows what's to come. Producing this platform takes many twist and turns ranging from gathering content to finalizing what will make the cut. Even though it seems as if its a easy thing to do, its not especially when it comes to continuity and certainly the "time effort" that it takes to keep it fresh and refreshed on a daily basis. Many of the experts that I subscribe to, all state that if you not busting out new content and cross pollinating it with you social media aspect, then you most likely will not get the maximum punch from your work.

I know for a fact that COP 24/7 takes at least at 25 hour commitment each week including some updates, rewrites, re-posting, cross connecting and researching "what really going on." This platform has some Google Ads that offers some click through support but not enough to be considered a significant revenue source, we added our Circle of Friends outreach via our Pay Pal portal that to date received no contributions and now we are in the mix to seek possible banner or widget sponsorships to help with powering our efforts. Ultimately we will have to assess all of our work and determine our next steps. So as we examine all of work, stay tuned as we will be announcing shortly those decisions. Until then, its time to dive back in to the deep end of COP 24/7!

Money Makes the World Go Around

 

 

It was the 1972 hit film, "Cabaret" staring iconic Liza Minnelli and Joel Grey as nightclub stars in 1930's Germany, which featured many show stopping numbers including the bit entitled "Money Makes the Go Round" still resonates to this day. "Money," whether you have it or not, is central to making the world go round and round and most definitely around! This is not lost on COP 24/7 who has been producing this forum for the past 10, yes count em, ten years without recouping any revenue as yet. Early on, this experiment was a tippy toe move to understand just what "blogging" was all about with no real plan as to how to really utilize it or prepared to embrace the ultimate impact that it would go on to have. But this dilemma is not just a COP 24/7 issue, it is an issue that reaches beyond to the fact that due to a LGBTQ "patchwork" of infrastructure and dedicated funding models, many local community based groups as well as those activist who are the needed "footman" attempting to articulate the cause at the policy table simply don't have access to resources to facilitate their participation.

 

 Point blank, there's nothing currently in place to support those efforts and although needed, there are some serious questions as to how to create such a structure and even more glaring are inquires as to its management. As conferences and other meetings are announced, often times these events may have some "sponsorship" or scholarship component to them. However, these coveted items of assistance are extremely competitive and often its a crap shoot if such help may come one's way. To add to this mix, is also if there's some assistance, most times its limited to either perhaps lodging, some registration or travel subsidy that offset's some expenses but usually requires some input from the attendee.

 

 This is especially tricky for those events that require a "reimbursement" element in which the attendee pays upfront and waits for a subsequent pay out from organizers. However, no matter how its constructed or arranged, many of these situations some times are extreme challenges for those with limited incomes or access to resources to assist them in being apart of the education and information process. So what do we do? Despite a flurry of "fund raising" that has occurred, none of those dollars were distinctively slated to any designated fund of this nature.

 

 Also, although well meaning, most of the fundraising has been marginal to actually "money loser's" such as recent pride pageant that on the surface announced a $850 net which in actuality netting no funds after both pre and post production cost were assessed. Also some activist and advocates have taken to "crowd funding," such as a Go Fund Me posting from Ms. T. Lockett seeking funds to attend the Transgender national lobby day in Washington D.C. At post time, Lockett had secured $135.00 toward trip expenses, however, this type of funding also incurs cost. Go Fund Me deducts up to a total of 8% of the amounts donated with the rest available for draw down from the participant. Some agencies or entities have travel stipends, but usually those fund are regulated to program focus or outcomes. 

 

Consequently, such funding can only be use for specific conferences or meetings after rigorous vetting.. If there is to be some type of independent fund set up, then there should be questions as to how its administrated and exactly how would it be sustained. Would a fiduciary model be used allowing a audited entity to serve as a domicile or would a trustee be established to oversee how proceeds were disbursed. What mechanism's would be employed to create the "dollars and cents" needed to fund that purse.

 

Most fundraising experts cautions organizations about "bake selling" or "tea cupping" their fund
raising efforts that usually become exhaustive with limited return on investment including time and effort. Is a corporate sponsor structure possible? Perhaps, but most large firms are seeking a more tangible outcome for their bucks such as engaging consumers with their products, leveraging their brand or an outcome that supports their core values. The impending scale up of Project One America at the behest of the Human Rights Campaign, might come with some solutions but even this avenue has no assurances. Even more the talk of office staffing and such, to date there has been no bona fide plan of action that has been released to determine exactly what the structure or game plan will look like. Its still a wait and see for the state.

