On November 10 – 12th, 2008, twenty participants gathered in Los Angeles, CA for the fifth installment in the Family Style series.  Participants hailed from every region of the United States and the Pacific Island Jurisdictions, coming from as far away as Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Many attendees were Family Style veterans, having been to at least one other Family Style training in the past. Given that, the first morning of the training was filled with lots of excitement and hugs as people reconnected with each other.
 
"Family Style" is an annual series of trainings, developed and coordinated by Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center and funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as part of a five year capacity building program. The goals of the trainings are to deliver critical information and skills to HIV prevention service providers who work with Asian & Pacific Islander (A&PI) populations. The trainings also serve as a venue for the sharing of best practices and building of stronger relationships and networks among A&PI providers. In the past, training topics have included implementation and adaptation of evidence-based interventions, in addition to leadership building, program design, and program evaluation.

With funding cuts looming at both national and local levels, A&PI Wellness Center's FA 2 team realized that providers needed to be able to continue to run their HIV programs in spite of diminishing resources. Family Style V: Getting More Mileage Out of Your HIV Prevention Programs was designed to better prepare providers to both identify and access resources and funding opportunities and utilize them effectively. The training had two main objectives:

The training was evaluated by participants, and the results were compiled and analyzed by an external consultant. Overall, the quality of both the training and the trainers was rated as high, and participants found that the training was valuable for networking with other participants. The majority felt that the training increased their ability to analyze gaps in HIV prevention program budgets and their knowledge about funding resources, while the topics covered were deemed relevant to their future work in HIV prevention.

For more information about Family Style, contact Sapna Mysoor, National CBA Program Specialist, at sapna AT apiwellness DOT org.

December 1, 2008 marked the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day. To commemorate the day, Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center and the Banyan Tree Project produced a new public service announcement—the first of its kind to specifically address female-to-male A&PI transgenders, who are often ignored despite being at higher risk for HIV infection, discrimination, and stigma.

Nationally, the number of transgender women with HIV could be as high as 27.7%. In San Francisco, that number is as high as 48% and the rate of HIV infection specifically among A&PI transgender women is estimated at 27%.

BTP consulted with transgender staff and convened a focus group with members of the A&PI transgender community to develop a hard-hitting script. The resulting PSA starred high-profile A&PI transgender women, Tita Aida, Asia Vitale, and Erica Raney. They say, "I am in control of who I am and how I live my life. As Asian and Pacific Islander transgender women, we are at risk of getting infected with HIV. We can change that—we can call the shots. Be in control of your health and life. Talk to your partner about using protection every time you have sex."

To disseminate the PSA, BTP used non-traditional methods to minimize costs, placing copies of the ad on YouTube to allow embedding of the video on other websites. The viral distribution campaign also targeted A&PI and trans-focused blogs to feature the PSA, including the GLAAD Blog, The Social Vibe Blog, and Transgriot. Nationally, the LGBT-focused cable channel LOGO agreed to pick up the PSA, airing it since December 1. While concrete viewing numbers aren't available for LOGO, the channel reaches an estimated 35 million homes. The PSA was also embedded on the BTP web page, Facebook, and MySpace, via YouTube, and garnered over 2,000 views.

For more information on the Banyan Tree Project, contact David Stupplebeen, Media and Communications Coordinator, at das AT apiwellness DOT org.

On May 19, the Banyan Tree Project will again be leading National Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, in its 5th year. We ask everyone this year to turn compassion into action by helping to spread our message. Attend a May 19th event! Check out the events page on the Banyan Tree Project website to find an event in your area. Share our public service announcements with your friends and family. If you have a website, please link to ours using our web buttons. Sign the Banyan Tree Pledge. Get more updated information by becoming a fan of the Banyan Tree Project on Facebook.

Other May 19th-related events:

May 7, 2009: National A&PI HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Celebration at San Jose State University, 7th Street Plaza, 12-2pm. Featuring cultural performances by San Jose Taiko, San Jose City Councilman Ash Kalra, free food, free health information, and free on-site HIV rapid testing. Sponsored by the Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Collaborative of Santa Clara County and A&PI Wellness Center.

