Word on the Street: What You Should Know from the Community  | June & July 2017
Word on the Street, July 2016, from the UCSF Center for AIDS Prevention Studies and Prevention Research Center
"Word on the Street" is disseminated quarterly to inform CAPS/UCSF PRC of new developments, issues, programs, policy agendas, etc. that are happening in, affecting, and are of interest to the community. 

 In This Issue

  1. Let's Talk About PrEP: "I Will Be Heard" 
  2. The Black Church and HIV: The Social Justice Imperative
  3. 30th Annual East Bay HIV Update
  4. CA Department of Public Health Office of AIDS (CDPH–OA) 
  5. Oakland TGA Collaborative Community Planning Council (CCPC
Let's Talk About PrEP: "I Will Be Heard"

June 27, 2017 - The Counter Narrative Project and California Prostitutes Education Project (CALPEP) hosted an event “I Will Be Heard” on National HIV Testing Day. The event, sponsored by CAPS/PRC, brought together a group of black MSM to have an open discussion about PrEP.

Discussion highlights/Takeaways:


  • Younger participants had more information about PrEP and were more receptive to considering it than older ones.

Participants:


  • Expressed concern that black MSM are the last to know about biomedical prevention efforts and the need to be more educated about PrEP.
  • Learned that “party packs”, which include Viagra, crystal meth, Truvada, and antibiotics for gonorrhea are available and in use at party scenes attended by gay men/MSM.
  • Shared that they don’t like taking pills and is a barrier to PrEP, and they would be more inclined to consider PrEP if was available in another form. PrEP injectables was discussed as a future option and was favorably received by some attendees.
  • Discussed the value of being in monogamous relationships as a prevention measure.
  • Expressed concern for mental health issues that are widespread but get little funding and attention.
  • Would like to see more effort to bring together MSM and the church to address communication gaps and build relationships.
  • Expressed the desire to have future, ongoing discussions on topics of concern for black MSM.

To learn more about potential discussion groups contact Alvan Quamina at [email protected]
The Black Church and HIV: The Social Justice Imperative

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and Gilead Sciences joined with the Clinton Global Initiative to end HIV in Black America. They formed a partnership with The Black Church & HIV: The Social Justice Imperative, which is committed to reducing the impact of HIV on Black America through faith. On June 23, 2017, these organizations held a community town hall in Oakland, California. The event brought together the church community, public health, city government, and community based organizations to harness the power of the Black Church to end the HIV epidemic in Black America.


To learn more and stay informed about this national initiative, scheduled activities and webinars, etc. visit http://www.theblackchurchandhiv.org/. 
30th Annual East Bay HIV Update 
This annual conference brought together people infected and affected by HIV including HIV service providers, community- and faith-based organizations, HIV advocates and policy makers, etc. to discuss and/or receive training on current, relevant HIV/AIDS topics. Visit http://bayareaaetc.org/resource-item/2016-east-bay-hiv-update/ for a list of presentations or follow the links below for specific talks.


HIV Care and Prevention Update: download


Latinos and HIV Stigma

  • National and/or local data shows that Latinos perform worst regarding new HIV infections rates, PrEP uptake, late testing, care retention, and viral suppression than certain other race/ethnic groups and/or the general population.
  • In San Francisco, the HIV continuum of care is significantly improved for Latinos when care providers address social determines of health and care is provided through a cultural competent/cultural humility lens.
  • Learn more here download


Fast Track Cities, East Bay “Getting to Zero” Efforts – Top goals of the effort identified by the community include:

  • Increasing the # people on PrEP by ≥100%
  • Increasing the % of PLWHA retained with 1 medical visit/year to ≥90% 
  • Learn more at these links download, download, download, download


Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)

  • The majority of MSM syphilis cases in California (2007-2016) reported meeting sex partners on the internet followed by bars/clubs and bath houses/sex clubs.
  • In California, high levels of gonococcal urethritis are resistant to treatment.
  • Learn more here download


HIV and Healthcare Policy

In California (1988- June 2014), 95% of HIV-specific criminal incidents impacted people engaged or perceived to be engaged in sex work; large percentages were Black and Latina (67%) and women (43%). A number of HIV legislative bills have passed or are expected to pass in California. Bill passage will:


  • Decrease HIV stigma and eliminate discriminatory HIV/AIDS laws – CA Senate Bill 239; U.S. bi-partisan Bill “Repeal HIV Discrimination Act 2017”
  • Support single payer health plan – CA Senate Bill 562.
  • Provide for supervised consumption sites – CA Assembly Bill 186.
  • Learn more here download


Mental Health and Substance Use: Tips for Helping Clients: download


HIV and Aging: download
California Department of Public Health Office of AIDS (CDPH–OA)

Highlights/takeaways include:


The CDPH-QA reported the following at the July 2017 San Francisco EMA HIV Community Planning Council and Oakland Transitional Geographic Area Community Collaborative Planning Council meetings. Contracts have been awarded to:

  • AltaMed Health Services to reach men who have sex with men (MSM), including young MSM, and MSM of color, and transgender women in Los Angeles and Orange Counties.
  • Los Angeles LGBT Center to focus efforts on MSM, specifically young MSM of color, and transgender women of color.
  • San Francisco AIDS Foundation (SFAF) to work in partnership with the Asian and Pacific Islander (API) Wellness Center and East Bay AIDS Center to reach MSM and transgender of color.
  • San Diego County to leverage existing outreach and HIV testing to improve linkage to care for HIV and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP).
  • San Diego, Orange and Alameda Counties, and the Desert AIDS Project (Riverside County) to reduce HIV infections and improve engagement in HIV medical care and increase access to PrEP among MSM of color and transgender persons. Awardees will develop comprehensive models to increase access to PrEP within their jurisdictions utilizing multiple approaches.


For questions, please contact: [email protected]
Oakland TGA Collaborative Community Planning Council (CCPC): Alameda County, Contra Costa County

Highlights/takeaways include:


California Wellness foundation has awarded WORLD (Women Organized to Respond to Life-threatening Diseases $500,000/year for three years to work on a women and STI initiative. WORLD is collaborating with Alameda County Public Health Department (ACPHD) and is looking to partner with Girls Inc. and CALPEP.
If you have questions or need more information, please contact Barbara:

Barbara Green-Ajufo, DrPH, MPH
Research Partnership Manager
Community Engagement (CE) Core
Phone: (415) 476-6362
Email: [email protected]
Quick Links
The mission of Center for AIDS Prevention Studies is to end the HIV epidemic and associated health and social disparities by conducting high impact HIV prevention science and building capacity among researchers and communities to effectively address HIV. Grant #: 2P30MH062246
The mission of the UCSF Prevention Research Center is to maintain an interdependent network of community, academic, and public health partners to design and implement prevention research aimed at answering significant and innovative HIV research questions and promoting the wide use of practices proven to promote health for those infected and affected by HIV.  Grant #: 5U48DP004998 
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