 

 It is obvious "Houston there's a problem," but exactly the nuts and bolts of how it will be resolved will require much thought and preparation. In the meantime, the foot soldiers will have to continue to fend for themselves as the need for Arkansas' LGBT community to be on the national playing field is a nail biter at best.  

Editors Note: You can check out Ms. Lockett Go Fund Me link on our Facebook page (www.facebookcom/corneliusonpoint )

Don't forget that open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act begins November 15, 2014 Watch COP 24/7 for more updates!

 

 

 

Outbound Friday

It's been another of those weeks of burning the candle at both ends! COP 24/7 has clicked off updates, did live "real time" posting to our Facebook page, checked in with our partners at The READ and done it all from the Southern Health Partners Conference in Atlanta.

Wow, who does this? Why does anyone do this? And why should anyone keep doing this work? Seems like we do here at COP 24/7 and it's done because it vitally important that Arkansas has representation at all policy tables, conferences, webinars, teleconferences and beyond. It is for this reason that I encourage readers to join our Rainbow Circle of Friends which is designed to assist with creating the vital independent funding stream to make sure that fuels our efforts to advocate and staying engaged with the processes that result in decisions by policy makers. If we don't create those streams of fund, then just who do we expect will do it for us?

We'll have more on that later, but just know that it has been our call to use this forum as an open space to "educate, inform and empower" for the past 10 years! Who knew that when this little experiment started that it would be still giving for all this time.

Especially as other's joined me here in cyberspace, but didn't last and have long since vanished from the scene. Thanks to all who have came along on this journey while sharing your encouragement, criticism, observations and or rant to how we may have rumpled your feathers. Through it all, COP 24/7 has stuck it out as we prepare to determine what's next in our forward momentum. Stay locked and loaded to COP 24/7, I've got some special announcements to make. Stay tuned, you will not want to miss out....

COP 24/7 Special

Observing National HIV Testing Day

A statement by Assistant Secretary for Health Howard K. Koh, MD, MPH

 

Today, as we recognize National HIV Testing Day (NHTD), it is important to note that nearly 1 in 6 Americans who have HIV do not know they are infected. If you are between the ages of 13-64, or are pregnant, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends you be tested for HIV at least once as a part of routine healthcare, and more often if you are at high risk for infection.
Testing is particularly important if you are part of a population that is heavily affected by HIV.

These populations include African Americans, Latinos, and gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) of all races – particularly young African American MSM (ages 13-24), who have higher rates of new HIV infection than any other race/ethnicity or gender.

Fortunately, getting an HIV test has become easier thanks to the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The ACA requires most new health insurance plans to cover certain preventive services –including HIV testing – without additional costs (e.g., co-pays or deductibles) to you.
If you aren’t sure where to get an HIV test, visit AIDS.gov’s HIV Testing Site & Care Services Locator to find a convenient testing location. You can also visit the NHTD website to find information on more than 400 NHTD testing events taking place across the nation.

You can benefit from testing no matter what the results are, because knowing your HIV status puts you in charge of your health.

For more information about NHTD, or to find an HIV testing location near you, please visit AIDS.gov. You can also follow the conversation on social media with #NHTD. For resources on HIV prevention, please visit Act Against AIDS. For more information on the ACA, please visit healthcare.gov.


AHPG Supports NMAC Pride Letter

Community Co-Chair C. Mabin of the Arkansas HIV Planning Group, signaled his support to a letter that acknowledges leaders from the HIV/AIDS community appreciates and says thank you to those LBGT leaders who stood up and recommitted to the fight against HIV/AIDS. President Obama host an annual LGBTQ Pride Reception on June 30 in which he highlights challenges and triumphs during his administration. From the groundbreaking National HIV/ AIDS Strategy to the continuum of care initiative, the administration has created a spectrum of access of funding across all levels of the government.

Within all of this work it has also included passing a hate crimes bill in Matthew Shepard’s name. Lifting the HIV entry ban, strengthening the Violence Against Women Act to protect LGBT victims.  The administration told hospitals that accept Medicare and Medicaid that they have to treat LGBT patients just like everybody else  With the arrival of the Affordable Care Act it will ban insurance companies from denying someone from coverage just for being LGBT. 

Plus the administration put in place new policies that treat transgender Americans with dignity and respect. And because no one should have to hide who they love to serve the country that they love, the administration ended "don't ask, don't tell" once and for all. There is much to be proud about as the society continues to evolve around equality and equity for all. Below is the actual letter that will be circulated next week.  


