National HIV Testing Day is June 27th

By Megan White, CRCS Coordinator

June is coming to an end and that means National HIV Testing Day is here!  On June 27^th health departments, AIDS service organizations and community activists across the country will remind people of the importance of regular HIV testing. At Lifelong, we believe that knowing your HIV status is vital to making informed decisions about your health and sex life.  If you are sexually active, particularly if you are having unprotected sex with one or more partners, doctors recommend getting tested every 3-6 months.

Getting an HIV test can be scary.  For many people, the fear of receiving a positive diagnosis keeps them away from the doctor. Concerns about privacy and stigma are understandable, but there are many reasons to do it.  If you are HIV+ studies suggest that the earlier you know, the more likely you are to live a long and healthy life.  Seattle has many resources offering financial, social and emotional support to people living with HIV or AIDS.  Finding a place to get tested all year round is easy with online sites like www.hivtest.org. Or, send a text message with your zip code to KNOWIT (566948).

If you are HIV negative and want to talk more about testing or your sexual health, join our Intersexions/One2One counseling program by calling 206-957-1602.  If you are HIV- positive and want to talk, join the Positive Choices program by calling the same number.

An HIV test is a great way to take control of your life and health.  And, regardless of the result, Lifelong can support you.  Get tested today!

Lifelong & Social Media

If you’re reading this, you probably know that Lifelong is on Facebook and Twitter. We also set up a YouTube channel for your viewing pleasure and are slowly pulling together years of videos scattered around the web. And hey, thanks for reading our new(ish) blog!

Community outreach is very important to what we do. Our education department uses these and other online tools like http://homohealth.org/ to help prevent the spread of HIV. Public Policy uses Facebook, Twitter, and a separate online network to encourage people to speak up about important legislation. The MPowerment Project, Lifelong's program for GLBTQ youth ages 16-22, has its own website and (sporadically updated) MySpace page. The Events department uses them to promote - you guessed it - events, and our fundraising department relies on them to bring in the money that keeps our doors open. There's even a Facebook page for Lifelong’s Thrift store.

So we’re feeling pretty social. Is it working?

Lifelong adds 40-50 new Facebook fans every week (which is fantastic) and we want to use that and other social media tools to help us provide food, housing, case management, and other services for people who need them. We also want to find new ways to encourage people to keep themselves, and each other, safe from HIV.

Please tell us how we’re doing, and suggest ways for Lifelong to use social media to further our work!

Thank You To Our Volunteers!

Take a look at the Lifelong staff and what they have to say about our incredible volunteers!

I always trust that the front desk workers will take good care of my clients and keep me informed of things I need to know. They are always friendly, courteous and responsible. I love them!
~Megan, CRCS Coordinator

This organization was started by volunteers and they continue to serve as inspiration for all of us.

~David, Executive Director

Volunteers are essential to the kitchen!
~Jim, Executive Chef

The warehouse volunteers are the strongest, most generous group of people I have ever met. We could not do this without you and thank you for everything you do. You are my saviors!

~Spanky, Grocery Delivery Assistant

The volunteers could not rule more! They are truly the life blood of the organization. I can’t imagine what Lifelong would look like without them and am so appreciative of their time, energy and commitment.
~Katie, Bilingual STEP Coordinator

Each volunteer brings great energy to the work we do here at Lifelong. Be it a welcoming face at our front desks, a team packaging meals in the kitchen, a crew distributing meals and groceries on Fridays, or a That Thursday Thing group packaging condoms, each and every day is made brighter, easier and more unique because of our volunteers.

~Reno, Facilities Manager

We Need Your Help With The State Budget!

