November 26, 2004 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE 19
ARC Ohio's Mansfield site has expanded programs
by Lori Robinson
Mansfield-AIDS Resource Center Ohio has been providing services in the Mansfield and Marion region for almost two years. Serving as the access point for financial assistance through Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS and support including case management, ARC Ohio has provided services to almost 100 people living with HIV and AIDS in a ten-county region of north central Ohio. Recent program expansions have included a general HIV support group which meets monthly. An offshoot of this group goes on outings, such as camping trips, karaoke and bowling. Members also collect canned goods
to contribute to the food pantry at Mansfield Catholic Charities.
In addition, local vendor donations have allowed for limited food and gas vouchers from the Mansfield site. Clients also participated in an agency float in the Mansfield Labor Day parade.
Free Thanksgiving dinners were provided to ARC Ohio clients by several local non-profit agencies. In addition, Susan Tsavaris, owner of the Roadhouse restaurant, has donated Christmas dinner to all ARC Ohio clients and their families. Efforts are also underway to provide holiday food baskets to consumers in need.
In spite of recent medical advances, no
cure and no preventative vaccine for HIV have been found, and the virus continues to spread. In the ARC Ohio region, there have been nearly 1,600 reported HIV-related fatalities. Another 2,650 people are currently living with HIV or AIDS, while thousands more may be infected, but not yet diagnosed.
One fourth of all new HIV infections in the U.S.-two every hour-occur in young people under age 25. Worldwide, there are currently more than 42 million AIDS cases, in addition to over 28 million fatalities already reported.
The ARC Ohio community includes 35 Ohio counties. In order to better serve those in need, ARC Ohio has two offices in
Dayton, as well as offices in Lima, Mansfield and Toledo. These regional offices allow ARC Ohio to provide accessible high-quality, HIV-specialized services for nearly half of Ohio.
Are you HIV positive or do you know someone who is HIV positive? ARC Ohio can help. For more information about support groups, socialization opportunities, financial resources, or case management services, please contact Lori Robinson, program manager, at 419-525-2437 or toll free at 800252-0827.
Lori Robinson is the program manager for the AIDS Resource Center Ohio's Mansfield offices.
MSM group's members become mentors to others
by William Booth
Dayton-AIDS Resource Center Ohio is dedicated to reaching at-risk population groups in the Miami Valley to help prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. One such group is the Men
Having Sex with Men program.
The MSM program has recently created an education and support group composed of HIV-positive participants. This group, which follows the Many Men, Many Voices program, consists of gay and bisexual men of
The Mu Crew stops HIV with parties, trips, fun
by Andrew Hyde
Dayton-AIDS Resource Center Ohio has received funding from Miami Valley Hospital, the Gill Foundation, and a human service levy to present a new outreach program for young gay and bisexual men in the Miami Valley.
This national program is one of many “evidence-based projects" from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention proven to work in various communities in the country. It is often referred to as the MPowerment Project, and will soon be recognized in the Dayton area as Epsilon Mu Pi.
ARC Ohio project coordinators Andrew Hyde and Aaron Sartor are taking the approach of an all-gay or bisexual fraternity, not directly affiliated with any specific local college. The mission of Epsilon Mu Pi is to prevent the spread of HIV among 18-29 year old gay and bisexual men.
Epsilon Mu Pi, a.k.a. the Mu Crew, is geared to increase awareness of safe sex practices through promotion and education at local bars, clubs, and group events. The project is run by a core group of 10 to 20 young men
from the community with the support of paid staff. The core group, along with other volunteers, will design and carry out all project activities. Eventually, Epsilon Mu Pi will have its own physical space where most outreach events and meetings will be held. The space will also serve as a drop-in center where members will be able to meet, support each other and receive HIV testing and counseling services.
The Mu Crew hosted their first meeting as a Halloween party where games, music, movies, pyrotechnics, and junk food were all the rage. In addition, a pajama party followed to gain information on what they need to do to get more guys involved with the program.
"We're going to be having parties, movie nights, trips, sports, and anything else we can get into," said Aaron Sartor, risk reduction education for ARC Ohio.
For more information about the MPowerment Project/Epsilon Mu Pi or for information on joining, please call the Andrew Hyde at 937-461-2437 ext. 15, or log onto www.TheMuCrew.com. ✓
Andrew Hyde is the project coordinator of Epsilon Mu Pi.
ARC Ohio has new Lima staff and programs
by Jessica Bott
Lima, Ohio-AIDS Resource Center Ohio is pleased to announce the appointment of its new Lima location program manager, Gary Bright. He brings a wealth of experience to the Lima location. With over nine years experience in social services, Bright has a passion for empowering people living with HIV and AIDS to achieve their highest degree of life
success.
He has been published for his work in both mental health and African American studies, including "Some Thoughts on the Black Roots of American Pop Culture" in a volume entitled American Popular Culture at Home and Abroad.
Bright has already brought many innovative ideas to the programs at AIDS Resource Center Ohio's Lima location. A general HIV support group, expansion of outreach case management services, and greater participation in community housing initiatives are just a few of his accomplishments thus far.
AIDS Resource Center Ohio has been providing a full continuum of HIV related services including case management services and emergency financial assistance to an eleven county region surrounding Lima for the past 21⁄2 years. If you or someone you
know is HIV positive, we can help.
Individuals with HIV/AIDS often need assistance in locating resources as well as sorting through the many systems that are often involved on a day-to-day basis. AIDS Resource Center Ohio provides clients with a central person to provide those needed services and referrals.
Case managers help with areas such as housing assistance, prevention case management, referrals to community resources, and access to the state run AIDS Drug Assistance Program. Case Managers also seek to help clients better understand the disease process through health education as well as assisting in care plan implementation and progress monitoring.
Support groups meet the third Wednesday of every month at 5 p.m. in the ARC Ohio Lima offices, 329 North West, Suite B. ARC Ohio staff are also available for prevention and education efforts (group facilitation, educational seminars, safer sex discussions) to community groups, classrooms, or any other group wishing to increase its knowledge. For information about services, call 419-222-0827 or toll free at 800-252-0827.
Jessica Bott is the development assistant for ARC Ohio.
color. It is an "evidence-based program" created by the Centers for Disease Control and has been proven to work in communities throughout the country.
The group has a consistent attendance of 15 to 17 men-which is an outstanding number-reaching men between the ages of 25 to 50 at each bi-monthly meeting. The group sessions include a plethora of interventions dealing with the specific issues of gay and bisexual men of color.
The group has been meeting for over six months and has become a strong, cohesive network in the community. As a result of being able to create a safe place to share their concerns and issues in dealing with HIV/ AIDS, the men have decided to give something back to the community. They are becoming mentors or peer navigators for newlydiagnosed individuals that are referred to ARC Ohio.
To facilitate this, the education and prevention team at ARC Ohio will be training the members of this group in "HIV 101" and "Safer Sexual Practices for Positives."
In addition, the Many Men, Many Voices group has also written a play entitled Does AIDS have a Face? This will be presented in
early 2005 at a Dayton performing arts theatre. This play was written by the members, who have been able to use the support group as a cathartic experience. It will also be performed by the members, as well as other folks from the community affected by HIV.
William Booth
Does AIDS have a Face? is a compilation of their life stories and an attempt to share the journeys they have traveled with HIV as their companion. It is the hope of this group that this play will not only be an emotionally moving theatrical performance, but it will also be utilized within the community as a tool and become an annual event for the group.
For more information, contact William Booth at 937-461-2437 ext. 17.
William Booth is a risk reduction educator at ARC Ohio.
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