Governor Pat Quinn Approves Soto, Delgado Bill to Create State Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS Prevention Messages Targeting Youth

Governor Pat Quinn

(Springfield, IL) – September 2, 2009. Governor Pat Quinn last week approved legislation that creates a new state advisory council to help state government develop effective HIV/AIDS prevention messages targeting youth.

The legislation, House Bill 3974, sponsored by State Representative Cynthia Soto (D-Chicago) and State Senator William Delgado (D-Chicago) would create the Illinois Advisory Council on Youth HIV/AIDS Prevention Messages to advise the Illinois Department of Public Health on effective prevention messages to deter youth from engaging in risky behaviors that lead to HIV/AIDS infections.

“The percentage of Illinois HIV/AIDS infections that is represented by youth has been growing enormously over the last eight years, and that growth, in part, represents a failure of HIV/AIDS prevention messages to effectively reach youth” said Cathy Krieger, President & CEO of The Children’s Place Association based in Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood.

“We are grateful to Governor Quinn that he recognizes the problem of youth HIV/AIDS infections and is acting to address the problem.”

On February 27, 2009, at the 2nd annual Illinois Youth & HIV/AIDS Forum sponsored by The Children’s Place Association, the Illinois Department of Public Health presented data that revealed that the youth proportion of reported HIV/AIDS infections in Illinois has grown from 10% in 2000 to 20% in 2008—a 100% increase.

“This is a staggering increase,” said Krieger.

In addition to the IDPH data, new research was presented by Dr. Dexter Voisin, an Associate Professor, University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration that examined the attitudes of Chicago-area college students in seven focus groups, including blacks, Latinos, whites, males, females, and gay men—regarding HIV/AIDS prevention messages.

The research findings revealed all groups reported a significant reduction in the intensity, range, and the length of media messages on HIV prevention and testing over the last 5 years.

More specifically, the research showed that young blacks and Latinos in Chicago tend to distrust most sources of government information on HIV/AIDS prevention. And young Latina women in Chicago fear getting an HIV/AIDS test out of concern that they may be labeled negatively as “fast” women.

“The bottom line is that AIDS media prevention messages targeted at young people in Chicago are not working,” said Krieger. “We think the advisory council approved by Governor Quinn is a good step to address the problem.”

Good job, Governor.

Governor Blagojevich Threatens Budget Cuts to HIV/AIDS Testing, Drugs

(Chicago, IL) — Among the $1.5 billion of budget cuts that Governor Rod Blagojevich threatens in the open-ended slug-fest with the legislature is $1.5 million for HIV/AIDS testing and medication.

Unless the Illinois House of Representatives led by the Governor’s arch nemesis Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) approves assorted revenue raising schemes demanded by Governor Blagojevich, the Governor will cut:

• HIV/AIDS medication for approximately 100-200 through the AIDS drug assistance program because there will be no funding to expand eligibility–$1,000,000

• HIV/AIDS testing and links to healthcare for 10,000 uninsured residents who are unaware of their HIV status–$500,000

Without medication, people infected by the HIV/AIDS virus tend to, well, die. Without testing, people infected by the HIV/AIDS virus and who are unaware of their status tend to, well, spread the virus.

Despite threatening to eliminate the $1.5 million for HIV/AIDS testing and drug money, Governor Blagojevich will maintain a $400 million increase for elementary and secondary education championed by the Governor’s key and nearly only political ally Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago).

Tonight Governor Blagojevich is holding a fund-raiser at the River East Arts Center to extol his leadership. If you want to show your support, the Governor provides oodles of levels to show your appreciation for his good deeds:

• $20,000–Co-Chair
• $15,000–Benefactor
• $10,000–Patron
• $5,000–Sponsor
• $500–Ticket

The VIP reception is 5:30-6:00 p.m. The rest of the herd gathers between 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Please make your cheque payable to: Friends of Blagojevich.

If this event eats into your healthcare budget, you can attend the Gay Pride Parade on Sunday, June 29. The Governor or the Governor’s contingent will likely march. You can give him a thumbs up–or whatever finger you want to wave–there.

Gov. Blagojevich Says CDC Commends Illinois for Work to Eliminate Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS

(Springfield, IL) — In spite of the Tony Rezko trial bombshells and other legal artillery salvos, the Good-News-Department crew, under all the treacherous fire, smuggled out from the Blagojevich Administration–good news.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich announced today the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has commended Illinois for its efforts to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

Illinois was the only state asked to present its program, “Safety Net of Perinatal HIV Prevention in Illinois,” at a recent CDC conference addressing mother-to-child HIV transmission. Illinois’ program has become a model for other states and countries.