May 18, 2009: Acts of Love: Turning Compassion Into Action, an evening with special guests Al and Jane Nakatani and a screening of their documentary, Honor Thy Children at A&PI Wellness Center, 5:30-8:30pm. With a special introduction by Dr. Jesus Felizzola of the National Minority AIDS Education and Training Center. To RSVP, please email das AT apiwellness DOT org or call (415) 292-3420 x 361

Understanding Socio-Cultural and Psychological Factors Affecting Transgender People of Color in San Francisco
By Pollie Bith-Melander, PhD

Last year, I was asked to conduct a needs assessment to discover the socio-cultural and psychological factors affecting transgender people of color through collaborating with our TRANS:THRIVE program, which serves as the only “drop-in” center and social support space in San Francisco for transgender people of color. This rapid ethnographic qualitative study explores the needs of transgender people of color, which includes biological transitioning issues, gender and group membership identity formation, HIV and other health issues from a group of 43 transgender youth and adults of color in San Francisco. Data was collected from in-depth interviews of 20 youth and adults and additional 23 individuals from 4 focus groups, which focused on perspectives of racial and ethnic minorities from Asian and Pacific Islander, African American, and Latino backgrounds. This study uses the medical decision-making perspective in order to gain a deeper understanding of the socio-cultural and psychological factors affecting transgender individuals of color in San Francisco. The major themes uncovered are related to gender identity, group membership, transitioning and related issues, sex work, alcohol and drug use, mental health and health care, sense of community, HIV, resources and other support. Included are key clinical considerations that health providers can use to improve the care of transgender youth and adults of color in health care settings. 

For more information or CBA support on this topic, please contact Dr. Bhupendra Sheoran, Associate Director of Community Development, at sheoran AT apiwellness DOT org.

The Sangam Project: Organizational Capacity Building in Santa Clara County

The Sangam Project, funded by the federal Office of Minority Health, is aimed at achieving a more comprehensive and culturally competent approach to health care by ensuring a seamless continuum of prevention, care and treatment for A&PIs at high risk or living with HIV/AIDS in Santa Clara County and integrating this approach into mental health, substance use, primary care (including Hepatitis, TB and STIs), and other community based health and social services.   

The Sangam Project is a collaboration between Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center, Partners in AIDS Care and Education Clinic and Asian Americans for Community Involvement.  The Sangam Project takes its name from the Sanskrit word meaning “confluence”—a place where many rivers meet and combine. It builds off of the foundation created by and lessons learned in Santa Clara County from FLARE (Fostering Leadership for Asian & Pacific Islanders through Research and Evaluation), a previously funded capacity building assistance program. 

The Sangam Project:

• Develops Leadership - expanding a cohesive network of the Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Coalition of Santa Clara County.
• Promotes Healthy Behaviors and Service Utilization - improving service delivery through specialized anti-stigma capacity development and sponsoring an Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day event.  
• Documents and Disseminates Best Practices - creating a toolkit of project materials, processes and evaluation methods and presenting lessons learned at regional and national conferences.
• Provides Technical Assistance and Capacity Development - creating group level trainings and giving one-on-one technical assistance based on a comprehensive needs assessment.  

To get more involved, contact Jane Dalugdugan, CBA Program Manager, at jane AT apiwellness DOT org.

Since 1997, the California Statewide Treatment Education Program (CSTEP) has provided training on medical and behavioral aspects of HIV disease to educate and prepare HIV and health service providers, peer educators and advocates to most effectively serve people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) from communities of color. The goal of the California Statewide Treatment Education Program (CSTEP) is to provide providers with fundamental HIV information thereby reducing disparities in access to and successful utilization of optimum HIV treatments among PLWHA in communities of color. 

CSTEP is delivered throughout California in urban, rural and border areas, and offers training in English and Spanish.  Since 2000, CSTEP has trained 1,872 participants who attended 130 trainings. Ongoing treatment updates are electronically disseminated to the network of participants who attend any CSTEP training.

Go to www.cstep.org for the latest training calendar and fun facts about CSTEP!

