News Journal: New Map Shows Spread of HIV/AIDS Along I-95

The June 18, 2011 News Journal ran an informative article on how HIV/AIDS has spread along the I-95 corridor. A new map confirms the effect of easy access to intravenous drugs via the highway, as well as Wilmington's proximity to Philadelphia and Baltimore. However, the highway also contributes to the spread of the disease via unsafe sex:

Just like major roads are drug-trafficking arteries, they also enable people infected with HIV to travel, said Basha Silverman, prevention program director at Brandywine Counseling. That way, HIV-infected people can maintain sexual relationships and spread the disease from city to city.

"The freeways create access and give people more opportunity for sexual contact," she said. "When sexual contact is unprotected, [sexually transmitted diseases] are spread."

Click here to read the full article.

Sterile Needle and Syringe Exchange Is Now Permanent in Delaware

On June 7, 2011, the Delaware Legislature passed a law to continue the needle exchange program without sunsetting.  

Senate Bill 13: An Act to Amend Title 29 of the Delaware Code Relating to Sterile Needle and Syringe Exchange makes the original pilot status of the program permanent. This Act directs the Director of the Division of Public Health to maintain a sterile needle and syringe program to help prevent the spread of AIDS and other diseases. Brandywine Counseling and Community Services will continue to operate the program, which offers HIV testing, health counseling, hepatitis C testing, and referrals to substance abuse treatment.

Every day, our staff sees the brutal impact HIV/AIDS has on men, women and children throughout Delaware. It seems to be so well hidden from the public eye. We are dedicated to preventing the spread of this disease.

Many of you are aware of the facts. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that over one million Americans are currently living with HIV. Twenty-five percent of those cases are attributed to risk factors related to injection drug use. Our needle exchange program prevents the spread of HIV among injection drug users, and therefore saves lives.

Our state’s needle exchange program is not simply a needle distribution program. Injecting drug users are required to return a used syringe in order to obtain a new, sterile needle. The program creates a unique opportunity for our Prevention and Treatment staff to interact with active drug users who might want our help but are not knocking on our front door. We are meeting them where they are, going directly to the people that need us. By joining our program, they are taking the first step to break the cycle of addiction.

The staff who work on our mobile van offer every client education, counseling, referrals, HIV, hepatitis C and pregnancy testing services. We identify folks in crisis, and link them with the appropriate mental health care.

The needle exchange program works. It saves lives!

During the first five pilot years, we were able to accomplish the following:

• Incinerated over 68,000 potentially infectious syringes and removed them from the streets -- virtually eliminating the needle litter problem.
• On the needle exchange program van, we conducted 2,581 Rapid HIV tests and 138 Hepatitis C tests. 18 clients tested positive for HIV and 27 tested positive for Hepatitis C. 100% of the positives were connected to care and case management.
• Nearly 2,000 of those HIV tests were provided to community residents who access the van and are not enrolled in the program. Thus, we are reaching more than just injection drug users.
• 163 people (of the 261 formal referrals made) were successfully admitted to drug related treatment, a 62% success rate. BCCS is uniquely qualified to operate the exchange program because we also provide a variety of behavioral health services. We are able to quickly and seamlessly link people to the treatment they need.

Resource: Includes information from http://img.thebody.com/legacyAssets/37/76/needle_exchange.pdf

Video: AIDS Plus 30 in Delaware

This video from WHYY's "First" looks at HIV/AIDS in Delaware 30 years later. Despite prevention efforts like the needle exchange, new infections continue, and so does the stigma. The issue seems to have disappeared from the headlines, at a time when more education is needed.

Watch the video here (click Chapter 3).

Also, read the companion article from Delaware Today, The Fight Continues.

Nested Services Help Patients Stay Healthy

Many Delawareans with severe substance abuse and mental health issues are achieving recovery and stability thanks to Safety Net Services, Brandywine’s multifaceted treatment, pre-treatment, and HIV/AIDS program.

Safety Net connects clients to substance abuse treatment and other appropriate services, depending on their readiness to enter treatment, while providing a safety net before, during and after treatment engagement. A key to the program’s success is the nesting of medical care, Medication Management, risk reduction interventions, and HIV testing within a substance abuse treatment program. The nested services make appointment scheduling, transportation and other practical issues much easier for patients, particularly those struggling with mental health and/or physical issues. It also increases patient comfort and safety, and strengthens confidentiality. The result is improved patient health, stability and general well-being.

Since it began in 2007, Safety Net has served 244 clients, of which 217 are still active in the program. This past year, 27 successfully completed the program and graduated, and 78 new clients entered the program. Safety Net also works with the BCCS outreach team to identify and engage at-risk or HIV-positive substance abusers in the community.

The typical Safety Net client is facing multiple treatment issues. They struggle with addiction, mental health, and medical issues. Routinely, they have financial challenges. They get help with basic survival needs like food and clothing, which is a crucial first step before considering and engaging in substance abuse treatment. Help is also provided with transportation, child care, medical care and housing.

Safety Net clients have, on average, four medical problems each, and take an average of two medications. Most (90%) are HIV positive, and two-thirds also have mental health diagnoses such as depression or bipolar. Medication Management helps them stay on top of their complex health care needs. An average of 21 participants utilize this service each month, and all are compliant with their medications.

Clients learn to reduce their HIV risk through education and behavior change. Over half (53%) have stopped injecting drugs since entering the program. 33% have stopped sharing needles. 77% have reduced their number of sex partners, and 90% have increased condom use since entering the program.

