Long-Time Walker Wins FREE Pair of Airline Tickets!

The Board of Directors of AIDGwinnett recently conducted a raffle drawing to determine the winner of a pair of free airline tickets, donated by Delta Airlines.  The winner was Dr. Kate McDuffee of Dahlonega.  Dr. McDuffee is a licensed veterinarian with more than 14 years of practice.

In 2006 Dr. McDuffee raised more than $3,575.00 in the AIDSWalk, which is the largest annual fundraiser for HIV/AIDS in the entire southeast.  Dr. McDuffee was automatically qualified to participate in the raffle contest (along with dozens of other dedicated volunteers) just for raising money to benefit AIDGwinnett!

Last year was actually Dr. McDuffee's 13th year participating.  "OK, OK," her web site explains.  "It was only my 12th year actually walking , but hey, 2002 doesn't count... and I still raised money that year, wheelchair and all!"

CARE Act Reauthorization

Serving more than 1 million Americans nationwide, the $2 billion Ryan White CARE Act is best known for providing federal funding for primary medical care and support services for uninsured and under-insured persons living with HIV who meet eligibility standards of poverty status.  In December, Congress passed legislation to extend the Ryan White CARE Act for an additional three years.  This extension (also known as "reauthorization") was long overdue because the CARE Act was actually scheduled to expire on September 30, 2005.

To read the remainder of this article, please click here.

 

Total client caseload breaks historic record in 2006

In 2006 AIDGwinnett served a total of 516 unduplicated clients, according to the agency's official year-end data report.  This figure contrasts dramatically with prior years: 417 clients served in 2004; and 419 clients served in 2005.

"Our caseload is definitely increasing at a very rapid rate," explained Tomi Stultz, AIDGwinnett Director of Client Services. 

"And while it is true that many of our new clients have moved to the local area from neighboring counties and surrounding states, the vast majority of our new clients are actually recently diagnosed, or living with HIV for less than 2 years."

AIDGwinnett is providing extensive services for this large and growing caseload including primary medical care, case management, HIV/AIDS prescription drug assistance, counseling, education, nutritional counseling and much more.

 

Client Education Kiosk provides helpful information for clients

AIDGwinnett recently installed a new Client Education Kiosk in the front lobby, and the response from visitors has been very positive.  The Kiosk provides internet access for clients to check their email and to surf the web.  The Client Education Kiosk features several educational web sites such as:

In addition, clients can use the Kiosk to view current and upcoming events from the AIDGwinnett web site. 

 

HIV Testing Campaign Reaches 1,105 Clients on National Black AIDS Awareness Day

AIDGwinnett staff and volunteers were honored to be invited to support a recent massive HIV testing campaign aimed at persons with transient housing in the metropolitan Atlanta area.  Under the leadership of Recovery Consultants of Atlanta, AIDGwinnett teamed-up with a large coalition of community based organizations to help implement this event.

The campaign reached 1,105 Atlanta residents and helped identify 44 new clients with previously undiagnosed HIV infection.  This represents a rate of nearly 4% - - which the CDC considers very high, in comparison to HIV testing rates at county health departments.

Case managers from several local AIDS service organizations also participated, including Kawan Johnson, MSW, of AIDGwinnett.  "We were there for the newly diagnosed clients, to help them access primary medical care and support services," Johnson explained.  "The main goal was to make the process convenient for the new clients, and to eliminate unnecessary barriers to accessing medical care."

To read a full report about the success of this effort, please click here.

 

New bus route guide for clients

Recently AIDGwinnett produced a new bus transportation guide for clients with key points of interest on the Gwinnett Transit system.  The guide is intended to help familiarize clients with the Gwinnett Transit system.  Many persons living with HIV face extreme economic hardship and lack any type of transportation for medical appointments, other than taxis or public transit.  The new guide is available for download at the AIDGwinnett web site.

 

Pleasant Hill Baptist Church launches HIV/AIDS ministry

Under the leadership of Pastor Ronald D. Dunnigan, Pleasant Hill Baptist Church recently launched a new HIV/AIDS ministry.  To help support this effort, AIDGwinnett is providing printed educational materials, training and outreach.

"We are so excited about this new ministry," explained Greg Bautista, Outreach Manager at AIDGwinnett.  "This vital partnership is urgently needed, because HIV incidence rates have been disproportionately high among people of color for far too long.  The church is truly one of the best avenues for promoting education, compassion and hope; it is, essentially, the cornerstone of African-American community here in the South."

The new HIV/AIDS ministry began in the fall of 2006.  On World AIDS Day (December 1) members of the congregation received a special quiz called "Test Your Knowledge of HIV/AIDS Facts."   Then January 2007 saw the formation of an official committee of volunteers, planning and preparations of activities for building HIV/AIDS awareness. 

To download the "Test Your Knowledge of HIV/AIDS Facts" quiz, please click here.

 

20 Participate in 2-Day HIV Counseling & Testing Training

AIDGwinnett recently implemented a 2-day training titled "Fundamentals of HIV Prevention Counseling," following a CDC-approved curriculum for implementing HIV counseling and testing in community settings.

The training was led by Kyle Monroe-Spencer (Director of Prevention Education) and Greg Bautista (Outreach Manager).

"Volunteers play an important role in HIV testing," explained Kyle.  "Especially at special events such as health fairs and large workplace events.  In 2007, several large HIV testing events are scheduled.  These volunteers will help us increase our total capacity for HIV testing."

For more information about becoming an AIDGwinnett volunteer, please click here.

 

 

Upcoming Events

*AIDGwinnett clients are required to submit documentation of income and residence on or before July 15, 2007.  This is a biannual requirement (twice each year on February 15 and July 15).