Healthy & Strong

Saludable y Fuerte
T H E N E W S L E T T E R O F A L I A N Z A L AT I N A , I N C .

Jan/Feb 2012 Vol. VI No. I

Newsletter Date

Starting the New Year Off Right

Happy New Year to one and all. The start of a new year is a fantastic time to try something new, to make a change for the better in ones own life. At Alianza Latina, encouraging positive life changes is what we do all year round, by working with individuals to facilitate the step-by-step process of reducing ones risk of infection or transmission of HIV and other chronic diseases.

Keep up to date with Alianza Latinas events in the community

Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ alianza.latina.buffalo Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ALWNY

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In addition to all of our existing programs, which will continue, the start of a new year is the perfect moment to be able to present a number of new services that will be available at Alianza Latina this year. Weve recently been awarded a new grant to expand our services from HIV prevention to also include prevention of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and Hepatitis C. The new program will offer one-stop HIV, STI and Hepatitis C testing, as well as a broad array of supportive and follow-up services for individuals who may be positive or at risk of infection with any of these diseases. Along with the option for expanded testing services, an individual who walks through the doors at Alianza Latina will have the opportunity to participate in one-on-one risk reduction counseling, programs for active substance users who are not currently in treatment and referrals to important services in the community, including health care. Finally, were excited to be able to offer mental health services under our roof as well in order to address an outstanding need in the urban communities that we serve. Both individual counseling and therapeutic support groups will be offered for individuals enrolled in services here. And, we cant forget to mention that all services will be available in both English and Spanish and are completely free of charge. We wish you success in accomplishing whatever your personal goal is for this new year. If the services that we provide here at Alianza Latina can help you or anyone you know in the process of accomplishing your goal, please dont hesitate to contact us!

Inside this issue:

STARTING THE NEW
YEAR OFF RIGHT

EMPZANDO BIEN EL AO
NUEVO

MEET OUR NEW STAFF

Empezando Bien El Ao Nuevo

Feliz Ao Nuevo a todos! El empezar del ao nuevo es una buena oportunidad para probar algo nuevo y para mejorar un aspecto de nuestra vida. En Alianza Latina, fomentamos cambios positivos en la vida de los miembros de nuestra comunidad durante todo el ao, trabajando con la comunidad para promover la reduccin de riesgo de infeccin o transmisin de VIH y otras enfermedades crnicas. Adems de todos nuestros programas existentes que continan en este, el nuevo ao es el momento perfecto para poder presentar una serie de nuevos servicios en la Alianza Latina. Recientemente hemos recibido fondos para ampliar nuestros servicios de prevencin del VIH para incluir tambin la prevencin de Infecciones de Transmisin Sexual (ITS) y la hepatitis C. El nuevo programa ofrecer servicios integrados incluyendo pruebas para VIH, ITS y hepatitis C, as como una amplia gama de apoyo y servicios de seguimiento para las personas que pueden ser positivos o en riesgo de infeccin con cualquiera de estas enfermedades.

NATIONAL BLACK HIV/ AIDS AWARENESS DAY

PEER EDUCATORS, COM- 3 MUNITY AMBASSADORS RECENT HAPPENINGS

NATIONAL WOMEN & GIRLS HIV/AIDS AWARENSS DAY UPCOMING EVENT: CELEBRATE YOU!!

Healthy & Strong

Meet Our Newest Staff MemberAlexis Soto-Colorado
My career goal always has been to improve the quality of life of minority or poor communities, and my education and work experience reflect it. My last degree was a Master Urban Planning and it told me that a community doesnt need one specific occupation to be a healthy community, but it needs the combination of every discipline from nurses to janitors to be a healthy community. I have worked for three years in the public health field and my first experience was an internship with Alianza Latina doing community mapping. During my internship, I noticed the interdisciplinary nature of public health and how it can directly impact the community. Later, I went to Buffalo AmeriCorps where I was the program coordinator of the DYouville College and Belle Centers Asthma program. My goal at Alianza Latina is to work to increase awareness and reduce the rate of HIV among Latinos and Communities of Color, which already are overwhelmed by other economic and social issues.

