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In response to shrinking resources,
the Michigan AIDS Coalition (MAC) and AIDS Partnership Michigan (APM) announced
a joint fundraising campaign, Red Ribbon Remembrance, which will use a single
fundraising mechanism to fund multiple AIDS service organizations (ASOs). All
funds deriving from the Red Ribbon Remembrance campaign will be “unrestricted
funds” the organizations may use for any purpose, in contrast to grant money
and funding from the Michigan Department of Community Health, which are
earmarked for specific programs.
Chief Operating Officers Terry Ryan
(MAC) and William VanHemert (APM) hoped the historic collaboration would be the
first of more partnerships among the nine remaining Michigan ASOs. In the past,
ASOs that competed for grants and funding feared collaborating would force them
to merge with other AIDS organizations. However, advances in HIV treatment and
a shift in donor attention to issues such as marriage equality have resulted in
reductions in grant funding, corporate donations, and individual gifts, which
encouraged MAC and APM to work together on projects.
Uncertainties caused by the
Affordable Care Act also affect ASOs. The renewal of funding for the Ryan White
Act, which ensures access to up-to-date HIV medications, is unsure; it also is
possible that HIV will be reclassified as a “chronic disease,” which could
shift emphasis away from prevention toward a medical model of treatment.
Federally qualified health clinics and doctors could become responsible for
HIV/AIDS care, requiring ASOs to focus efforts on HIV/AIDS prevention and
treatment education for new providers.
MAC programming includes a Detroit
drop-in center that offers testing for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis C; condoms;
and decision-making programs for young African-American men who have sex with
men. APM programming includes prevention programs, testing, empowerment
programs for young men, medical case management, and a re-entry program for
people being released from incarceration.
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
