Some Good News for Florida ADAP

Posted on February 28, 2011 by elizabethlombino

Post originally published on Change.org

Some Good News for Florida’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program

The AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) crisis in Florida continues, but there is some encouraging news.

ADAP is an invaluable state program that assists HIV-positive individuals in paying for their very expensive medications. HIV medications are necessary to treat and manage HIV/AIDS and to prevent disease progression. These medications are necessary to keep a person living with HIV/AIDS alive. Indeed, they are the very reason HIV is now a chronic disease, and not acutely life-threatening.

Yet funding for ADAP programs is being cut across the country. One state that has been hit particularly hard with budget cuts is Florida.

As this cause has reported, there have been ups and downs in the push to reinstate Florida’s vital program. One positive step has been the inclusion of Welvista as a resource to those HIV-positive Florida residents who are having difficulty paying for their life-saving medications.

One big negative is that the Florida ADAP program continues to have the highest number of HIV-positive individuals on its waiting list. As of February 24, there are a total of 6,704 people on waiting lists in 11 states. Florida has 3,407 of those individuals on their waiting list alone.

As of February 1, there were just over 5,550 people in ten states on waiting lists. Florida had 2,879 people on their waiting list at that time. This is a jump of 1,154 people nationally, 528 people in Florida alone, and the addition of another state. In just a few weeks. These numbers continue to climb and the ADAP crisis continues to worsen.

In some encouraging news, Florida Democratic U.S. Representative Alcee Hastings recently proposed a budget amendment to Florida legislatures that would move a much-needed additional $42 million to ADAP. Rep. Hastings has a proven record of advocating for some of the nation’s most vulnerable populations. This amendment clearly shows his support of HIV-positive Florida residents.

ADAP Advocacy Association (aaa+) applauded Rep. Hastings amendment. aaa+ continues to be on the front lines of this important battle in Florida, and around the country. With continued advocacy and support from major players like Rep. Hastings, we will see some more relief in this ADAP crisis.

Please join us in signing the petition to tell Florida legislators to reinstate full ADAP. If you have already signed, thank you. Share this with your network and encourage others to support this important cause.

To read the post on Change.org, click here.

Filed under: Change.org, HIV/AIDS, Poverty, Social Media | Leave a Comment »

More Noise from Gainesville, Florida

Posted on February 28, 2011 by elizabethlombino

Post originally published on Change.org

Gainesville Soup Kitchen Hopes to Change Meal Limit

The heated debate in Gainesville, Florida continues.

As this cause has reported, Gainesville officials have enforced a meal limit ordinance to area soup kitchens. The rule states that soup kitchens can provide meals to only 130 people. If you are number 131, you do not eat. It is as simple and crude as that.

This story has garnered attention from activists and media around the country. There is collective outrage and disgust at this petty and inhumane limit. Yet, the rule remains. There has been little to no movement from Gainesville officials.

In the hope of making some positive movement in eradicating the limit, Kent Vann, Executive Director of the St. Francis House soup kitchen at the heart of this debate, recently made an appeal to officials.

He is seeking to change the wording of the ordinance to reflect a limit on the time the soup kitchen can serve food, not a limit on number of people. Kent is hoping that by altering the ordinance to reflect a three-hour time limit, it will allow for some guidelines that could satisfy the city officials, while not keeping a head count.

Perhaps this could be a more inclusive ordinance. Perhaps this is all just political nonsense.

Many activists involved in this battle feel this ordinance is outright inhumane and unnecessary. Of course it seems clear that no such ordinance should exist at all (at least to the over 5,400 people who have signedthe petition). Yet clearly Gainesville city officials are rigid in their stance of keeping some sort of strict guideline in place.

Mr. Vann seems mindful of this and has been creative in his thinking and advocacy. Sometimes creative thinking is an advocate’s best tool.

Please continue to join us in voicing your outrage of this inhumane rule! If you have already signed the petition, please pass it along to someone who has not. Together, we can move one step closer to ensuring that not one more person goes hungry in Gainesville.

To read the post, and sign the petition, please click here.