Of those who reported no income at admission, 38% had income after 6 months, 83% say their support network has improved, and 97% of clients have no new arrests. Safety Net clients are making progress in all areas of their lives.

Safety Net Services is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. For more information, please call 655-9880, ext. 123.

Basha Silverman Honored for HIV/AIDS Work

BCCS congratulates Basha Silverman, Prevention Program Director, on two honors for her outstanding work in HIV/AIDS prevention.

On Saturday, February 12, Basha received the Community and Support Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Fight Against HIV, at the 10th Annual Do The Right Thing 4LIFE Banquet, presented by AIDS Delaware. Do the Right Thing 4LIFE is an educational prevention program that seeks to increase the awareness about HIV/AIDS/STDs within the African American community. Its efforts have resulted in numerous educational parties in barbershops, beauty salons, and private homes in New Castle County, reaching over 500 individuals.

“I am honored and excited to be a part of this,” Basha said, “as Frank [Hawkins, event organizer] and I started working in HIV the same year and have worked side by side for about a decade. I am grateful that he thought of me.”

Also, on Friday, May 6, Basha will receive the Ally Award at the 2011 WOW Awards Celebration, hosted by the Delaware HIV Consortium. This annual awards event recognizes corporate and individual excellence for philanthropy, volunteerism, fundraising, and community leadership in the field on HIV/AIDS. Visit delawarehiv.org for more information.

Congratulations Basha on these well-deserved honors!

Needle Exchange Credited with Reduced HIV Infection Rates in Delaware

The number of new HIV infections in Delaware has fallen from over 300 a year to about 155 in the past decade, and the state's pilot needle exchange program deserves some credit, according to the Delaware Division of Public Health.

Jim Dickinson of DPH made this statement at yesterday's meeting of the Delaware HIV Planning Council. As of September 30, there were 101 newly identified HIV cases in Delaware during 2010. In addition to needle exchange, improved education and outreach programs may also be contributing to the decrease, Dickinson said.

Also at Thursday's meeting, the Council heard from James Albino, senior program manager for the Office of National AIDS Policy, about the White House's national strategy to reduce new infections by 25% over the next 5 years. The strategy incorporates prevention, increased access to medical care, reduction of stigma, and increasing coordination.

Read the full article here.

AIDS Walk Delaware Is This Sunday Sept. 26

The 2010 Delaware AIDS Walk takes place this Sunday, September 26 at Rockford Park in Wilmington. There's still time to make your contribution and support our own Team NSAFE!

The funds we raise go directly to assist the funding for the Thanksgiving turkeys and meals we provide to BCCS clients. Donate online through our fundraising page, or register to walk.

For more information, contact Edna Maldonado or Christine Czajkowski at 656-2348.

Volunteers Raise Funds and Enthusiasm for AIDS Walk

BCCS is off to a running start in raising money for this year’s AIDS Walk, thanks to some wonderful volunteers who are serving as team captains! They have set up a table at the Lancaster Center on Tuesdays and Fridays, promoting the activity, giving away flyers, and asking for donations.

Already, we have raised a total of $200! Our goal is at least $500, and you can help us reach it! Visit our fundraising page, contact Edna Maldonado or Christine Czajkowski at 656-2348, or stop by the display table.

“I’m really excited about the whole thing,” says team captain Betsy, who is HIV positive and a recovered drug user. “I came here through the hospital, and when I got here, I got involved. If you are infected with the virus, you can keep on living and still help other people. Brandywine has helped me do that, and that’s why I’ll do anything for this program.”

Volunteers Kaitlyn and Gloria were recruited by Betsy, seeing how passionate she was. “She came in and talked to our IOP group, asking us to either sign up to be on the team or to donate,” says Kaitlyn, who has family and friends with HIV/AIDS. “Watching them go through what they have to go through and not being able to do anything, sucks! So why not help the people that you can, so they don’t have to be alone. If you donate the money, it goes to helping them with their medicine, food, whatever they need, so they’re not by themselves.”

Betsy recognizes how different things are today than a few years ago. “I’m very healthy and outgoing and spontaneous! There’s a lot of new drug therapies today we didn’t have back then. Maybe I wouldn’t be sitting here right now, maybe somebody would have been walking for me today. So I’ve got to give back! If I support everything I can about this disease, maybe God will bless me, and I can bless somebody else, because a lot of people have come around when they listen to my story.”

The 24th Annual AIDS Walk Delaware will be held Sunday, September 26, 2010 at Rockford Park in New Castle County, Sunday, October 3, 2010 at Silver Lake Rec. Area in Kent County, and Sunday October 3, 2010 at Grove Park in Sussex County.

Open Letter to the U.S Secretary of State: Release U.S. Funding for Global Harm Reduction

Brandywine Counseling has signed on to the following letter, urging Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to release U.S. funding for international syringe exchange programs before the International AIDS Conference in July.

June 28, 2010

Secretary Hillary Clinton
United States Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520

Dear Secretary Clinton,

We are concerned that the State Department has yet to release updated guidance for HIV prevention among injection drug users. Last December, the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator (OGAC) released a new Five-Year Strategy for the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) that underscored the importance of establishing prevention priorities necessary to combat the epidemic. Around the same time, Congress voted to allow federal funding for syringe exchange programs (SEPs) in the US, underscoring the importance of evidence-based prevention programming. Despite clear statements from the Administration in support of syringe exchange as part of a comprehensive program, without Administration guidance domestic and international programs are still prohibited from using federal funds for one of the most effective HIV prevention tools.