June 30, 2014


Dear LGBT Community, 

 
On the occasion of President Obama’s annual LGBT Pride Reception, leaders from the HIV/AIDS community appreciate and say thank you to those LGBT leaders who stood up and recommitted to the fight against HIV/AIDS.  

One year ago, leaders in the LGBT community wrote a Declaration to the community asking them to recommit to the fight against HIV/AIDS.  Over 1000 leaders signed the Declaration and many local, regional and national organizations disseminated it via listserves, newsletters and social media. Since the release of the Declaration, there has been a significant increase in our community’s discussion about the disease.  We’ve seen editorials, newsletter articles, staff trainings, workshops and plenaries at annual meetings, and a host of other activities to raise awareness about HIV within the LGBT community.  

Our work is far from over, but last year was an important step forward and we look forward to working collaboratively to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic in America.  However, even as we work to stop new HIV infections, there are still over one million Americans living with HIV.  Our fight must continue until we find a cure.

Over the next year, it’s our hope that together we can combat HIV criminalization, fight stigma that keeps many people with HIV living in fear, provide sexual health education for LGBT youth, and ensure access to healthcare for the LGBT community via the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid expansion, and remain committed to finding a cure. 

Science and policy have aligned like never before to make it possible to envision an AIDS-free generation. That vision will not be realized without addressing the persistent and disparate impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic on gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans. Thank you for all that you’ve done and for all that you will do.  

Happy Pride America!

Dont' forget to Save the Date!!!

 

Big Twisting Thursday

 National HIV Testing Day 2014

COP 24/7 has been on the march this week updating our site with the most current information and other activities around the June 27 event. In an earlier post, we cited that we couldn't discover any actual activities taking place, however, late breaking information was released as it was announced that a testing event will take place involving the Arkansas AIDS Foundation and The Living Affected Corporation. At post time, additional details were unavailable, however when we get them, we will most certainly share them. I don't make this stuff up folks. All I can do is try to message it even though I feel that this type of hasty and flying by the seat of your pants type of planning usually doesn't yield much. All I can say is that this forum has been the mix from the onset of the entire week and has been pumping out, no less than from the road on multiple channels. Just sayin.  In the meantime, check out the video below from our video partners at YouTube and if you know of any other activities that are later breaking don't hesitate to tell somebody.

Visualizing Health Policy: Understanding the Effect of Medicaid Expansion in the South

This Visualizing Health Policy infographic examines the effect of decisions by states in the South to implement or forgo the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion. This premise is also central to my attendance during the Southern Health Partners conference occurring in Atlanta this week. Organized by Community Catalyst, and each session unpacked next steps in capacity building, community organizing,  best practices and strategies. On Friday (June 27) the LGBTQ roundtable will feature presenter Andrew Cray, Policy Analyst, LGBT State Exchange Project, Center for American Progress to discuss how the ACA has impact that community.

That session is targeted to drill down on the fact that many in the LGBTQ community are either uninsured or underinsured. Furthermore, the intersections of Ryan White services and those states whom have not move forward with Medicaid expansion. It is expected to be a robust discussion that participants will lead to additional organizing around a collective that will coordinate efforts across states.

The graphic shows that Southerners are more likely than people living in other parts of the United States to be uninsured; that most Southern states have poverty rates above the national average; that without the Medicaid expansion (which most Southern states are not implementing), Medicaid eligibility levels for adults in the South remain low; that nearly 80% of the 4.8 million uninsured US adults who fall into the coverage gap live in the South; and that the coverage gap in the South disproportionately affects people of color.

 

 

The Rapert Roar: Still All Hat and No Cattle

Well you wouldn't ya know it!! State Senator Jason Rapert (R-Conway) just can't seem to shut up by no means even when he has "foot in mouth" disease. At this point he's a loose cannon that you just don't know what to expect will fall from his lips nor who will find some means to take his tirades seriously.

Mr. "God, Gays and Guns" fiddler himself even got Judge Wendell Griffin riled up with a opt editorial in the Arkansas Demgaz that all but busted this joker out with candor, grace and the eloquence that Mr. G emotes effortlessly.

 So just what will this busta will not do or say that requires COP 34/7 to keep hitting the "we're crazy" button!! But you know we love our crazy folk in the south by just saying "bless his little heart, he just can't help himself.

Rapert has just been beside himself ever since that Piazza decision including that ridiculous and senseless resolution decrying that "marriage is one man- one concept.".  But while he's towing that line,  hold on a minute let's do a rewind. Isn't this the same dude that has been mucho loco about policing women's vagina's with a nine inch probe?