Filed under: Change.org, Homelessness, Poverty, Social Media | 1 Comment »

Caring for Yourself While Caring for Others

Posted on February 28, 2011 by elizabethlombino

The capacity for compassion and empathy seems to be at the core of our ability to do the work and at the core of our ability to be wounded by the work ~ Charles Figley

March is National Social Work Month. As Social Workers, we are in the business of helping others. It can be very rewarding work, and also it can be incredibly draining and overwhelming. We work with some of the most disenfranchised populations and we hear some incredibly traumatic stories. Over time, the work can affect us in really intense ways.

This is often referred to as the “cost of caring” for others in emotional pain. Simply put, we have clear emotional reactions to the people we are helping.  And since most of us have our own issues that inspire us to enter the field — we are wounded healers — our reactions can be even more powerful.

When we ignore this phenomenon, that’s when the trouble may begin. This is known as the Professional Blind-Spot  – meaning we get in the way of our own work. We need to acknowledge the stress and face the challenges. We need to take care of ourselves to better care for others.

Self-care is so essential in our field. Self-care is essential period. For Social Workers, this could mean the difference between being happy in your work and burning out quickly. So many of us leave the field or switch roles quickly due to all of this intense work. Self-care can make a huge difference. Taking breaks, taking vacations, setting boundaries, enjoying hobbies, having outside interests, working out, meditation, humor, friends, family, chocolate … all of these can help keep us fresh and excited about the work.

I’m a huge proponent of self-care and I try to practice my strategies each day. I maintain boundaries, exercise, eat right, enjoy time with my family, try to have a few good belly laughs, and truly enjoy a nice glass of Pinot Grigio. Or a few pieces of dark chocolate.  Yet, I’m also human and certainly not perfect. There are days when my self-care is outright ignored. Part of self-care, for me, is to do my best each day and know that there is always tomorrow. I have learned to go with the flow – after many years of practice.

We empower our clients to take care of themselves and to ask for help; we need to get better at these skills ourselves. We need to let others know when we are struggling. We need to become more aware of when we need a break. We need to learn to be honest and real with ourselves in the process. We deal with such raw emotional stories every day. We can learn to be open to our own emotions. We need to develop the strategies needed to get us through it all. And be able to wake up the next day to do it all over again.

This Social Work Month, take some time to care for yourself. Your clients will benefit, your family and friends will benefit, and you will benefit. Happy Social Work Month to my fellow Social Workers!

We hold in our hands the power…to shape not only our own but the nation’s future ~ Dr. Dorothy I. Height

Filed under: Compassion Fatigue, Hope Notes, Just for Laughs, Self-Care, Social Work, Strengths Perspective, Stress Reduction | 2 Comments »

Renewed Push for Housing Assistance for HIV+ New Yorkers

Posted on February 23, 2011 by elizabethlombino

Piece originally published on Change.org

New York Activists Renew Push for Housing Assistance to HIV+ Residents

HIV/AIDS advocates in New York are hoping to prove to new Governor Cuomo that housing assistance is a necessity to HIV-positive individuals.

Back in September, we reported that then New York State Governor David A. Paterson vetoed a bill that would have provided additional rental assistance to residents who are living with HIV/AIDS. The legislation would have put a cap on rent paid by HIV+ persons based on a percentage of their income. For example, if a person receives $700 a month in disability income, her rent could be no greater than $210 a month (i.e., 30% of $700).

The bill passed in both the Senate and Assembly by wide margins, simply requiring the governor’s signature as the final act of approval. He vetoed it, claiming his reasoning was purely financial.

“This is my most difficult veto,” Paterson said in a statement at the time. “I recognize, sadly, the history of the inadequacy of services government has brought to bear for those with HIV/AIDS.” But, he added, “I have pledged not to impose unfunded mandates on cash-strapped localities, and to prevent the state from taking on additional financial burdens outside the budget process without an identified funding source.”

Gov. Paterson acted in response to the heavy pressure from the Bloomberg administration, which has historically been against this type of assistance. With a new governor in office, advocates hope that a renewed push will get this important bill passed.

Gov. Cuomo has shown more sympathy regarding the needs of HIV-positive individuals. He was Secretary for Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for most of the 1990′s. Throughout his appointment, he had arecord of increasing federal housing for people living with HIV/AIDS.