Outside sub-Saharan Africa one third of new HIV infections are due to injection drug use. In countries such as Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Vietnam and China, more than half of infections are due to injection drug use. By implementing syringe exchange, some countries, like Britain, Australia and France avoided large scale epidemics among people who inject drugs. A review of data from 81 cities across Europe, Asia, and North America with and without SEPs found that, on average, HIV infection increased by 5.9 percent per year in the 52 cities without SEPs and decreased by 5.8 percent per year in the 29 cities with SEPs. This represents an 11 percent net difference in seroprevalence when comparing cities with and without SEPs. Programs could, right now, prevent thousands of new HIV infections at very little cost.

The upcoming International AIDS Conference in Vienna will have a special focus on Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union where injection drug use is the cause of one of the world's fastest growing HIV epidemics. As the single largest donor for HIV/AIDS programs around the world, the United States will be in the spotlight. We urge you to release guidance that embraces syringe exchange in advance of that event.

Sincerely,

ACT UP Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
After Hours Project, Inc., Brooklyn, NY
Agua Buena Human Rights Association, San Jose, Cost Rica
AIDS Action Baltimore, Baltimore, MD
AIDS Action Council, Washington, DC
AIDS Alliance for Faith and Health, Atlanta, GA
AIDS Care Ocean State, Providence, RI
AIDS Community Research Consortium, Redwood City, CA
AIDS Education Global Information System (www.aegis.org), San Juan Capistrano, CA
AIDS Foundation of Chicago, Chicago, IL.
AIDS Foundation Houston Inc, Houston, TX
AIDS Policy Project, Philadelphia, PA
AIDS Project Greater Danbury, Danbury, CT
AIDS Project Hartford, Inc., Hartford, CT
AIDS Services for the Monadnock Region; The Cleve Jones Wellness House, Gilsum, NH
AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland, Cleveland, OH
AIDS Task Force, Inc., Fort Wayne, IN
AIDS Treatment Activists Coalition, New York, NY
AIDSfreeAFRICA, Ossining, NY
Alaskan AIDS Assistance Association, Anchorage, AK
American Civil Liberties Union, New York, NY and Washington, DC
American Medical Student Association, Reston, VA
American Public Health Association, Washington, DC
amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, New York, NY
Aniz, Inc, Atlanta, GA
Association of Nurses in AIDS Care, Akron, OH
AVAC: Global Advocacy for HIV Prevention, New York, N.Y.
AXIOS Eastern Orthodox LGBT Christian AIDS Ministry, New York, NY
Brandywine Counseling, Inc., Wilmington, Delaware
Brown University AIDS Program, Providence, RI
California Communities United Institute, Citrus Heights, CA
Caring Ambassadors Program, Oregon City, OR
Center for Health and Gender Equity (CHANGE), Washington, DC
Center for Health Justice, Los Angeles, CA
Center for Women Policy Studies, Washington, DC
Centre for Health Policy and Innovation, Johannesburg, South Africa
Chattanooga CARES, Chattanooga, TN
Chicago Recovery Alliance, Chicago, IL
Children With AIDS Project of America, Tempe, AZ
Circles of Fire Productions, Brooklyn, NY
CitiWide Harm Reduction, Bronx, NY
Common Ground – the Westside HIV Community Center, Santa Monica, CA
Community Access National Network (CANN), Washington, DC
Community Health Action of Staten Island, Staten Island, New York
Community Health Awareness Group, Detroit, MI
Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project (CHAMP), Providence, RI
Community Information Center, Inc., Portland, OR
DC Community AIDS Network (DC CAN), Washington, DC
Delaware HIV Consortium, Wilmington, DE
Delhi Network of Positive People (DNP+), Delhi, India
Dignity/USA National AIDS Project, Boston, MA
Divine Openarms, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Downtown Manhattan HCV Support Group, New York, NY
Drug Policy Alliance, New York, NY
Eastern Maine AIDS Network, Bangor, ME
Education for Healthy Choices, Sacramento, CA
EL HAYET des personnes vivant avec le VIH, Paye, Algerie
Elton John AIDS Foundation, New York, NY
Family and Medical Counseling Service, Inc. (FMCS), Washington, DC
Family Services Network of New York, Brooklyn, NY
Fenway Health, Boston, MA
Foundation for Integrative AIDS Research (FIAR), Brooklyn, NY
Frannie Peabody Center, Portland, ME
Gay Men’s Health Crisis, New York, NY
Global AIDS Alliance, Washington, DC
Global Coalition of Women against AIDS, Kampala, Uganda
Global Health Strategies, York, NY
Global Justice Ministry, Metropolitan Community Churches, Metropolitan Community Church of New
York, NY
Grand Rapids Red Project, Grand Rapids, MI
Greater Love Tabernacle-HIV/AIDS Services, Dorchester, MA
Harm Reduction Action Center, Denver, CO
Harm Reduction Coalition, New York, NY
Harm Reduction Institute, Indianapolis, Indiana
Health GAP (Global Access Project), New York, NY
HealthReach Harm Reduction, Augusta, ME
Hep C Connection, Denver CO
Hepatitis Education Project, Seattle, Washington
HIV/AIDS Law Project, Phoenix, AZ
HIV/AIDS Resource Center, Ypsilanti, MI
