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GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE November 29, 2002

AIDS IS STILL HERE.

SO ARE WE... UNTIL IT'S OVER.

The AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland (ATGC), established in 1983, is the oldest HIV/AIDS service, prevention education, and advocacy organization in Ohio. Since its inception, formed by a small group of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender activists in response to a devastating new disease, the ATGC has served thousands of northeast Ohioans, even when homophobia, racism, sexism, and AIDSphobia made many Americans reject people with AIDS, and the communities being impacted.

Our mission is simple: To provide a compassionate and collaborative response to the needs of people infected, affected, and at risk of HIV/AIDS.

Almost 20 years after our founding, we're still here, providing comprehensive case management and client advocacy; housing services; individual and group counseling; chemical dependency and recovery support; Ryan White CARE Act assistance; food and nutrition services; transportation; social and recreational services; HIV treatment education; referrals to other community and government sources of assistance; training for other social service providers; and prevention education programs for gay and bisexual men; Latinas; African American youth; Latino and African American gay/bisexual youth; African American women, and other communities disproportionately impacted by HIV/AIDS.

AID S

TASKFORCE

OF GREATER CLEVELAND

The AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland (ATGC), established in 1983, is the largest HIV/AIDS service, prevention education, and advocacy organization in Ohio. Since its inception formed by a small group of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender activists in response to a devastating new disease the ATGC has served many thousands of northeast Ohioans, even when homophobia, racism, sexism, and AIDSphobia made many Americans reject people with AIDS and those communities being impacted by the disease.

Our mission is simple: To provide a compassionate and collaborative response to the needs of people infected, affected, and at risk of HIV/AIDS.

Almost 20 years after our founding, we're still here, providing comprehensive case management and client advocacy; housing services; individual and group counseling and support; chemical dependency and recovery support; Ryan White CARE Act assistance; food and nutritional services; transportation; social and recreational services; HIV treatment education; referrals to other community and government sources of assistance; training for other social service providers; and prevention education programs for gay and bisexual men; Latinas; African American youth; Latino and African American gay/bisexual youth; African American women, and other communities disproportionately impacted by HIV/AIDS.

The Brother2Brother program conducts health education and HIV risk reduction initiatives for African American Men who have Sex with Men, as well as African American and Latino gay, bisexual, and transgendered youth. Brother2Brother collaborates closely with BlackOut, Cleveland's premiere African American same-gender loving (SGL) organization. For more information, contact the Brother2Brother Coordinator.

The HIV Prevention Capacity Building Initiative conducts intensive training for other social service professionals in northeast Ohio, helping ensure effective services and quality education across the social service spectrum. For more information, contact the Capacity Building Coordinator

ManHealth conducts bar outreach, bathhouse outreach, and general safer sex education for gay and bisexual men in Cleveland. ManHealth also offers Hepatitis A and B vaccinations at the bathhouse for only $5 dollars a shot! For more information, contact the ManHealth Coordinator.

Hermanas (Spanish for "Sisters"), conducts outreach and education for Latinas on Cleveland's west side, working largely through clubs and hair salons. For more information, contact the Hermanas Coordinator.

SAMM ("Stopping AIDS is My Mission") utilizes trained adolescent African Americans as peer educators in Cleveland schools, community centers, and youth service programs. For more information, contact the SAMM Co-coordinators.

The Treatment Education Initiative trains HIV positive people to educate other HIV+ people about treatment choices and options, thus helping promote full access to medical and community resources. For more information, contact the ATGC Treatment Educator.

Social Work Case Management assists people living with HIV/AIDS by providing practical and emotional support around a full range of AIDS and AIDS-related issues. For more information, contact the Clinical Director of Services..

Early Intervention Case Management provides practical and emotional support to people with HIV when they're newly diagnosed, helping make sense of the confusing array of options and feelings that often accompany AIDS. For more information, contact the Clinical Director of Services.

Ryan White CARE Act Assistance can offer financial support that pays for certain costs specified by the CARE Act. While not all expenses are covered, many can be. For more information, contact the Clinical Director of Services.

Community Housing helps individuals find and maintain safe, affordable housing in a number of Cleveland neighborhoods, and can, depending on the guidelines, provide financial support for rental costs. For more information, contact the Clinical Director of Services.

Gurnick Place is the ATGC's licensed adult residential facility, providing practical and emotional support in a home-like environment for people who need some assistance with daily living. For more information, contact the Clinical Director of Services.

Hebron House is the ATGC's transitional housing facility for homeless or near-homeless people with HIV, and helps individuals find permanent, affordable housing. For more information, contact the Clinical Director of Services.

Carey East is the ATGC's independent living apartment building for single people living with HIV/AIDS, providing handicapped accessible, subsidized housing and an number of social support services. For more information, contact the Clinical Director of Services.

Carey West is another ATGC Independent living apartment building, built for families in the inclusive sense living with HIV/AIDS. Like Carey East, Carey West provides handicapped accessible, subsidized housing and social support services. Carey East and Carey West are named after the late John T. Carey, a pioneering Cleveland HIV physician and researcher who touched the lives of thousands. For more information, contact the Clinical Director of Services.

The ATGC Nutrition Services program provides over 200,000 meals a year, nutritionally balanced with the needs of people with HIV/AIDS in mind. Services include a pantry program, meal deliveries, and monthly community meals. For more information, contact the Administrative Director of Services. The ATGC provides over 7,000 transports a year in its Transportation program, helping people get to medical facilities, support group meetings, counseling sessions, and other critical appointments. For more information, contact the Administrative Director of Services.

Children's Services include support, recreational, and self-esteem building activities for younger children living with or affected by family HIV disease. For more information, contact the Clinical Director of Services.

Support Groups for men and women meet on a regular basis, and provide a safe space to talk about the feelings, dilemmas, and "successes" that often come with HIV/AIDS. For more information, contact the Clinical Director of Services.

Positively Sexual offers an array of workshops and seminars designed to promote and support sexual health for HIV+ persons. For more information, contact the Positively Sexual Coordinator.

Service staff can make Individual Mental Health Counseling Referrals to providers experienced in working with AIDS for those who would like a chance to talk more intensively about problems and concerns. For more information, contact the Clinical Director of Services.

Recovery Counseling and Support is provided through a partnership with Recovery Resources, and includes chemical dependency assessment, group counseling, treatment referrals and follow-up, and aftercare support. For more information, contact the Clinical Director of Services.

Recreational and Social Activities, such as the monthly community meals and a variety of holiday festivities, are held throughout the year. For more information, contact the Volunteer Services Manager. The Open House is the ATGC's east side support center for massage, case management, support groups, and health promotion activities. For more information contact the Open House Program Manager at 216/421-0006.

The Public Policy Initiative works with local, state, and federal policy-makers to advocate for the rights, well-being, and safety of people living with HIV/AIDS. Public Policy programs include advocacy training opportunities for people with HIV/AIDS. For more information, contact the Director of Public Policy.