Not to mention more crazy talk about "taking the country for the Lord," while attacking the President Obama about visiting with Muslim leaders to the White House instead of attending the national prayer breakfast for Rapert was totally incorrect. And add to his crazy greatest hits is his fetal heartbeat bill.

And not let's forget that the good Senator has the audacity, temerity and down right gall to align himself with a cadre of African American minister's on the Capitol steps citing that they were with him in his crazy. Let's call that what it was, a blatant attempt to do a "Prop 8" move that somehow there's a overwhelming support against the LGBTQ community from seeking full inclusion in our society.

Allegedly, Rapert waxed on with this comment, "we're not going to allow minorities to run roughshod over what you people believe in." Really you people? Talk about a "wing nut."

And what people would that be anyway Mr. Rapert? Have not your own policies and rhetoric been some of the most inane and asinine as well as embarrassing verbiage spewed since being elected. Just so you know Rapert has garnered several Facebook pages devoted to either debunking his crazy or trying to fund raise for another candidate to replace him. Check this link to donate to candidate Tyler Pearson: https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/tylerpearson Please people in Conway, do what you can to send this crazy back to the corner it came from.

 

And now for a commercial moment...

Do you Know? If not, the you should. Check out our locator widget in the margins to find a testing site near you!!

 

 

The ZIP Files Continue Part 2

New Partnership with the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC) Supports Providers with Materials in Clinics to Urge Patients to Test for HIV

Greater Than AIDS, a leading national public information response to the domestic AIDS epidemic, has released new targeted media messages urging Americans to get tested for HIV as part of efforts coinciding with National HIV Testing Day (June 27). Greater Than AIDS will also be providing associated pride theme related material to the group STRILITE for use during Little Rock Pride October 5 at the Clinton Presidential Park.

Through this new partnership with the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC) these materials will be available to be placed  in clinics to support providers in HIV outreach, and an ongoing partnership with Walgreens offers free HIV Testing in select pharmacies. Greater Than AIDS is also distributing nearly 10,000 kits containing 1.25 million HIV testing-themed outreach materials to health care providers across the country to encourage HIV testing as a part of routine care. Greater Than AIDS is also providing I Got Tested community materials to health departments and community organizations across the nation. Unfortunately as of post time, COP 24/7 could not discover that any of these free materials were being acquired for distribution in Arkansas nor any local stores participating in this effort despite the state having a distinct Walgreens presence. 

By profiling real-life stories of people who got tested – including both those with positive and negative results – the I Got Tested campaign highlights the importance of knowing one’s status regardless of the outcome, routinizing testing, and reducing stigma. Media ads appearing throughout June promote free and low-cost testing in communities by promoting hotlines and web-based resources provided by departments of health and agencies and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For more info: www.greaterthan.org

 

Community Catalyst Confab in ATL

Community Catalyst is a national non-profit advocacy organization working to build the consumer and community leadership that is required to transform the American health system. The group is holding its annual meeting, June 25-27 at the Emory Conference Center and Hotel, in Atlanta, GA. 

Delegates from around the country involved in educating and enrolling around the Affordable Care Act will be present during the convening. Arkansas will be represented by COP 24/7 Executive Director and Living Affected staffer C. Mabin during the end week meeting. Mabin served as a "In-person" assister as the ACA program begin seeking individuals to enroll last October. The Living Affected Corporation was responsible for seven counties with a target of 2800 to be served with a primary focus in the LGBTQ community. 

The meet up will focus on "best practices" of building coalitions, outreach to hard to reach communities and break out sessions to discuss effective strategies that each state represented encountered or perhaps challenges that could be strategized from participants. Mabin has been asked to be apart of the LGBTQ roundtable discussion that will be apart of the overall programming. Watch the COP 24/7  Facebook platform for "real time" coverage from the event.

So What have you done today to be Proud?

 

Come follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/corneliusonpoint

 

The ZIP Files of COP 24/7 Part 1

Have we said it's fast and furious here at COP 24/7? Well in case you haven't noticed this platform has been burning the candle at both ends with our post ups on this page and doing double duty with our Facebook page and collaboration with the local LGBTQ newspaper, The READ. Talk about holy keyboard moments! Cranking out our special brand of news and other coverage including those "real time," snippets on FB can be daunting to say the least. Yet somehow we get it done and then some which includes our moving and shaking to cover other local happenings from the marriage equality roll at the court house to wading through a tidal wave of emails. What we've learned since our inception is the fact the "communication" has been seriously lacking and continues to be so even with our breakthroughs in how we can communicate.

