Dose of Change intern-extraordinaire, Lili Gecker, checks-in with this great find from Global Voices Advocacy.

Twitter, Facebook, Myspace—these websites aren’t just for social networking, they can also help your online advocacy campaign. By engaging a variety of online strategies, or crossposting, you can raise awareness, promote your message, attract new supporters and maximize outreach.

Check out this guide to learn more.

AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) was front and center for all of the action at the biennial XVIII International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2010) held last week in Vienna, Austria. 

The biggest story of the conference was the release of exciting research findings showing that an anti-HIV gel, or microbicide, was partially effective at preventing HIV in women in South Africa.  This marks an important step in the development of new prevention technologies.  The International Rectal Microbicides Advocates (IRMA), for which AFC serves as secretariat, hailed the release of the findings and helped explain their significance in the quest for a safe and effective rectal microbicide.

Another much-talked-about subject in Vienna was the Obama Administration’s newly-minted National HIV/AIDS Strategy.  AFC Vice President David Ernesto Munar (pictured) presented a poster on grassroots advocacy around the Strategy and spoke on the topic at a session on HIV/AIDS in the USA and Canada.

Here’s what else AFC was up to at AIDS 2010:

• Arturo Valdivia Bendixen, Vice President of Programs and Partnerships, presented a poster on the Chicago Housing for Health Partnership.

• Jim Pickett, Director of Advocacy, was featured in video coverage of the Global on MSM and HIV pre-conference.  Scroll to the 5:00 mark to see Jim talk all about rectal microbicides.

• David Ernesto Munar interviews The Pleasure Project.

• The HIV Prevention Justice Alliance (HIV PJA), of which AFC is a founding member, covered the opening of the conference and HIV PJA leader Waheedah Shabazz-El gave the final speech at the closing session.

Among the myriad provisions of the historic health care reform legislation past this spring is a policy change that (beginning in 2011) will allow struggling state AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs) transition beneficiaries to Medicare Part D.  This is accomplished by allowing ADAP expenditures count towards Medicare Part D true out-of-pocket costs.

Confused?  You're not alone.

Dose of Change hosted a webinar with policy experts John Coburn of Health and Disability Advocates and Ann Lefert of National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors to help AIDS advocates prepare for this coming change.

Download presentation slides (PDF).

Download presentation audio and follow along with the slides (MP3).

Stay tuned for more information on how your state can take advantage of this change in the law.  Dose of Change will be developing more resources to help state-level advocates in the months ahead.

The world’s largest public health conference, the XVIII International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2010), kicked off this past weekend in Vienna, Austria.  The event brings together 20,000 people from across the world to discuss the current state and the future path of the global HIV/AIDS epidemic.

There are a TON of online outlets covering AIDS 2010 but here are a few links to get you plugged in:

• Official Website

• Schedule of Webcasts

• Scientific Coverage from aidsmap

• Coverage from The Body

• International Rectal Microbicides Advocates

• HIV Prevention Justice Alliance

Send us any of your favorite AIDS 2010 links and we’ll include them!

The AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) and the Ryan White Part B Collar Counties Consortia mourn the loss of John Henry Turner, LCSW.

John was a senior level professional at Catholic Charities of Lake County responsible for the day to day operations of the HIV and emergency assistance programs. John was a warm and caring individual who successfully coupled his background in clinical psychology with his talent for program administration. John was a thinker and availed himself of opportunities that refined his ability to provide effective solutions to difficult situations. You could always count on John’s smile, sincerity and commitment to give more than what was expected or required of him. John was a proven leader, team builder and dynamic communicator. Even the in the wake of severe illness, John was the consummate professional able to remain focused on the quality of work produced by his team. John Turner was a portrait of courage and will be deeply missed.

The Buehler Center is delighted to announce that this year’s lecture, “Creating Health and Social Care Policies for Elders: Thinking about Aging with Passion” will be presented by Baroness Julia Neuberger, DBE. Baroness Neuberger is a rabbi, social reformer, respected author, and member of the House of Lords. She has undertaken many voluntary and philanthropic roles and is the author of several books on topics that include healthcare ethics, Judaism, women, and the care of dying people.

Immediately following the Eckenhoff Lecture the Smart Symposium will showcase research and educational activities from Northwestern and surrounding academic communities that is relevant to aging, palliative care, patient safety, and economically vulnerable populations. Submissions are welcome. Click here for the online abstract submission form. 

Click here for more information.
Click here to download the event flyer (PDF).

"The release of the National AIDS Strategy (NAS) can be used as an opportunity to raise awareness regarding prevention and access to care. In Chicago, African Americans are disproportionately impacted by HIV/AIDS. Applying the tenets of the NAS locally can ensure that funds are redirected to specific Chicago geographic areas and specific targeted populations, specifically to gay men of color, women and the reentry population."

Today, July 13, 2010, could be a turning point in the fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States.

In a few short hours, I will be at the White House watching as President Obama and other federal officials unveil the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS). This landmark document makes recommendations that, if followed, will reduce the number of new HIV infections in the U.S. while greatly increasing the quality of care for individuals who are living with HIV/AIDS.

As pleased as I am that this day has finally arrived―after three years of tireless advocacy―I know full well that this is just the beginning; with NHAS, we now have a plan of action to achieve better results in the fight against the epidemic.  It demands that we act forcefully and with resolve!  We certainly have a start as the President himself is standing behind the Strategy’s cogent vision that we should all strive toward:

“The United States will become a place where new HIV infections are rare, and when they do occur every person regardless of age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or social/economic status will have unfettered access to high-quality, life-extending care, free from stigma or discrimination.”

Obama Administration Unveils First-Ever National Plan to Fight Domestic HIV Epidemic
National HIV/AIDS Strategy will target most vulnerable populations

After three years of rigorous grassroots advocacy, the Obama Administration will release the country’s first National HIV/AIDS Strategy on Tuesday, July 13.  The unprecedented plan sets forth an ambitious agenda to effectively address the domestic U.S. HIV epidemic.

Tuesday afternoon, administration officials will brief the public on the main features of the Strategy and will hold a reception to honor representatives from more than 200 HIV/AIDS organizations from around the country.

You may be familiar with the Kaiser Family Foundation’s coverage of past international AIDS conferences. With the XVIII International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2010) just one week away, Kaiser is pleased to announce that again this year, we are the official webcaster of its proceedings, providing viewers with access to webcasts (some live) and coverage of the daily developments from the conference in Vienna, Austria, starting Sunday, July 18.  Our main coverage page is http://www.kff.org/aids2010.