Gaining freedom from jail or prison can be a bittersweet experience for people who were formerly in prison or jail. For most, life is not much better when returning to society — reengaging with family, finding a place to live, a job, and other resources can be a lifelong challenge.
This challenge is especially burdensome for individuals emerging from incarceration who are HIV-positive...
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The AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) is taking a decisive step toward deepening its valued partnerships with community organizations and advocates most crucial to the HIV/AIDS fight by filling two key roles on its staff: vice president of Policy and vice president of Prevention and Community Partnerships.
After serving AFC for 10 years — and the HIV prevention community for far longer...
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For years, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) has partnered with Vida/SIDA — a project of the Puerto Rican Cultural Center — to ensure the health and well-being of the Latino/Latina community by offering free HIV testing, counseling and other services crucial to prevent the transmission of HIV. Under their umbrella falls a program called “El Rescate,” a new initiative...
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A new year means new challenges — and new opportunities to make a positive impact on the HIV epidemic. The AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) team has a number of new initiatives planned for 2015, and here are 15 highlights:
15. Prioritizing the health of women and transgender women of color
Launching in 2015, Project Elevate will build innovative HIV and STI...
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The AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) applauds the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on their announcement today eliminating the outdated lifetime blood-donation ban for gay and bisexual men, enacting instead a rule that bans men who have had sex with men within the past year from donating blood. While the removal of the lifetime ban is a critical step forward, this one-year deferral period continues...
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After five years of brave leadership for the city of Chicago — and, in particular, the estimated 25,000 people living with HIV and AIDS in the city — Dr. Bechara Choucair announced today that he is stepping down from his role as the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) commissioner.
Dr. Choucair has been a strong ally in the fight to prevent new HIV infections in Chicago,...
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This week, Ramon Gardenhire walked through the doors leading to the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC)’s headquarters on Jackson Blvd. It’s something he has done many times for years, but today things are different: AFC has a new president/CEO, a new office floor, many new staff members — and now, a new leader of its Policy team.
Gardenhire, who served as AFC’s...
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The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) released in late November a concept paper describing how Medicaid Health Homes might be implemented in Illinois. Health Homes are authorized under the Affordable Care Act to provide care coordination to people with two or more chronic diseases, or one chronic disease and increased vulnerability for another one.
The federal...
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For 25 years, Northern Trust has been a steadfast supporter of the fight to end the HIV epidemic — and support those living with the virus. Ever since making its first charitable contribution to the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) in 1989, Northern Trust has demonstrated its commitment to improving the quality of life of people living with and vulnerable to HIV in communities across Chicago...
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More than 1,100 sweet and savory enthusiasts indulged in a night of tasty creations at the AIDS Foundation of Chicago’s (AFC) 13 th annual World of Chocolate gala, Dec. 4 at Union Station. The one-of-a-kind celebration featured 22 of Chicagoland’s top chocolatiers, chefs and caterers. Held annually in commemoration of World AIDS Day, this year’s event raised approximately $134,000...
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