CAP Event Highlight: What's New in HIV? Conference

What's New in HIV?
6th Annual Conference
September 11, 2010
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

With 300 participants anticipated to attend, this one-day conference provides an opportunity to learn the latest information about HIV and supports networking among consumers and those working in the field of HIV/AIDS prevention and care services.

Every day – those living with the virus and those working in the HIV/AIDS field are faced with important questions. How do we talk about prevention for those already infected? How does nutrition impact HIV? What does being co-infected with HIV and HEP C mean? What are treatment options? What is it like to live and grow older with HIV? How do I disclose my status to a loved one? These questions and many more will be answered at this conference.

Created to meet the needs of consumers who wanted up-to-date information regarding medical developments in HIV/AIDS, the conference now includes programming for service providers as well as consumers. Over the last five years the conference has expanded, attracting people from across the state of Oregon and Southwest Washington.

Goals of the Conference are:

• To ensure consumers have access to the most-up-to-date information related to HIV/AIDS care and support, empowering them to take an active role in their own care.
• To ensure those caring for people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) (including family, friends, medical providers, social workers and community organizers), have the critical information they need to ensure the best care and support.
• To further develop community networks among consumers, social service agencies, providers and other community resources.

This year’s conference includes some exciting panels, including medical updates for both providers and consumers, a panel on Women, HIV, and Self-Worth, a discussion of naturopathic medicine in relation to the treatment of HIV, a panel on nutrition therapy, and one on stigma.

Sponsors and Presenters:
BMS, Central Pharmacy, Merck, Multnomah County HIV Clinic, Genentech, Gilead, OHSU, HIV Day Center, OHSY, Our House of Portland, Partnership Project, Quest Center for Integrative Health, Cascade AIDS Project

Click here to register. Click here for more information.

If you have questions, feel free to contact Jonathan Thompson, Conference Intern at 503.278.3843 or email intern.jthompson@cascadeaids.org

CAP Program Highlight: CareLink

CareLink is a short-term program (3 to 6 months) that connects people to medical care who are newly diagnosed with HIV as well as those who have not seen an HIV medical provider in more than six months. It is a bridge to more permanent care, such as medical case management and housing support services.

Carelink Client Advocates have small caseloads and are able to commit significant time to each client, attending medical appointments, connecting clients with housing services, and making appropriate referrals. CareLink services are available in both English and Spanish to persons living in Multnomah, Columbia, Yamhill, Washington and Clackamas Counties.

Many EIS/Carelink clients have one or more of the following barriers to care:
• homelessness
• domestic violence
• substance abuse
• non-English speaking
• recent/current incarceration
• mental health issues

Services CareLink provides include:
• accompanying clients to medical and other HIV/AIDS related service appointments
• advocating on behalf of clients with service providers
• teaching clients to advocate for themselves with service providers
• providing rides or bus tickets to medical appointments
• obtaining Honored Citizen cards for public transportation
• obtaining IDs, birth certificates, social security cards, driver’s license or OR Identification
• referring clients to mental health or drug and alcohol treatment services
• referring clients to housing, clothing, and food resources
• advocating for clients with housing providers and assisting with housing applications
• teaching clients about HIV and its effects, as well as providing information about sexual health and the prevention of HIV transmission
• assisting clients with legal issues around residency/documentation, open warrants and probation/parole requirements
• advocating for clients at trials, providing character references, and assisting clients who are releasing from correctional facilities

For more information, contact:
Adam Kutrumbos at 503-278-3835 or akutrumbos@cascadeaids.org
Sye Laird at 503-278-3832 or slaird@cascadeaids.org