Alexis joined our team in December 2011 as our new Harm Reduction Counselor. African Americans are the racial/ethnic group most affected by HIV. In 2009, African Americans comprised 14% of the US population but accounted for 44% of all new HIV infections. See the Story Below about National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

Empezando Bien Continuado de p. 1

Junto con la opcin de ampliar los servicios de pruebas, una persona que camina por las puertas de Alianza Latina tendr la oportunidad de participar en una consejera de reduccin de riesgos, programas para los usuarios de sustancias activas que no estn actualmente en tratamiento y referencias a servicios importantes en la comunidad, incluyendo atencin medica. Por ltimo, estamos muy contentos de poder ofrecer servicios de salud mental en nuestra casa con el fin de responder a una necesidad pendiente en las comunidades urbanas que servimos. Tanto el asesoramiento individual y grupos de apoyo teraputicos se ofrecen para las personas inscritas en los servicios de Alianza Latina. Y, no podemos dejar de mencionar que todos los servicios estarn disponibles en ingles y espaol. Todos los programas son gratis. Le deseamos xito en el cumplimiento de sus objetivos personales en este nuevo ao. Si los servicios que nosotros ofrecemos aqu en Alianza Latina pueden ayudarle a usted o alguien que usted conoce durante el proceso de cumplir su objetivo personal, no dude en comunicarse con nosotros.

National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

February 7 marked the 12th annual observance of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. African-American communities are disproportionately affected by HIV, representing 44% of the countrys new infections in 2009. According to the most recent statistics, approximately 20,000 blacks become infected with HIV in the United States each year, (and of those 20,000 individuals, 70% were male). The CDC predicts that at some point in their lifetime, 1 in 16 black men and 1 in 32 black women in the United States will become infected with HIV. However, the statistics are changing. The numbers of new HIV infections among blacks have actually been decreasing over the last five years. Here at Alianza, we are proud to be part of the effort to reduce the impact of HIV within the African American community and other Communities of Color in the City of Buffalo. We offer a variety of programs for individuals and groups focused on providing health education and promoting risk reduction for at-risk communities. Were out on the streets each week passing out free condoms and talking to people about the importance of routine HIV testing and safe sex. Well keep working till the epidemic is over! See you out there!
Written by Jessica Lehsten, Harm Reduction Counselor

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Jan/Feb 2012
Peer Educators, Ambassadors to the Communities We Serve
Peer Educators are community members who work with Alianza Latina to help us in building strong connections with the communities we serve. Peers are an essential part of our street outreach teams and help out with other programs as well. The following article is written by Terri Aughtry, a Peer Educator at Alianza Latina since 2008. _______________________

I have a great love and compassion for my work and what I do helping people. As a Peer Educator for Alianza Latina, we go out in the community as a team, meeting people, passing out condoms

and literaturealso at various barber-shops and nail salonstalking to people about testing and different services the agency has to offer. By being a Peer Educator my job is to let people know about certain risk factors and how to better protect themselves and others by being safe, being knowledgeable and of educating oneself about using universal precautions and harm reduction techniques. We have a very good staff and nice clients to work with. I could not work for a better place! Im glad to be a part of the team.
Terri, at workand smilingin the community.

In October, Alianza Latina celebrated National Latino AIDS Awareness Day with many other local agencies and community members at The Belle Center. Keep an eye out for this years event, coming in October 2012.

Commemorate National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day with Us

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2009, women represented 24% of all diagnoses of HIV infection among United States adults and adolescents. Black and Latina women are affected disproportionately in terms of HIV infection rates and negative health outcomes after infection. The unequal spread of HIV amongst women of color highlights the need for greater education and health services to be provided within communities of color. Every year in March people around the nation work to bring awareness to how HIV is affecting women and girls, who comprise 52% of our countrys population. In honor of National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, Alianza Latina will be hosting an event on Saturday, March 17th 2012. Our goal this year is to bring awareness to the importance of womens health, including knowing ones HIV status. Speakers and presentations will highlight key heath issues for women. In addition, the event will celebrate the inner and outer beauty of the women in our community with activities including hair, nail, make-up and massage demos from local salons and spas. There will be prize giveaways, refreshments and, as always, confidential HIV testing will be available. The event is absolutely free, so please gather your mothers, sisters, daughters and friends and come celebrate women! Written by Lisa Schult, Community Educator
For more details on our National Women & Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness DayCelebrate You!please see page 4.

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COMING SOONJOIN US!!