Empowerment Resource Center

Achieving Health Outcomes: One Client At A Time. Please support ERC's health-related programs services. CFC #72847 Please feel free to ask any questions and we will provide you with the best answer!

[erc-inc]

Stateline – Poll Shows Support for Medicaid Expansion in Southern States

New poll shows Deep South politicians are out of step with their constituents on Medicaid expansion.

This is ridiculous! Our governors and legislatures have rejected the Medicaid expansion, which would extend health care coverage to more low-income people EVEN THOUGH a large majority of people living in the Deep South support the expansion. 

Not only will these states deny health coverage to poor residents AND lose access to a huge amount of money from the federal dollars, they will see an increased spending on uninsured people's unpaid medical bills. The state and local governments will have to bear higher costs for uncompensated care

Th 14 states who have opposed the Medicaid expansion will deprive 3.6 million people of health coverage. 

[erc-inc]

Young gay and bisexual men have been warned the risk of contracting HIV has grown significantly! New figures have revealed a four-fold increase in new diagnoses among those aged between 25 and 34, the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (Glen) said sexual health education and targeting HIV prevention measures were critical! It is important to know your status and to protect yourself!! Have fun! Enjoy yourself but be wary of your sexual health! Use condoms EVERY time you have sex! If you're in the Atlanta metro area, call us at [phone] for free condoms. We have all kinds -- Flavored, Glow-in-the-Dark, Skins and MORE.

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/new-figures-reveal-sharp-increase-in-hiv-among-young-gay-men-1.1422177

[the-healing-nest]

Instead of saying “I don’t have time” try saying “it’s not a priority,” and see how that feels. Often, that’s a perfectly adequate explanation. I have time to iron my sheets, I just don’t want to. But other things are harder. Try it: “I’m not going to edit your résumé, sweetie, because it’s not a priority.” “I don’t go to the doctor because my health is not a priority.” If these phrases don’t sit well, that’s the point. Changing our language reminds us that time is a choice. If we don’t like how we’re spending an hour, we can choose differently.

Unknown (via the-healing-nest)

It’s true.

(via gettingahealthybody)

[rogersfree-deactivated20160211]

Today in 1984....

Scientists discover AIDS.

Check out these items from our collection regarding the topic…….

[erc-inc]

POZ asked the question in its December edition whether or not the OTC HIV Test be a treat, or a trick?! Real Health posed the same question in its Winter edition. The test is quite simple and we actually use it at ERC. After swabbing your upper and lower gums to collect the oral fluid, you wait 20 minutes for the test to develop. One bar means you're HIV negative; two bars mean you are HIV positive. It's important to note that the test is NOT searching for the HIV virus but for the antibodies that fight against the virus. The pros: The test would be available to many people who would not otherwise get tested and they would be able to do it in the comfort of their own home. This test will definitely help more HIV-positive people learn their status and hopefully take the steps to reduce the transmission of the virus. HOWEVER, there is no absolute assurance that those who get tested wont fall through the cracks. It happens to those who get tested in a clinic or testing centers. "How can we expect people who choose to test outside of the existing system to then seamlessly enter and navigate that system on their own?" - Christopher Hurt, MD, an assistant professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill At the Empowerment Resource Center, we encourage EVERYONE to get tested. If you feel comfortable testing yourself at home, PLEASE report your positive status and seek post-test counseling in person, online or by phone. You can call us at [phone] and we can counselor you and set up appointments with a primary care physician. Know Your Status.

[blackaidsinstitute-blog]

We are partnering with Frontline for an online screening of ENDGAME: AIDS in Black America this Sunday, March 10 on National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.   Here’s the link to where the screening will be held, which contains all the details: https://ovee.itvs.org/screenings/lyv12, and anyone can take part.   It will begin at 8 pm ET and be followed by a Q&A. We’ll be joined during the screening and afterwards by: Filmmaker Renata Simone Dr. Lisa Fitzpatrick: http://huff.to/MBqaDE Marvelyn Brown: http://bit.ly/12rGiv

[erc-inc]

Apparently, it will be DEVASTATING!

Any reduction in the amount of funds will slow or halt the development of global health tools as well as the progress that could be made against these diseases. It has been reported that these cuts "would barely make a dent in reducing the US federal deficit but would have crippling impacts on people's health and lives around the world". 

We could lose almost $482 million!!! This money goes to support the development of new drugs, new prevention tools and new vaccines. 

[pozliving-blog-blog]

Here’s what Facebook, Google, & Twitter told the Supreme Court about gay marriage

“Marriage equality has become a hot topic in Silicon Valley — hot enough that some of technology’s most visible consumer-facing companies are willing to take a stand for the side they believe in.

