L.A. Times: HIV clinic in South Los Angeles sees more teenagers

In the last 15 months, the Oasis Clinic in South Los Angeles has gone from treating one teenage patient to treating 47, according to a story in today’s Los Angeles Times.

This update comes on the heels of the CDC report last week on a marked increase in HIV diagnoses among men having sex with men from 2001 to 2006.  The largest jump was among young gay black men – up 15%, compared with 8% for young gay Latinos and 9% for young gay whites.

Dr. Wilbert C. Jordan, medical director of the OASIS Clinic, expects the clinic to have 100 teenage patients before the end of the year. 

“These kids are sort of mentally adapted to not being here when they’re 30,” Jordan said. “If you think you’re going to be dead by 30 and the disease takes 10 years, it doesn’t scare you so much.”

AIDS Watch Scholarships Available – April 9th Deadline

Ever wanted to go to Washington DC and talk to legislators about HIV/AIDS? Well now’s your chance!

The Southern California HIV Advocacy Coalition (SCHAC) is offering a limited number of scholarships to community members to attend AIDS Watch 2008, the largest annual constituent-based federal HIV/AIDS advocacy and education event in the U.S. The scholarships include full airfare (partially donated by AIDS Project Los Angeles) and accomodations. 

More details after the jump. Click below.

Casting Call: Tell Your Story On Video

How are the proposed cuts to the state’s HIV/AIDS programs going to affect you? Now you can tell Governor Schwarzenegger and California’s legislators face to face– sort of.

Community advocates are looking for 7-8 people to speak in one-minute videos to be broadcast online. Individuals selected for the videos must be able to speak about how the cuts will personally affect them (click here for a bulletin on the cuts).

If you or someone you know is interested, please contact me at RNolledo@apla.org or Shellye Jones at ShellyeMSW@aol.com. The shoot is scheduled for Friday, April 4, 1-5 p.m. (Location TBA)

Job Openings: L.A. County HIV Epidemiology Program

The L.A. County HIV Epidemiology Program has three open positions for Research Interviewers.  Responsibilities include recruiting and conducting interviews with men who have sex with men (MSM) for the Los Angeles Men’s Study, as part of the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance System.

To read the position announcent, click here. For more information, please contact Gilbert Bazan at gbazan@ph.lacounty.gov.

Advocacy Training In West Hollywood- March 15

The Southern California HIV Advocacy Coalition (SCHAC) will hold an advocacy training session in West Hollywood’s Plummer Park Center on Saturday, March 15th.

The three hour workshop will include a brief overview of the proposed cuts to state HIV/AIDS programs, as well as a presentation on effective advocacy. Lunch will be served.

Please RSVP to SCHAC Co-Chair Ron Snyder at ron@healthjustice.net.