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Making the Fourth Decade of AIDS the Last

June 3, 2011

On June 5, 1981, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published the first official mention of the appearance of a mysterious illness among a cluster of gay men. The obscure citation in the equally arcane Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report is often referred to as the “beginning of AIDS.” Since then, AIDS has claimed the lives of more than 25 million...
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Standing with Mayor Emanuel

May 16, 2011

“Mayor Emanuel provided hopeful signs for an aggressive reform agenda on HIV and related concerns.” By Keith R. Green , AFC Federal Affairs Director On May 16, 2011, I had the privilege of attending the City of Chicago’s inauguration ceremony where 50 City Council members, citywide officials, and the Honorable Rahm Emanuel, Chicago’s newest Mayor,...
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House Budget Ups HIV Funding by $2 million

May 12, 2011

Great news!  The Illinois House on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 released a proposed public health budget for next fiscal year that would restore $2 million in HIV funding.  This higher amount would reduce funding cuts to cost-effective HIV prevention, care and housing programs.  We couldn’t have done it without your advocacy—and the leadership of State Rep. Sara Feigenholtz...
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Illinois Senate Proposes $3.5 million Cut to Critical HIV Programs

May 5, 2011

AFC Urges  to Reverse Funding Cut, Identify Revenue The Illinois Senate on May 3, 2011 released nearly two dozen bills that could make up next year’s state budget.  The proposed (IDPH) budget would reduce state funding for HIV programs by 11% or $3.5 million.  This funding cut was included in Governor Pat Quinn’s introduced state budget in February.   ...
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Illinois Announces Reduced Access to HIV Medication Assistance, Effective July 1

April 18, 2011

AFC Urges Governor, General Assembly to Reverse Decision in the Interest of Public Health On April 15, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced plans to restrict access to the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) to new applicants with incomes at or below 300 percent of the federal poverty level ($32,670 for a single individual) beginning in July.  The current...
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IDPH House Appropriations Budget Testimony

March 23, 2011

Improve HIV/AIDS Outcomes in the FY 12 State Budget: Tie Budgeting for Outcomesto the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, Overhaul Grantmaking, and Sustain Public Health Programs for Former Inmates with HIV Testimony presented by John Peller, Director of Government Relations, AIDS Foundation of Chicago Before the Illinois House Human Services Appropriations Committee,...
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Support comprehensive sex education

March 21, 2011

On March 15 in Springfield, Senate Bill 1619, the Illinois Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) Act , passed out of the Senate Public Health committee. This is a great first step towards comprehensivein Illinois schools. SB 1619 is moving to the full Senate; we need your help to make it a reality for Illinois youth. Take action now and send your state senator a letter urging...
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Keith R. Green Joins AIDS Foundation of Chicago

March 7, 2011

CHICAGO March 7, 2011 — The AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) announced today its appointment of Keith Green, founding member of the Chicago Black Gay Men's Caucus and former director of Project PrEPare, to the newly-created post of Director of Federal Affairs. "We are excited and proud to have Keith join our organization," said AFC President/CEO David Ernesto Munar. "Keith's energy,...
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Governor proposes HIV Cuts, Consolidation in FY 2012 budget

March 3, 2011

Facing a grim fiscal environment despite the recent state tax increase, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn proposed February 16, 2011 a $26.9 billion state general fund budget for Fiscal Year 2012 that cuts state HIV programs by 11%. The Governor’s proposal consolidates four separate Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) HIV funding accounts into one, and cuts overall state funding by...
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CROI: Blacks More Likely to Have HIV Virologic Failure

March 3, 2011

CROI: Blacks More Likely to Have HIV Virologic Failure By Ed Susman, Contributing Writer, MedPage Today Published: March 01, 2011 Reviewed by  Zalman S. Agus , MD; Emeritus Professor University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and Dorothy Caputo, MA, RN, BC-ADM, CDE, Nurse Planner BOSTON -- A meta-analysis of five clinical...
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