The 2nd Regional Pacific Island Jurisdictions AIDS Action Group (PIJAAG) Summit on HIV/AIDS in Pohnpei, Micronesia was a tremendous success! The Summit had over 120 participants and featured local and international presenters over the course of three days in April. Life Foundation's Pacific Trainer, Peter Tuiolosega Silva, and Pohnpei's HIV Coordinator, Johnny Hebel, co-chaired this groundbreaking Pacific event and presided over the Summit. The Capacity Building Assistance (CBA) department co-sponsored the event as part of our agency's mission to fight HIV in Hawai'i and the Pacific.

The theme of the conference, "Pacific In Action: Putting the Pieces Together," called on participants to strengthen their response to HIV by sharing different perspectives and strategies on HIV prevention, testing, care and treatment, and community planning. PIJAAG is comprised of government and community members from the six U.S. affiliated jurisdictions—American Samoa, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia (Pohnpei, Chuuk, Yap and Kosrae), Guam, Republic of Marshall Islands, and Republic of Palau.

People living with HIV played a pivotal role throughout the Summit, especially in the opening plenary which highlighted the lives of Angel Cruz of Guam and Peati Maiava of Samoa. Sessions were led by country participants and provided an ideal setting in which to share the experiences and challenges of implementing HIV programs in their Pacific Island countries.

The meeting was also a key opportunity to increase collaboration between donors and partners, and to bridge the north-south divide that exists in the Pacific HIV arena. "Seeing all the donors and partner agencies focusing on collaboration and discussing how they could coordinate their work was like a dream come true for us at a country level," said PIJAAG co-chair Hana Ngiruchelbad of Palau's Health Ministry.

Primary sponsors of the Summit included AIDS Education and Training Center, Asian and Pacific Islander American Health Forum, Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center, the Government of FSM, GUAHAN Project, Life Foundation, National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors, Office of HIV/AIDS Policy, Office of Minority Health Resource Center, Tibotec Therapeutics, and Region IX Office of Women's Health. In attendance were also various international agencies serving the Pacific, including the AusAID-funded Pacific Regional HIV/AIDS Project, Pacific Islands AIDS Foundation, Secretariat of Pacific Community, and United Nations Population Fund.

Life Foundation would like to send a special mahalo to Mr. Johnny Hebel and the local Pohnpei host committee. The coordination of transportation, lodging venues, and nightly receptions was remarkable.

Xuan-Lan Doan, Life Foundation's Deputy Director, perhaps best sums up the experience of all who attended, stating "I came back refreshed and re-inspired in the work we do; and we take the lessons and heartache from all those living and passed on from HIV to continue this important work."

Asian Americans for Community Involvement (San Jose, CA)

Asian Health Coalition of Illinois (Chicago, IL)

Asian Pacific AIDS Intervention Team (Los Angeles, CA)

Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (San Francisco, CA)

Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Collaborative of Santa Clara County (Santa Clara County, CA)

Life Foundation (Honolulu, HI)

Massachusetts Asian & Pacific Islanders for Health (Boston, MA)

Partners in AIDS Care and Education Clinic (San Jose, CA)

Project Inform (San Francisco, CA)

Capacity building refers to activities that improve an organization or HIV program’s ability to achieve its mission and goals more effectively.  It is a key strategy for the promotion and sustainability of health prevention and care programs.

A&PI Wellness Center provides organizational, programmatic technical support using a variety of culturally-competent approaches to improve delivery of HIV services, increase HIV awareness and fight the HIV epidemic across communities of color.

Funded by the CDC, our National CBA program is a network of CBA providers that provide national- and regional-level support to community-based organizations. A&PI Wellness Center provides support around strengthening HIV prevention programs and community access to and utilization of HIV prevention services under two different Focus Areas (FA), FA 2, “Strengthening Interventions for HIV Prevention,” and FA 3, “Strengthening Community Access & Utilization of HIV Prevention Services.”

If you would like to request CBA, please visit our CBA request form. We will respond to your request within 72 hours. For general CBA related questions, or to find out more, email cba@apiwellness.org.

Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center
730 Polk Street, Fourth Floor, San Francisco, CA 94109 USA
(415) 292-3400
www.apiwellness.org