HIV Education and Prevention Project of Alameda County, Oakland, CA
HIV Medicine Association, Arlington, VA
HIVictorious, Inc., Madison, WI
Housing Works, New York, NY and Washington, DC
Human Rights Watch, New York, NY
IDSA/HIVMA Center for Global Health Policy, Arlington, VA
Indiana Minority Health Coalition; Brothers Uplifting Brothers, Inc., Merrillville, IN
International Community of Women Living with HIV and AIDS-North American Region, Washington,
DC
International AIDS Empowerment, El Paso, TX
International HIV/AIDS Alliance, Washington, DC
International Women’s Health Coalition, New York, NY
Interpharm International Limited, Kenya
Intersect Worldwide, New York, NY
Laramie Reproductive Health, Laramie, WY
Liberty Research Group, Rochester, NY
Life Foundation, Honolulu, HI
LifeLinc of Maryland, Baltimore, MD
Lilitan Research and Consultancy, Accra, Ghana
Lower East Side Harm Reduction Center, New York, NY
MCCNY Charities, New York, NY
Mendocino County AIDS/Viral Hepatitis Network, Ukiah, CA
Mennonite Central Committee U.S. Washington Office, Washington, DC
Metropolitan Community Church Key West, Key West, FL
Michigan Positive Action Coalition, Detroit, MI
Minnesota AIDS Project, Minneapolis, MN
Minority Health Coalition of Marion County, Indianapolis, IN
MOCHA Center, Inc., Buffalo, NY & Rochester, NY
National AIDS Fund, Washington, DC
National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors, Washington, DC
National Association of Social Workers – USA, Washington, DC
National Forum of People Living HIV/AIDS Networks in Uganda (NAFOPHANU), Kampala Uganda
National Hepatitis C Advocacy Council, Brooklyn, NY
National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable, Decatur, GA
National Youth Advocacy Coalition (NYAC), Washington, DC
Needle Exchange Program of Asheville (NEPA), Asheville, NC
Network of Zambian People Living with HIV/AIDS, Lusaka, Zambia
New Destiny Recovery Ministry, Inc, Baltimore, MD
New York Harm Reduction Educators, Inc., Bronx, NY & New York, NY
North American Old Catholic Church, Washington, DC
North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition, Winston Salem and Chapel Hill, NC
North Shore Health Project, Gloucester, MA
NYC AIDS Housing Network (NYCAHN), Brooklyn, NY
NYU Medical Center Hepatitis C Support Group, New York, NY
O'Connor Hospital HCV & HBV Support Group, Delhi, NY
Open Society Institute, Washington, DC
Philadelphia Global AIDS Watchdogs (GAWD), Philadelphia, PA
Phoenix Center, Springfield IL
Physicians for Human Rights, Cambridge, MA & Washington, DC
Population Council, New York, NY
Positive Health Project, Inc., New York, NY
Positive Outreach Foundation, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria
Positive Voice, Athens, Greece
Praxis Housing Initiatives Inc., New York, NY
PreventionWorks, Washington, DC
Project Inform, San Francisco, CA
PSI (Population Services International), Washington, DC
Public Health - Seattle & King County, Seattle, WA
Safe Nepal, Kathmandu, Nepal
SafeGames Project, New York, NY
Salud Latina/Latino Health, Chicago, IL
San Francisco AIDS Foundation, San Francisco, CA
Sexuality Information and Education Council of the U.S. (SIECUS), New York, NY and Washington, DC
Sisters and Brothers Helping Each Other, Kankakee, IL
SLO Bangers Syringe Exchange, San Luis Obispo, CA
Sonoma County Commission on AIDS, Santa Rosa, CA
Sonoma County Hepatitis AIDS Reduction Program (SHARP)/syringe exchange, Santa Rosa (and
surrounding areas), CA
Spokane AIDS Network, Spokane, WA
St. Ann's Corner of Harm Reduction, Bronx, NY
Status C Unknown, Medford, NY
Support on AIDS and Life through Telephone Helpline (SALT) Uganda, Kampala
Tapestry Health, Florence, MA
The AIDS Institute, Washington, DC & Tampa, FL
The Brown Global Health Initiative, Providence, RI
The Center for Prisoner Health and Human Rights, Providence RI
The Foundation for Research on Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Inc (FROST’D), New York, NY
The Global Forum on MSM & HIV (MSMGF), Oakland, CA
The Miriam Immunology Center, Providence, RI
The Space at Tompkins, New York, NY
The Women’s Center, Bronx, NY
Timi Hami Ani Hamro Nepal, Kathmandu, Nepal
Total Health Awareness Team, Rockford, IL
Transexuales y Transgeneros en Marcha (TTM), San Juan, PR
Treatment Action Group, New York, NY
Treatment Education Network, Denver CO
Triangle Health Collective, Durham, NC
Tri-County Health Coalition of Southern Indiana Inc., New Albany, IN
Trust for America’s Health, Washington, DC
2 God B The Glory, Inc Women Supportive Housing Program, Baltimore, MD
25 Messengers, Indonesia
Uganda Integrated Community Based Projects, Kampala, Uganda
UHAP -- Upstate New York Hepatitis Awareness Project, Delancey, New York
Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches, Abilene, TX
Urban Coalition for HIV/AIDS Prevention Services (UCHAPS), Washington, DC
Voices Of Community Advocates & Leaders (VOCAL), Brooklyn, NY
Vortex Consulting, LLC, Wenonah, NJ
Washington Heights CORNER Project, New York, NY
Wateree Aids Task Force in Sumter, SC
West County Health Centers, Inc., Guerneville, CA
Women in Motion, Inc., Indianapolis, IN
Youth Empowerment & Human Development Initiative (YEHDI), Kano, Nigeria