HIV management cannot exist without people having their basic needs met, especially housing.Poverty and homelessness can be a deadly combination for an HIV+ individual.

HIV/AIDS is the number one cause of death in New York City homeless shelters, according to the most recent Department of Homeless Services study (pdf). HIV compromises a person’s immune system. An HIV+ person is therefore more at risk of contracting illnesses than those without HIV and the illnesses they contract are then more likely to develop into life threatening conditions. A common cold virus, for example, may spread more rapidly in the body of an HIV+ person and potentially develop into pneumonia, especially when cold temperatures are added into the mix. As homeless shelters tend to breed more illnesses than most other places, there is a greater risk of an HIV+ person becoming severely ill when staying in them.

As for finances, providing housing and care for HIV+ individuals to maintain their health is much more cost effective than exposing them to an environment that will no doubt allow their HIV disease to progress. When HIV is not managed adequately, further medical issues develop and there is a need for more intensive treatment strategies. Treatments that are also much more costly.  Sure, in the short term officials may save a few bucks, but in the long term it will be disastrous for the financial stability of New York State. Plus the continuous spread of disease would lead to public health issues that would further strain the government’s resources. This is inhumane for the person living with HIV who is in need of stable housing.

New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, a Manhattan Democrat and a vocal advocate for people living with HIV, said at the time of the original veto: “We are talking about some of New York City’s most vulnerable citizens who for many years now have been forced to live on practically nothing … I understand not having enough resources. But at the end of the day, you get judged by how you take care of those in your city who are the most vulnerable.”

These are powerful words. Now it is time for powerful action. Please join us in urging New York state elected officials to provide housing assistance to HIV+ residents!

To read the full piece, and sign the petition, click here.

Filed under: Change.org, HIV/AIDS, Homelessness, Poverty, Social Media | Leave a Comment »

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of the Virginia State AIDS Drug Assistance Program

Posted on February 22, 2011 by elizabethlombino

Post originally published on Change.org:

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of the Virginia State AIDS Drug Assistance Program

Those living with HIV and living in Virginia will most likely not receive financial assistance for their incredibly expensive medications. The AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) crisis continues.

As we recently reported, Virginia’s ADAP is one of many within our nation that has slashed its funding. Currently, there are 760 HIV-positive, uninsured Virginia residents who were kicked off the program in December 2010. In addition, enrollment was closed to most new clients, including those clients whose immune systems are strong enough (high T-cell count) to not be at immediate risk of disease progression. Once again, Virginia health officials seem to miss the whole point of these vital medications: that they are the very method to prevent disease progression.

Sure, an HIV-positive person with a higher T-cell count may not be at an “immediate risk” of further health issues now, yet with time and without medications their disease will progress and will become life-threatening.

Virginia state officials also stated at the time that those clients who were dis-enrolled would be connected with financial assistance through other programs and entities. Yet those on the front lines of HIV care statethat this is just not happening. In fact, many clients are not receiving any care and treatment at all. It seems there are too many barriers that an uninsured, HIV-positive individual confronts with accessing alternate forms of care. Many disenfranchised clients are already faced with a tremendous amount of obstacles in navigating the health care system (i.e., lack of insurance, limited facilities that provide care, transportation, child care, employment issues, etc.). To then have to face additional red tape and paperwork to access alternate forms of treatment can be disastrous.

Unfortunately, Virginia may be experiencing a conflict in theory versus practice.

In somewhat good news: Governor Bob McDonnell has proposed an increase in state funding for ADAP in 2012. This is a promising move in the right direction, yet will it be too late? This is a whole year until fundingmay be re-instated. Those who are not at an “immediate risk” now may become very ill in that time.

This is an example of government moving at government pace, not at the pace of medical issues. No one can predict just how fast a person’s HIV disease will progress. For some, it may be years; for others, much less time. Is this a risk we are all willing to take? It is incredibly inhumane to gamble with the health and the life of any HIV-positive individual.

We can’t wait for legislation and red tape; we need change now. Tell Virginia State officials to show their love for HIV-positive residents.

To view post on Change.org and to sign the petition, click here.

Filed under: Change.org, HIV/AIDS, Poverty, Social Media | Leave a Comment »

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