Recent data, from October through December 2007, reveals that health professionals knew the HIV status of newborns and their mothers 99.97% of the time upon hospital discharge.

“… [M]ore than 99 percent of mother-to-newborn transmissions of HIV can be prevented if a pregnant woman is tested for HIV … and treated with medications before and after the birth of her child,” said Dr. Damon T. Arnold, Illinois Department of Public Health Director.

It’s a shame, however, that Gov. Blagojevich vetoed money for HIV/AIDS programs last year simply to smite House Democrats. Otherwise, the Governor’s record would be pretty stellar.

House Spanks Plan, 42-65, to Repeal Obsolete HIV/AIDS School Principal Notification Law

(Springfield, IL) — The Illinois House of Representatives defeated a measure, 42-65, to repeal a 1987 state mandate that requires state public health officials to notify school principals if a student tests positive for HIV/AIDS.

The legislation is sponsored by State Rep. SARA FEIGENHOLTZ (D-Chicago).
AIDS advocates, like the AIDS Foundation of Chicago and the AIDS Legal Council of Chicago say students fear the disclosure of their identifies and avoid HIV testing, which increases the risk of the disease’s spread. The advocates also note that the state requires no notification of any other disease, and since 1994 the state has required universal health precautions to prevent infections from all blood-borne diseases.

Fearmongers, led by State Rep. TIM SCHMITZ (R-Batavia), falsely claimed during the House debate that first repsponders to emergency incidents at schools would be at a disadvantage if uniformed–despite knowing the 1994 universal health precautions law exists to protect against–all–blood borne diseases. Schmitz is part-time emergency medical technician. And, apparently, a part-time weasel.

Additionally, current law entitles emergency first responders to be informed of a child’s HIV status. Or any other health condition.

Among others, the law’s repeal is backed by the Illinois Association of School Nurses.

Feigenholtz pledges to resurrect the bill.

Listen to the House floor debate on the repeal of the HIV/AIDS school principal notification law here at Your Two Cents Less–the only place on the Web.

Illinois House Lawmakers Aim to Help to HIV/AIDS+, Homeless Adolescents

(Springfield, IL) — Illinois Democratic House lawmakers are advancing multiple pieces of legislation to help high-risk adolescents and are drawing bi-partisan support for their initiatives.

State Rep. SARA FEIGENHOLTZ (D-Chicago) is pushing a measure to repeal a 1987 state mandate that requires state public health officials to notify school principals if a student tests positive for HIV/AIDS.

AIDS advocates say students fear the disclosure of their identifies and avoid HIV testing, which increases the risk of the disease’s spread. The advocates, including The Children’s Place Association President Cathy Krieger, note that the state requires no notification of any other disease, and since 1994 the state has required universal health precautions to prevent infections from all blood-borne diseases.

(Cathy Krieger, left, President, Children’s Place Association, and State Rep. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) testify before the IL House Human Services Committee)

In a bi-partisan vote, the committee approved Feigenholtz’s plan 7-1.

(GOP State Reps. PATTI BELLOCK (R-Hinsdale) and ELIZABETH COULSON (R-Glenview) both supported Feigenholtz’s bill)

State Rep. CYNTHIA SOTO (D-Chicago) is also advancing a plan to help HIV/AIDS-infected youth. Soto is seeking a $250,000 grant for an adolescent HIV/AIDS testing pilot project in two regions of the state.

A recent federal government project tested 60 high-risk youth in two Chicago neighborhoods–Jackson Park and Lakeview–and discovered a 16.6% infection rate. This rate is comparable to Haiti or Sub-Saharan Africa.

Currently, Illinois’ HIV/AIDS infection reporting system is passive, requiring teens to present themselves at medical testing facility. Fat chance. Soto’s plan would pro-actively reach out to teens for testing to further gauge the true dimension of HIV/AIDS infection rates in Illinois.

The Chicago-based Children’s Place Association, which is located in Soto’s district, would manage the project.

Soto’s plan is likely to win approval from the House Appropriations Human Services Committee.

Meanwhile, State Rep. GREG HARRIS (D-Chicago) won bi-partisan approval last week from the House Appropriations Human Services Committee, 10-0, for a $7 million initiative to provide shelter, transitional housing, and employment assistance to homeless adolescents.

The fate of these initiatives–and the bipartisanship–before the full House is uncertain.