CC:
Senator John Kerry, Chair, Foreign Relations Committee
Senator Richard Lugar, Ranking Member, Foreign Relations Committee
Senator Inouye, Chair, Appropriations Committee
Senator Leahy, Chair, State, Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee
Senator Gregg, Ranking Member, State, Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee
Senator Tom Harkin, Chair, Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee
Senator Richard Durbin, Majority Whip
Representative Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House
Representative Howard Berman, Chair, Foreign Affairs Committee
Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Ranking Member, Foreign Affairs Committee
Representative Waxman, Chair, Energy and Commerce Committee
Representative David Obey, Chair, Appropriations Committee
Representative Nita Lowey, Chair, State, Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee
Representative Kay Granger, Ranking Member, State, Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee
Representative José Serrano, Chair Financial Services Appropriations Subcommittee
Representative Donald Payne, Chair, Foreign Affairs Africa and Global Health
Representative Michael Castle
Representative Elijah Cummings
Representative Jesse Jackson, Jr.
Representative Barbara Lee
Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard
Ambassador Eric Goosby, Global AIDS Coordinator

"Wow-ness" Center Heals HIV/AIDS, Now in Both Wilmington and Newark

Brandywine Counseling is happy to announce the expansion of our HIV Wellness Center to the Newark area. For over ten years, we've partnered with Christiana Care to offer a “one-stop shop” infectious disease clinic nested within BCI Lancaster. Many of the most chronically ill BCI patients have received readily available, high-quality health services, including primary HIV medical care, a Medication Adherence Program for those on antiretroviral therapy, and primary preventive counseling and medical care. Now, these life-saving services will be accessible to the 400 patients at our 24 Brookhill Drive location.

Access to medical care is crucial to the survival of an AIDS patient. Even more so for those who also experience drug addiction, mental illness, and other chronic conditions. We’ve seen many at our Lancaster Wellness Center climb out of the deepest, darkest abyss and get better. Sometimes, we can’t fully appreciate how remarkable these stories of recovery are, but here is a video that illustrates what it’s really about. It’s guaranteed to make you say, “Wow.”



The effects of AIDS can be reversed. We didn’t produce this video, it’s from South Africa’s Topsy Foundation, but its message holds true for our patients at the Wellness Center. Medical care brings people back to life. We are so delighted to work with Christiana Care to help even more Delawareans in need. Maybe we should call it the “Wow-ness” Center.

The Grand Opening of the Wellness Center at BCI Newark is Monday June 21. It coincides with an HIV and Hepatitis C testing event by our outreach team, including food, education, and incentives. Testing will be offered from 6 AM to 12 PM at Newark Monday June 21 and Friday June 25, and at Lancaster Tuesday June 22.


Thanks to Osocio for the link.

C.A.T.C.H. HIV Testing Week: June 21-26, 2010

C.A.T.C.H. (Community Agencies Together Combating HIV)

AIDS Delaware, Brandywine Counseling, Each1 Teach1, Latin American Community Center

Community HIV Testing Events
Free Food, Entertainment, Information, and Giveaways at most agencies
Picture ID required

Join CATCH and the movement to help end AIDS. Be 1 of the millions of Americans who will get tested before the next National HIV Testing Day June 27, 2010. HIV began 1 person at a time and it will end 1 person at a time. Early diagnosis & treatment saves lives. (Click flyer to view full size.)

Monday, June 21st Agency: Brandywine Counseling Newark Office
Time: 6:00am - 12:00 noon (For Clients Only)
Place: 24 Brookhill Drive, Newark, DE 19713

Tuesday, June 22nd Agency: Brandywine Counseling Lancaster Office
Time: 6:00am-12:00 noon (For Clients Only)
Place: 2713 Lancaster Pike, Wilmington, DE 19805

Tuesday, June 22nd Agency: Each1 Teach1 @ RoseHill Community Center
Time: 4:00pm - 8:00pm
Place: 20 Lambson Lane, New Castle, DE 19720

Wednesday, June 23rd Agency: AIDS Delaware @ Church of Ascension
Time: 5:00pm - 8:00pm (Receive Movie Tickets Only)
Place: 3700 Philadelphia Pike, Claymont, DE 19703

Thursday, June 24th Agency: Latin American Ctr. @ Sparrows Run
Time: 4:00pm - 8:00pm
Place: Sparrow Run, 5 Teal Circle, Newark, DE 19701

Friday, June 25th Agency: Brandywine Counseling Newark Office
Time: 6:00am - 12:00 noon (For Clients Only)
Place: 24 Brookhill Drive, Newark, DE 19713

Saturday, June 26th Agency: AIDS Delaware @ St. Ann’s Church
Time: 9:00am-12:00 noon(Receive Movie Tickets Only)
Place: 15 E. Green St., Middletown, DE 19709

Joyce Bunkley to Receive Guardian Angel Award

BCI congratulates Joyce Bunkley for receiving a 2010 Red Ribbon Award from the Delaware HIV Consortium. Joyce will receive the Guardian Angel Award Saturday April 17 at the WOW Awards Celebration. This award honors an individual whose efforts improve the daily lives of people living with HIV/AIDS.

Joyce is a Christiana Care Nurse who works full time at BCI’s Lancaster Avenue Center. She is an integral member of our infectious disease clinic, which serves many of our clients in the Safety Net Services and NSAFE programs. The clinic is our “one stop shop” for HIV/AIDS and mental health services within a single clinical home. Joyce and the team do a great job helping people struggling with multiple diagnoses comply with their medications. They also increase patient comfort by reducing scheduling, transportation, and other practical issues that might otherwise become overwhelming and frustrating.

