Positive Support
Local Assistance & Support for people
who are
affected by HIV/AIDS
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Positive Support affected by HIV/AIDS |
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The Postcard Project
Thanks to our Community Partner Phoenix Media in Portland, Oregon for donating the entire 1st run of the printing!
As part of our ongoing HIV Education program, the Positive Support Association is pleased to announced our participation in the 1st Annual Postcard Project.
The Postcard Project is an educational resource and is provided free of charge to local HIV/AIDS testing sites. The Project is intended to reach out to the HIV Community and also designed to provide important support to any person who has recently been diagnosed with HIV or AIDS.
The Project involves the use of an information postcard size card that contains needed information about 'what to do next' for those who just tested HIV Positive. The card instructs the person on how to receive our free on-line services and/or get signed up into a peer mentorship program.
The card is designed with privacy in mind and this allows any newly diagnosed person to discreetly see their many options via our web resource guide.
The web resource guide offers any person living with HIV or AIDS a view of all local HIV Resources, Groups and Programs that are available in ones area. The web resource guide and the information contained therein, is not Agency or Group specific, so all resources are listed for a web user to see. The guide is provided as a public service to our community and maintained by actual HIV Positive Volunteer Webmasters in the area.
The actual Project is comprised of two separate Resource Cards, one is titled "Just test Positive?' and the other is titled 'Just test Negative?' The 'Positive' resource card contains help for the newly diagnosed person. It also tells them a little about what to expect over the next few days, weeks and months as they come to terms with their disease. Both Resource Cards help to educate our community by becoming more aware of HIV Resources that are available.
What is on the actual Resource Card?
The actual card is a small and discreetly pocketed card measuring about four by six inches. The small size of the card and information contained on each have been designed by our staff of HIV Positive Board members and edited for content by our Medical Advisor. The cards meet or exceed current CDC suggested guidelines.
Project Postcard Rollout
The Positive Support Team, along with many other HIV Positive Individuals, their friends and community partners, are supporting the Postcard Project which will start running in Portland, Oregon on July 1st, 2009. Hundreds of cards have already been hand delivered to many Doctors Offices and HIV testing sites. The bulk of the cards will be available at some booths at the Portland Gay Pride festival. Doctors, Clinics, HIV Care Organizations or HIV Testing Sites who would like to receive an allotment of the Cards, should email us.
Why are these cards needed?
This Postcard Project (as well as our groups mentorship services) are needed right now because we as a community are currently failing to meet the needs of people who are recently diagnosed or those who are already living with HIV or AIDS. Many people in our community don't realize that there are dozens of HIV/AIDS Organizations in this area. These Organizations are made up of State, County, City Health Departments, HIV Clinics and other Non-Profit groups like Cascade Aids Project and the Partnership Project. Unfortunately, many of these agencies have different agendas and offer differing services to their HIV/AIDS clients. We have noticed a large gap in both education and peer mentorship in this area.
For several years now, our members have attempted to get an educational resource program started, including a peer mentorship program started for newly diagnosed persons; unfortunately, each attempt was met with resistance from many HIV Agencies or Groups. Most told us 'no' because of lack of staff or funding issues, while others just said it wouldn't work.
The founding members of our association finally said enough is enough and we started the Positive Support Association and on-line web resource Guide you see today.
Unlike most other HIV Organizations, the PSA and its online resource guide is currently 100% privately funded by our members who are actually living with HIV or AIDS. Our members, many of whom are disabled and have limited income, are working hard to help their community by playing an active role in projects such as this.
The Project needs your help to get off the ground and hit Portland streets running!
The Project still requires your help by partnering with the PSA, donating funds, helping with printing and delivery or providing input for future card updates and changes to service your area. If you or your group wants to get involved or partner with us on the Postcard Project, either by adding resources to the card or helping us as a business partner, please contact us right away.
Special thanks to Ron Enright, CEO of Phoenix Media in Portland, Oregon. Ron and his team donated all the printing for the initial roll-out program.
Donate directly to the Printing Fund and
help us get the Postcard Project going right now! Funds go directly to the printing &
distribution costs of our Public Service Projects The PSA, along with a local
community partners are supporting the first annual
Postcard Project
which will start running in Portland, Oregon and
hopefully expand across several regions and states over the next year. Click on the link above to
learn more about the Postcard Project and how it will directly affect
newly diagnosed persons with HIV or AIDS. The Project still requires
your help by donating funds, printing and delivery services to make the
project a success. The PSA Postcard Project is
just one of the many things we do for our community, we also provide
peer mentoring and support to people who recently got
diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, because we are understand were You are right
now. Our mission is to help people living with HIV or
AIDS the ability to easily navigate the many HIV Care programs in your
local area and assist you in getting the care you really need. The Positive Support Association understands you and
your disease because almost every staff member is surviving with HIVS or
AIDS. Click to send us a donation to support this
and other HIV/AIDS public service projects
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©2009 All Rights Reserved
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Positive Support Group, by PSA,
Inc. Portland, Oregon, USA