Tucson Observer: SAAF Update: By Wendell Hicks

When I first started at SAAF almost a year ago, I was told that the summer months would be slow. Well, they haven’t been. They’ve sped by and I’m excited to share some wonderful things that have been happening thanks to our very generous community and people like you committed to keeping up-to-date on the local challenge of HIV/AIDS.

We’re excited to announce that, thanks to a generous grant from the MAC AIDS Fund, SAAF’s first Women’s HIV Prevention Program is here! The goal of the program is to reduce the rising rate of HIV infection among women, particularly among women of color who are disproportionately affected by the epidemic by increasing awareness, providing education, encouraging women to know their HIV status, and empowering women to take charge of their sexual health.

If this is a program that you want to learn more about or financially support, I invite you to contact SAAF at (520) 628-7223.

An energetic group of 14 youth, ages 12-17 came together from all over Pima County for a full week of training designed to empower them to serve as role models for their peers in HIV prevention. The HIV Youth Peer Educator (HYPE) program was great! Not only did the youth take the information seriously, but they also showed great leadership skills to help make this a very effective model to engage and educate the next generation. They will participate in a Holiday Retreat to survey how their skills have been put to use. Look for follow up information after the holidays.

Client Services recently made changes to improve services for people living with HIV/AIDS. The reorganization helped SAAF respond to changes in funding as well as increase the quality of programs for people served through this department. While the goal of streamlining processes for program effectiveness and client satisfaction are positive steps for clients and community collaborators, SAAF did have to reduce staffing in Case Management and Support Services because of funding challenges. With that said, Client Services still served 7% more people accessing services this year than the previous year and 124 new people living with HIV became part of the SAAF family accessing services that range from food or housing to medication assistance or Case Management. Thank you to the clients and community for your patience during this process.

If you would like to learn more about Client Services or how you can financially support services for people living with HIV, I invite you to contact SAAF at (520) 628-7223.

And of course, it wouldn’t be summer if we weren’t talking about AIDSWALK. Last year was amazing and 2008 looks like it will once again raise the bar! I encourage each of you to register, fundraise, and walk together in support of people living with or affected by HIV.

This event is for community members like aunts, uncles, sisters, brothers, mothers, fathers, cousins, friends or loved ones that are living with or have been affected by HIV and AIDS and are supported through SAAF’s prevention and client services programs. This event is also a poignant reminder to remember loved ones taken by HIV/AIDS. This walk is for everyone. I hope to meet each of you on Sunday, October 19^th at the University of Arizona, and hear your personal stories of how or why this event is so important to you. Please help give this day the attention it needs. AIDS continues to challenge our community, and I know that how we respond defines our humanity- we need your support in meeting this challenge!.

Hope to see you on October 19^th!

Wendell Hicks

Executive Director