Congratulations Joyce!

A Safety Net of Recovery and Stability

Brandywine Counseling’s Safety Net Services program, now in its third year, is making a difference for Delawareans with high HIV risk and severe substance abuse and mental health issues. Safety Net is an umbrella program offering treatment and pre-treatment to people at various stages of readiness for help, who would otherwise be “lost in the cracks” of social services. The focus is specifically on reaching women and ex-offenders, two of Delaware's highest-risk populations.

In the past year, Safety Net has assisted with over 2500 outreach contacts and 248 HIV tests. Many of our referrals come from the BCI Outreach team, who upon identifying a contact from the target population, will introduce them to the Safety Net Intervention Specialist. The Intervention Specialist will then offer services, see the client through the admission process, and remain in contact throughout their treatment experience. Many referrals also come from the Emergency Room at the Wilmington Hospital, made possible by the unique partnership of BCI with Christiana Care. Both sources have proven to be very successful “front doors” to treatment admission. In the past year, we’ve seamlessly transitioned 74 clients to addiction and mental health treatment, with a total of 148 active clients in the Safety Net program.

Six months after admission, we measure several indicators of recovery and stability. Safety Net participants show good progress on all measures. 56% report no drug use, 80% report no alcohol use, and 52% report no alcohol or drug use. Many reporting HIV risk at admission report reduced risk, with 66% who reported high-risk sexual activity reducing or eliminating risk, and 66% of injection drug users ceasing use. Three-quarters of the clients not housed at admission are now housed. Of the clients reporting no income at admission, 39% now have income. Clients also improved their support system and social connectedness. Half of those without a support network at admission have developed one. 95% of clients have no new arrests. 90% of the clients on mental health medications are compliant with their medications.

Overall, Safety Net Services has enabled many Delawareans with severe addiction and mental health issues to achieve recovery and stability. Our approach is holistic, simultaneously addressing multiple critical issues. The result is a newly created network of services that effectively assists clients into substance abuse treatment and provides a safety net before, during, and after treatment engagement.

Safety Net Services is funded through a grant from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment.

3 Years of Needle Exchange in Delaware: Saving Lives and Saving Dollars

The pilot Delaware Needle Exchange Program has had three very successful years. Over 700 people are enrolled, and over 38,654 needles have been exchanged. These potentially infectious syringes have been incinerated and destroyed. Not only have new infections been prevented, but participants have been successfully connected to substance abuse and HIV treatment services. Here are some more highlights, which we are also sharing with legislators today at the Joint Finance Committee budget hearings.

• 150 people have been referred to drug treatment, with an incredible follow up/success rate of 60%. Referrals have been made to methadone treatment, outpatient and inpatient drug treatment, and detoxification.


• Over 1200 people have been tested for HIV on the van. More than half were not needle exchange participants, but took advantage of the service being brought to their neighborhood. Testing has identified new HIV positive infections, as well as positives who know their status but are not in treatment. We are linking them to medical care and case management, which further reduces their risk of transmitting the virus.


• We have begun Pregnancy Screening on our van. Our goal is to reduce the infant mortality rate in Delaware by connecting drug abusing pregnant women to treatment immediately. This will ultimately save both the mother and the baby’s life. Delaware has an extremely successful record of preventing HIV infection among infants born to HIV infected mothers, with only one HIV-positive birth in the last 4 years. Expectant mothers with HIV in Delaware have access to comprehensive, high-quality care; yet, it remains imperative that we encourage them to be tested for HIV and to seek drug treatment.


• The needle exchange has made a difference for so many individuals in the past three years. Here is just one of those stories:
  
  "Cecilia" is a 24 year old Hispanic female who joined the needle exchange a little more than a year ago. She was an active drug user but was not ready for treatment. One day, after she had been with us about 6 months, Cecilia came on the van, tired and crying. She had finally had enough of the drug using lifestyle. We made her an appointment at the methadone clinic. She was having trouble signing up for Medicaid to handle her payments, so we helped her with that, and she was successfully admitted. At time of admission, she had a pregnancy test and found out she was 4 months pregnant. She stayed in treatment and gave birth to a healthy baby. Today Cecilia is still active in treatment and is also employed.


• Lastly, we would like to share with you the cost benefit of needle exchange. Delaware’s program receives $211,000 from the Division of Public Health each year. We know from a recent CDC study that preventing one new HIV infection saves $221,365 in treatment costs. So, the prevention of one new HIV infection pays for the Needle Exchange Program for one year. In three years, Delaware’s needle exchange has prevented an estimated 10-12 new infections by connecting nearly 20 people to HIV care. Therefore, we saved an estimated $2 million that would have been spent on treating those individuals - and that is a modest approximation that does not include the infections prevented when someone is admitted to substance abuse treatment.

The success of the needle exchange is thanks to the inclusive and considerate work of our program staff at Brandywine Counseling, along with incredible support from the City of Wilmington, neighborhood associations, the Faith Community, the Division of Public Health and the Wilmington Police. This is an excellent example of what can happen when a community mobilizes.

We must keep up the work we’re doing. This epidemic remains a challenge, but we are making progress. 3,489 people are living with HIV/AIDS in Delaware. The Black community accounts for 20.9% of the state’s population, but 66% of our HIV/AIDS cases. While the number of new infections each year has declined, in Delaware, 1 in every 83 Blacks has HIV/AIDS.