In an amicus brief (embedded in full below), a couple hundred companies have signed on in support of marriage equality. The brief is being presented to the Supreme Court, which is debating DOMA, the Defense of Marriage Act, in the bellweather case United States v. Windsor*.

Some of the tech companies involved include (in alphabetical order) Akamai, Cisco, eBay, Facebook, Gilt Groupe, Google, Intel, Intuit, Microsoft, Oracle, Orbitz, Qualcomm, Twitter, Xeroc, and Zynga. The city and county of San Francisco has also signed onto the brief…”

Read more at Venture Beat

[lemmepetyourdog-deactivated2016]

Alan Watts: What if money was no object? (x)

[socialworkit-archive]

By JONATHAN WEISMAN

“WASHINGTON — Bowing to pressure from within their own party, House Republican leaders last night appeared to clear a path for House passage of the Senate’s broadly bipartisan reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.

The House Rules Committee, an arm of leadership, approved a bifurcated process to consider the legislation, which would broaden the landmark 1994 law. The House will vote on a Republican version on Thursday that contains provisions that weaken a Senate version that empowers Native American courts to prosecute non-Indians accused of violence on tribal land. The House version also does not explicitly extend programs to prevent domestic violence and treat its victims to members of same-sex relationships.

If that version fails to win passage, the House will take up the Senate-passed version — at this point the likely outcome. That would ensure a swift White House signing ceremony.

The Senate passed that version earlier this month, 78 to 22, with 23 Republicans voting yes, up from 15 last year.”

[seeeyanever]

[erc-inc]

"Violence against women isn't about access to firearms, it's about a culture that views women as objects to be acted upon rather than fully realized human beings," said filmmaker Jennifer Siebel Newsom, founder of media literacy organization MissRepresentation.org.

"That's the debate we should be having -- how to change the culture of objectifying women and the acceptance of rape myths -- rather than this distracting conversation which uses the tragedy of rape as a chess piece in a game about gun control."

Source: CNN

[erc-inc]

COLLEGE STUDENTS WAKE UP!!!!

According to Science Daily, HIV Testing Knowledge Amount College Students was LOW in 2008. Su-I Hou, associate professor in the UGA College of Public Health, surveyed more than 500 studetnts and found that they scored higher on general questions relating to HIV and AIDS than items specifically related to HIV Testing!

It is important to know that HIV tests do NOT measure or detect the virus itself but look for the body's reaction to the the virus. This basically means that the tests look for the presence of antibodies!

The antibodies generally appear within three months after the initial HIV infection, but it may take up to six months for some people. During this "window period", an infection person may still obtain a negative result but can still transmit the virus to others!!

This is VERY important information and can save lives!

[erc-inc]

Fellow Tumblrs! Let's consider these disturbing facts: African Americans are the racial / ethnic group most affected by HIV. African Americans accounted for 46% of all HIV infections cases diagnosed in 2010. African American men are 9.5 times more likely to die of AIDS than non-Hispanic White men. African American women are almost 20 times more likely to die from HIV/AIDS, as compared to non Hispanic White women. Let's start a conversation. Get educated about HIV prevention and get tested to know your status.

*Source: CDC 2012. HIV Surveillance Report

[erc-inc]

Researchers now believe...

 that herpes lesions act as an entryway for HIV, so that people infected by herpes are much more likely to become infected with HIV if they come in contact with the virus. So, although herpes itself may not be deadly, having herpes can have deadly consequences. 

Empowerment Resource Center Comprehensive Intervention Clinic is now testing for Herpes 1 and 2. If you have any questions or would like to schedule your appointment today, call 404-526-1145.

[actgnetwork]

The Oscars are rapidly approaching and HIV/AIDS documentary How to Survive a Plague is up for best documentary! Our longtime HIV/AIDS advocate Bill Bahlman is featured in the film and shares his thoughts on activism and how he hopes the Academy will vote in our latest biweekly spotlight. https://actgnetwork.org/bill-bahlman

[actgnetwork]

Even though Hurricane Sandy hit the US in October 2012, her impact is still being felt at our clinical trial sites in New York City. Although our researchers continue seeing patients in alternative locations, not one patient has missed any of their medications!

[pozliving-blog-blog]

AIDS Drugs Have Spurred The Fastest Life Expectancy Growth In Public Health History

“The advent of accessible antiretroviral drugs in South Africa has sparked what an AIDS studies is calling ‘the fastest life expectancy gains in public health history.’ Details follow. 

An unprecedented seven-year study in South Africa has unveiled some rather remarkable findings: providing AIDS medications to more than 101,000 HIV positive South Africans has increased the adult life expectancy of the entire region by more than eleven years in one decade…”

read more at Instinct