Why does this persist is mind boggling and often times quite unsettling since much of this information contains not only vital health messaging, but also many other empowering opportunities. Yet with that said, this forum will continue to pull out all stops to discover, research, cull and troll for "what's really going on." Dear readers, you can show your support for our efforts by joining our Rainbow Circle of Friend using our secured Paypal portal. Your donation allow this forum to keep up our advocacy work as well as developing resources to help other advocates who want to make a difference in Arkansas. You can show some pride with making a commitment to share your treasure with us. Do it today!  And now for the latest....

The READ Rolls Again!


Here it comes again, The READ hit the streets as scheduled last Friday with its lasts edition of news
and special interest items covering a range of topics.

According to T. Estell, Editorial Editor," it was a lot of work to make sure that our "pride" edition covered as much as we could possibly could in the time we had," She continued, "Even though we knew that marriage equality had happened as we were putting the last issue together, we felt that we could sweep all of those activities into the pride category as well." 

The monthly newspaper is release each third Friday and can be found at many local venues and outlets including libraries, bookstores and can be found on its website (www.theread.net ) on the following subsequent Friday. The entity has added a new sales person in order to seek out possible ad revenue and other sponsorships to assist with the funding revenue needed to keep the periodical publishing. Currently the newspaper has I-30 as a substantial sponsor and is seeking launching some classified and or personal ad's as an added feature.

Also coming to the newspaper will be interactive advertising that will cross pollinate the static ad within the paper to a possible emerging The READ YouTube channel bringing the ad to life with the products being advertised. The staff believes that this interactive measure will allow a greater connection with readers. Plus a "value added" incentive for advertisers as well as readers. For more advertising information call 501.379-8203 or hit em up at info@livingaffected.org

HOPWA Modernization Legislative Proposal

The current HOPWA formula includes information on well over half a million Americans who have died, and does not reflect or use what the CDC refers to as the single best measure of the current geographic burden of the epidemic: the number of people currently living with an HIV diagnosis.

 

When the HOPWA statute was enacted in 1990, less than 10 years had passed since the first case of AIDS had been reported in the United States, and only about five years had passed since the HIV virus had been isolated and identified by scientists. The HOPWA funding formula reflected the nature of early surveillance data available at that time.

Modernizing the HOPWA funding formula is a key pending HUD action item under President Obama’s National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS). The NHAS directs HUD to work with Congress to develop a plan to shift to HIV/AIDS case reporting as the basis for HOPWA formula funding. HUD commenced an extensive public consultation process in 2011 to solicit public input from grantees, stakeholders, and federal agency partners through a series of forums. The results of this collaboration greatly assisted HUD in developing the legislative proposal.

The Department’s FY 2015 HOPWA congressional budget justification includes a legislative proposal to change the formula and to expand the provision of short-term housing assistance. Congressional action is required prior to enactment of the proposal, as the HOPWA statute must be amended to enable the use of living HIV cases. This is due to the existing statutory language referring only to cumulative AIDS cases for purposes of providing formula grant awards. As such, the purpose of this notification to dispel any misunderstanding regarding the status of this legislative request since it remains a proposed action. In fact, the Department has previously submitted the legislative request in the FY 2013 and FY 2014 HOPWA budget requests without congressional action.

The proposed formula change would be based on living HIV cases, including those living with AIDS, and would serve as a baseline to better reflect the nature of the HIV epidemic, as well as aligning the distribution of HOPWA formula funding with other Federal HIV programs, notably the Ryan White CARE Act program which has already enacted living HIV cases. The existing 25% formula factor would be revised to adjust for local housing costs (Fair Market Rents) and community need (poverty rates). In addition, the legislative proposal also includes language that would expand short-term housing interventions to allow for more flexible time limits and for rapid re-housing of homeless persons living with HIV/AIDS.

The legislative proposal contains a stop-loss provision that would be phased in over a period of three years. As the new formula is phased in, grantees would not lose more than 10 percent or gain more than 20 percent of their share of the previous fiscal year’s formula funds.

 

SAVE the DATE!!!

 

The Center for Artistic Revolution will be presenting its 10th Annual Corazon, June 28th, at the Bosewell-Mourot Art Gallery, 5815 Kavanaugh in the height section of the city. The evening will be a mix creative art and noshing with refreshments and beverages while raising money for a great cause. COP 24/7 encourages you to add this to your busy calendar of pride month events.