Delaware’s Needle Exchange remains dedicated to the following goals:

• We must encourage HIV testing for all those who are at risk.
• We must encourage all of those that are infected to seek treatment.
• We must encourage those not infected to take measures to ensure they remain uninfected. Until then, many will continue to pass the virus without knowing it.

James on Living With HIV/AIDS: “This Does Not Stop You.”

James was one of the first clients I met when I started at Brandywine 8 years ago. He was our first client in the NSAFE program back in 1997. In this video interview, he talks about living with HIV/AIDS and the help he’s received from NSAFE. It is a pleasure to see how well he is doing today and to bring you his story.

World AIDS Day Calendar of Events

Today is World AIDS Day. The following is a list of events taking place today in Delaware, courtesy of the Division of Public Health.

New Castle County

AIDS Delaware
Westminster Church,1502 W. 13th St, Wilmington, DE 19801
7:30 p.m.
Interfaith Service and Candlelight Vigil - a moment of remembrance with the calling of names of those who have died from HIV/AIDS.

Beautiful Gate Outreach Center
Bethel A.M.E. Church Annex, 604 N. Walnut Street, Wilmington, DE 19801
9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Encouraging HIV testing, outreach, free food and giveaways available.

Resurrection Center
3301 N. Market Street, Wilmington, De 19802
7 p.m. – 9 p.m. Prayer and Healing Service for Families and Friends Affected by HIV/AIDS.

Latin American Community Center (LACC)
Los Jardines, 100 West 5th Street, Wilmington, DE 19805(event location)
6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
The Latin American Community Center HIV Prevention Program will host a movie night event where participants will view a film dealing with the impact and stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS within the Latino community and use this film as a topic for discussion with participants to raise awareness and promote the importance of HIV/AIDS prevention education.Refreshments will be provided.

Kent County

Kent/Sussex Counseling Services
John Wesley A. M. E. Church, 217 West Division Street, Dover DE 19904
6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Candlelight ceremony and reading of names along with speakers from the community. Light refreshments.

Faith, Hope & Love Christian Fellowship
218 N. Rehoboth Blvd. Milford, DE 19963
6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.
An Evening of Remembrance service, community awareness and information.

Sussex County

CAMP Rehoboth
Art Reception: 37 Baltimore Ave, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971
4:30 – 6 p.m.Line-up for the walk 6:15 p.m.Starts at 7 p.m. Kick-off will be with an art exhibit featuring exhibits by HIV+ artist.

Candlelight Walk: Rehoboth Beach Bandstand, Rehoboth Beach
The Candlelight Walk of Hope and Remembrance will step-off at 6:30 p.m.

The Service of Remembrance: All Saints Parish, 18 Olive Street, Rehoboth Beach
After the Candlelight Walk, All Saints Episcopal will host a Remembrance service with the reading of the names of community members who have died of AIDS. A light supper in the All Saints parish house will conclude the evening.

Kent/ Sussex Counseling Services
Christ United Methodist Church, 510 S. Central Ave.Laurel, DE 19956
6– 7:30 p.m.
Candlelight ceremony and reading of names along with speakers from the community. Light refreshments.

Lared Health Center
The Georgetown Circle, Georgetown, DE 19947
12Noon- 5 p.m.
Free confidential HIV Counseling & Testing will be offered on the mobile test van.

5 – 7 p.m.
Program of remembrance & hope followed by a candlelight walk. Light refreshments.

Honors for BCI Staff

Two of our staff members are being recognized for excellent work.

Edna Maldonado of NSAFE will be honored for her diligence and commitment in the fight against HIV/AIDS at the 16th Annual Reach-Out Sunday, Nov. 22, 8 AM and 10:30 AM at Bethel AME Church, 604 N. Walnut St. Attendees are asked to bring a new clothing item for an adult male or female living with HIV/AIDS.

Chris Zebley of Christiana Care will receive the 2010 American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) Nurse Practitioner Award for Excellence. This prestigious award is given annually to a dedicated nurse practitioner in each state who demonstrates excellence in their area of practice. He will be recognized for this achievement during the 2010 AANP National Conference in Phoenix, Arizona.

Both Edna and Chris do an awesome job with a very challenging population, and deserve this credit. Congratulations!

Bill Gates Brings HIV Outreach to India

One of the counselors here directed me to a very interesting video on HIV prevention in India. Bill Gates’ foundation is partnering with the transgender Aravaani population to do some innovative and much-needed outreach work. We don’t often hear about HIV/AIDS in this part of the world or this population in particular. As you’ll see, they're using a prevention strategy that’s quite similar to the NIDA Community Outreach model BCI uses, in that a high risk population is being trained as peer educators, harmful behaviors are discussed candidly, and outreach workers are bringing services to where their clients are, like beauty salons. This looks like great work and hopefully it will have an impact.

Support BCI in the 2009 United Way Campaign

United Way of Delaware kicked off its 2009 campaign yesterday with a cheer by school students on South Market Street. The state's largest charitable campaign announced a goal of $20.5 million this year to benefit more than 100 member agencies including BCI.

Brandywine Counseling thanks you for supporting this year's campaign. There is no wrong way to give, whether your donation is large or small, whether you designate it to one agency or spread it around to many. We also know in this economy, it's not easy to be charitable, but it makes a difference for our clients.

What do United Way funds mean to member agencies? At BCI they support one full time position on our outreach team that goes out to do education, testing, and make referrals. We like to think of outreach as "opening windows of trust." Our clients are reluctant at first. It takes a friendly face, maybe a cup of coffee, bringing the services to them, and most of all, persevering and having patience. Because eventually, the light bulb will go on, and when someone is ready for help, we are ready to give it.

