HIV/AIDS: Community-based Services...continue from cover TCWF has provided grants to help a number of nonprofit, health-related organizations craft effective programs to meet the challenges presented by HIV and AIDS. The following are a few examples of TCWF-funded projects. Housing Program Addresses Complex Needs of Homeless People With AIDS
“Most halfway houses in the area won’t accept people who are HIV-positive, and none provide comprehensive services for the range of problems homeless people with HIV encounter,” said Rev. David Kalke, CCLM’s executive director. Most of CCLM’s residents are single men who have severe mental health problems, as well as a number of physical health problems, making medical treatment challenging.
The organization operates seven houses for 34 residents, 96 percent of whom are Latino or African American. Eight more houses will open within the next year. In addition to housing, residents receive case management, counseling, help with establishing medical regimens, and assistance with obtaining disability and Medi-Cal entitlements. “A diagnosis of HIV opens a floodgate of emotions and issues,” CCLM’s Kalke said. “It serves as a wake-up call for many homeless people, some of whom have been in and out of correctional facilities. We want to be able to provide for their emotional, mental and physical needs when they’re ready to ask for help.” Center Builds Trust Among Asians and Pacific Islanders In the Tenderloin district in San Francisco, those who access services at the Asian and Pacific Islander Wellness Center (A&PIWC) find a refuge for people who often feel isolated or shunned by society. The A&PIWC primarily serves an Asian and Pacific Islander population of gay, bisexual and transgender immigrants and refugees, and women who work in massage parlors. TCWF provided an $80,000 grant to A&PIWC in March 2002. The Center provides medical services, psychotherapy, advocacy, education and testing for those at risk of contracting the virus, as well as people in all stages of living with HIV. Its staff and volunteers reflect the communities they serve and collectively speak 18 languages. “Many of the people we work with are more concerned about their immigrant status than their health status,” said John Manzon-Santos, A&PIWC’s executive director. “It’s about safety and trust first, and when it’s appropriate, we start the discussion about AIDS.” “Language barriers, cultural stigma and neglect from health care providers make access to health care and HIV prevention for vulnerable Asians and Pacific Islanders very difficult,” said Fatima Angeles, TCWF program director. “A&PIWC addresses these barriers through culturally competent and comprehensive programs that are built on trust.” When working with the massage parlors, A&PIWC staff strives to gain the trust of the owners as well as the workers who are often exploited. “We’re talking about indentured servitude in most instances, and the women are dealing with
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Fall 2002
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Grantees Meet Diverse Needs for Community-based HIV and AIDS Services Ads promote emergency contraception Children learn peacemaking skills |
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