 

 

Don't forget National HIV Testing Week June 21-27, 2014. Talk HIV. Test HIV. Treat HIV. Do you know your status or need to do something about it ? Check out HIV Test locator widget in right hand margin of this platform.

 

Summer Roll Out

So far June has been a barn burner of a month and that was before the first day of Summer last Saturday!. COP 24/7 has been in overdrive as we have journeyed across the state and Mid-south in our efforts to be on the scene of what's really going on. Often times our post get delayed or either pre-produced as a means of staying funky fresh in the break neck world of digital media. This especially true as often times cutting edge news happens so fast that COP 24/7 does it best to post it either on this platform or in real time on our associate Facebook page ( www.facebook.com/corneliuonpoint ). If you have not "Liked" our page, then by all means do so! Also consider joining our Rainbow Circle of Friends as a supporter of all the work this medium does to support equality advocacy and firm support of health equity for all. Your donations or support to of the placed Google Ad's allow this forum to keep reaching out with our creative process and voice to educate, empower and inform a wider range of policy makers and or representative who make decisions. And finally don't forget to subscribe, RSS feed or at least bookmark COP 24/7 to stay in the information fruit loop!  Do it Toda!!!

National HIV Testing Week: So What's Up Arkansas?

This week, June 21-27 is National HIV Testing Week, yet from what this forum has observed, no one seems to know it. Although COP 24/7 reported that the states AHPG has "signed on" as a supporter including a forthcoming position paper, there appears to little to no other interest according to events listed on the groups website at www.nhtwus.org . However COP 24/7 did learn that a small post would occur on the Arkansas Department of Health's Facebook page and nothing else seems to be planned as we post.

Furthermore from our  research we've learned that this effort is the first ever National HIV Testing Week for the US. National HIV Testing Week USA which provides an unprecedented opportunity for partners (community based organizations, healthcare organizations and providers, other healthcare professionals, advocates and policy makers) across the US to unite for one week to help more people become aware of their HIV status and to encourage those who know their HIV status and are not in regular HIV medical care to start a discussion about treatment. Twenty national organizations have agreed to partner in sponsoring this outreach effort and we hope that the success of National HIV Testing Week USA will engage everyone in conversations about getting tested for HIV, getting treated for HIV and preventing HIV transmission.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), of the more than 1.1 million people believed to be living with HIV in the U.S., an estimated one in six do not know that they are infected. Early diagnosis and treatment can save lives and is known to reduce the spread of HIV. Not matter what else is not happening or perhaps is not being communicated that is happening, COP 24/7 is doing our part to recognize the week and National HIV Testing Day, June 27! If you know of something that we've missed, don't hesitate to share that or your comments on how this health dilemma is being dealt with in Arkansas.

 

COP 24/7 Zip Line Articles and Updates 

An Update on Stakeholder Health 

By Heidi Christensen

 

Stakeholder Health (formerly known as Health Systems Learning Group) is a voluntary, peer-led learning collaborative that has enjoyed the participation (over the last two-and-a-half years) of some 90-plus organizations across diverse sectors. It developed out of a series of stakeholder convenings co-hosted by the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, and the Partnership Center at the Department of Health and Human Services and participating health systems.

Read more at stakeholderhealth.org. 

Heidi Christensen is Associate Director for Community Engagement at the Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Capacity Building & Grant Writing Training for Faith-based and Community Organizations

Event Date: Wednesday, July16, 2014; 9:00am- 4:00pm EDT

Event Location: Howard Gittis Student Center (1755 N. 13th Street - Morgan Hall D 301, Temple University, Philadelphia PA 19122)

Contact Information: Sayed Abubaker Phone: (202) 708-2404 Email: Sayed.A.Abubaker@hud.gov

Click here to register

The HUD Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships provides capacity building and grant writing-related trainings for faith-based and community organizations. Through the Capacity Building Training for Emerging Organizations launched in 2004, participants receive personal instruction from key HUD staff on how to become more competitive for Federal grants, secure 501(c)(3) status, and create the organizational structure necessary to secure government funds. Since its inception, the Capacity Building Training has grown to include information for intermediate and advanced organizations.

This program is designed to:

• Address the misconceptions surrounding partnerships between faith-based organizations and the government
• Equip non-profit groups with practical information as they strive to achieve economic empowerment and wealth creation for their communities
• Educate faith-based and community organizations about opportunities available in HUD programs and the federal government