jterlikowski's blog

The Chicago Female Condom Campaign* is surveying area agencies to learn about their purchasing and distribution of female condoms. We are particularly looking for feedback from HIV/AIDS, sexual health, and family planning programs, clinics, and agencies.

Media, media, everywhere! With so many kinds of electronic media tools and social networking sites around, it can be challenging to determine which ones to use and how to use them. Jim Pickett and Maude Carroll of AIDS Foundation of Chicago and Kate Nelson of the Minnesota AIDS Project break down the electronic media mystery and help make media advocacy easy and accessible.

November 9, 2009
New York Times: Bill Would Limit Needle Exchanges
By KATIE ZEZIMA

BANGOR, Me. — For years, the location of this city’s needle exchange program, in a nondescript strip mall close to highways and bus lines, was seen as a major asset.

But now, AIDS activists say, that very location could undermine what happens inside the exchange.

Last week, the Midwest AIDS Policy Alliance (MAPA), a collaborative of Midwest AIDS organizations dedicated to advancing sound HIV/AIDS policies, met in Chicago to exchange best practices and advocacy strategies for moving the fight against AIDS forward.

March and rally November 17th against the health insurance lobby!

Join Citizen Action/Illinois, Health Care for America Now and Main Street Alliance as they rally in front of the National convention for the insurance industry lobby (AHIP).  Meet at Blue Cross Blue Shield (300 E. Randolph) at noon and march to the site of the AHIP convention at the Renaissance hotel (1 W. Wacker Drive) for the rally.

Published: October 19, 2009 via the Globe and Mail by Wendy Stueck

Since 2003, Vancouver has been the only city in North America where drug addicts can shoot heroin into their veins at an officially sanctioned injection site.

Now some of the same voices that lobbied for the site are suggesting supervised inhalation rooms for crack addicts, saying such facilities would help connect users with treatment programs and help fight the spread of HIV/AIDS.

You have heard from us AFC policy folks a lot over the last several months about health care reform, and for good reason! Nearly half of all folks that are living with HIV can’t access the health care they need. Improving health care is essential to our community and the 47 million other people in this country who can’t get the care they need to stay healthy.

Act Now to Defeat Amendment Restricting Syringe Exchange!
Amendment to Ban Federal
Syringe Exchange Funding on House Floor   

And cue Marvin Gaye…
…or Jessica Terlikowski…
As she tells you what’s goin' on…