The 2010 Legislative Session is a “short” one that began the second week of January, with the final gavel expected to come down on March 11th. The supplemental budget will be the focus this session as the Legislature returns to Olympia under the dark cloud of a $2.6 budget shortfall. In early December the Governor released a proposed budget that addressed the financial crisis by reducing or eliminating vital services and programs. The “all cuts” budget was not well received by the Legislature, the public, or even the Governor herself. During the first week of session the Governor submitted a “Book Two” budget that included a short list of program restorations equaling about $778.9 million. The Governor outlined a little over $101 million in revenue options (loopholes) and is expecting to receive additional resources through the Federal Medicaid Assistance Percentage (FMAP). HIV/AIDS funding is partially restored by the Governor by $4.85 million.

Our goal for the Session is that as decisions are being made HIV/AIDS funding continues to be a priority of leadership. We have a variety of things in the works to keep the voices of HIV/AIDS loud and strong down in Olympia.

We have two fact sheets that you can download from GoogleDocs– one about Care services and funding and the other about Prevention. We will be passing these on to all the electeds down in Olympia, and ask that you forward them to your lists.

Usually, we only do an AIDS Action & Awareness Day every two years, but because of the severe nature of the potential cuts, we are activating a Virtual A3D this year on February 10th. In preparation for that, you can download the A3D Letter template that we have created. We are hoping to get folks from around the state to fill in their own comments and info and return the letters to us. We need your help to do this – please pass the blank letter along to every one you know - we’d like to have as many legislative districts in the state represented as possible!
Letters can be emailed back to advocate@llaa.org or mailed to Lifelong, 1002 E Seneca, Seattle WA 98122. We will collate them and distribute them in person to the appropriate Legislator on February 10th. Also on that day we will be conducting a variety of online activities instead of gathering everyone in Olympia. Look for more information in the next week or so.

If you haven’t signed up for the Communities in Action Network, please do so at http://www.cannetwork.net/. You can also follow our twitter at www.twitter.com/aidsactionday.

Do let me know if you have any questions. It is our collective voices being raised that will help protect the funding for the critical services we provide.

Yours in solidarity,

Erick Seelbach
Director of Prevention, Education, and Public Policy
Lifelong AIDS Alliance

Lifelong takes fight against HIV/AIDS to South Africa

Lifelong is proud to be a leader in the fight against HIV/AIDS here in Seattle and equally proud to participate in international HIV/AIDS-relief efforts through our membership in ANSA (Association of Nutrition Services Agencies). Through ANSA, we support the innovative efforts of South African nonprofit Ikamva Labantu, which serves children and adults impacted by HIV/AIDS.

In mid-October, Lifelong’s Executive Director David Richart, Board President Eric Snow and Washington State Senator Ed Murray were able to witness Ikamva Labantu’s pioneering work first-hand. Richart, Snow and Sen. Murray met with Ikamva Labantu staff to learn about new programs, including a pilot launching next year aimed at preventing mother-to-baby infection through breast milk.

“The prevention of mother-to-child infection through breast milk is critical to stemming new cases of HIV in developing countries,” said Richart. Richart, Snow and Sen. Murray also spent a significant amount of time in the field visiting South African townships that have been ravaged by HIV/AIDS. More than 5 million South Africans are living with HIV and AIDS and an estimated 250,000 people in the country died from AIDS last year. Hundreds of thousands of children have been left orphans by HIV/AIDS.

“We’re proud to support Ikamva Labantu’s prevention efforts and their work supporting HIV/AIDS orphans in South Africa,” said Richart.

New Year, New Blog

Lifelong AIDS Alliance is excited to announce the launch of our brand new agency blog!

We’ll be using our blog to regularly update you about the work we’re doing in our shared community as well as share information and knowledge regarding the worldwide HIV/AIDS crisis.

You can expect to see:
• HIV/AIDS breaking news
• Client stories
• Program updates and info
• Urgent calls-to-action
• Life-changing volunteer opportunities
• Tons of photos
• Delicious and nutritious Chicken Soup Brigade recipes
• Behind-the-scenes at Gay Bingo and other events
• And so much more!

We look forward to sharing our stories with you.

Sustaining Lives...Offering Hope