Like all member agencies, we measure outcomes. We report to United Way on the number of HIV tests we do, how many outreach contacts we make, and how many people reduce their risk. Results matter, and as a donor, you know your donation is going to a program that really works.
Your workplace probably runs a United Way campaign. If it doesn't, it’s easy to start! Contact United Way at (302) 573-3700 and they will set you up with everything you need. You can request guest speakers from member agencies for your campaign rally. There are many options to give, including payroll deduction or a one-time gift.

You can help not only through donating, but by spreading the word to others about BCI. The more we raise, the more we can help those in need. How can you spread the word? Here are some easy ways. Use email to send a post from our blog that will inspire people. Send friends to our Facebook page to see our photos, become Fans, and join the conversation. Or, just talk about us! When you're excited about BCI's work, other people will get excited, and they'll want to donate.

Thank you very much for your support this year. It saves lives, and it is really appreciated.

BCI Reaches Reluctant Clients by Creating "Windows of Trust"

BCI’s Safety Net Services is featured in this month’s CSAT Grantee Spotlight. We’re pleased to reprint it for you here. Pictured from left: Case Manager Sharon Brown, Nurse Joyce Bunkley, Nurse Practioner Chris Zebley, and NSAFE Manager Rhonda Swanson.

Basha Silverman is the Director of HIV Prevention Services at Brandywine Counseling in Wilmington, Delaware, and is the Project Coordinator of its Safety Net Services project. Sharon Brown is the Case Manager for the Safety Net Services project. We spoke with Basha and Sharon about this TCE/HIV grant and discussed their challenges, solutions, and lessons learned.

Grantee Profile
Brandywine Counseling provides behavioral health services to individuals with substance abuse problems and their families. It is Delaware’s largest provider of outpatient addiction treatment services.

Brandywine provides opioid treatment, drug-free treatment, mental health treatment, and case management. It includes pregnant and parenting women’s services, a drug court program, an infectious diseases clinic, and an HIV prevention unit.

Safety Net Services is a multicomponent project offering integrated addiction pretreatment, treatment, and HIV/AIDS services. It incorporates outreach, HIV education and testing, medication management, and co-occurring disorders treatment. This grant targets women and ex-offenders and creates a safety net for at-risk and HIV-positive substance abusers at various stages of readiness to enter addiction treatment.

What are your unique challenges?
Clients have unique patterns of willingness, readiness, and commitment to treatment. They become interested, engaged, and disinterested, and leave, return, and cycle back and forth.

When engaged, clients visit us often, bring their babies, visit our clothes closet, and use our dropin services. We view these as special windows of opportunity to make use of clients’ motivation to change. But these windows can close quickly, challenging our ability to remain engaged.

Co-occurring mental health issues are notable challenges. When clients don’t have rapid access to mental health medications or professionals, their windows of opportunity can rapidly close and their treatment needs may be left unmet.

How do you address these challenges?
Since client willingness and readiness are dynamic processes, we make engagement methods flexible and dynamic. We meet clients where they are, not where we want them to be.

When clients stop coming to us, we reach out to them. But they shy away if outreach is coercive or pushy. Thus, we use gentle motivational interviewing techniques during outreach. We meet clients at times convenient to them. They are often on the street in the early mornings.

Our Case Manager will conduct outreach between 4:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. At such times, clients are often tired and willing to talk and join the Case Manager for coffee and donuts and discuss treatment. Many clients are willing to enter treatment on the spot. Since our program accepts intakes at 5:30 a.m., the Case Manager can take advantage of windows of opportunity and help admit clients immediately.

To enhance outreach effectiveness, our Case Manager has multiple roles. All of our clients are assigned a counselor and a Case Manager. Our Case Manager is an active part of the counseling team and conducts follow-up locating and outreach. Thus, clients already have a relationship with her. She is a friendly face.

We promote treatment-on-demand to address mental health challenges. CSAT funding helped us expand the roles and hours for our nurse and nurse practitioners. They previously worked only with HIV clients but now work with HIV clients and those with co-occurring disorders. We were also able to increase physician and psychiatrist time. These changes increased access to psychiatric evaluations and medication management. Having our Case Manager coordinate appointments further increased access and reduced waiting lists.

What lessons would you like to share?
Program and client goals can be at odds. A program may seek to achieve 80 percent abstinence, which is commendable. But clients may have such goals as getting a home or a job, leaving an abusing spouse, or reuniting with their children. They may want to be better spouses or parents.

We can improve the lives of our clients best if we use goals and milestones that are client-centered, realistic to each client, and take into consideration the resources in the community and clients’ lives.

We implemented several process improvements that resulted in reduced waiting time and increased admissions. To do so, we had someone anonymously walk through the admission process and experience it from a client’s perspective. This revealed delays to make appointments, complete the intake and assessment paperwork, enter treatment, and receive lab tests.

We convened a committee to analyze the processes. We took steps to reduce appointment times, shortened the admission process by eliminating duplicate admission and assessment paperwork, and reduced lab delays from weeks to hours by using same-day lab tests.

How has GPRA data collection helped you?
Asking the GPRA tool questions fosters thoughtful and probing discussions with clients. It helps to create relationships with clients and opens up windows of trust and intimacy. Asking the GPRA questions helps us to better understand clients’ lives, experiences, treatment needs, and resources.

This article is reprinted with permission from CSAT Discretionary Grantee News, July 2009.