Monday, August 13, 2012

ROAD TO AIDS 2012 Report Complete


Community Education Group (CEG) has released the final report for ROAD TO AIDS 2012, a joint effort between CEG, the Urban Coalition for HIV/AIDS Prevention Services (UCHAPS) and the International AIDS Society (IAS).  The tour, funded by a grant from the Merck Company Foundation, sought community feedback in 17 cities to define the state of the U.S. HIV/AIDS epidemic.  While each city had its unique concerns, some issues, such as stigma, were common to all. To read the full report, clickhere

What I've Been Thinking...


The International AIDS Conference has come and it’s gone. 

It was as intense as I thought it would be. Yet, organizationally Community Education Group had some unique opportunities including a visit from U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius. 

We were particularly honored when Secretary Sebelius mentioned our program during her remarks in the Conference’s Opening Session. It is always a good feeling to know that your work is making a difference in the community.

But despite the public recognition, I’ve been thinking that when it comes to linkage to care, we could do so much more. It’s true that CEG has experienced tremendous success, linking 95 percent of clients who test positive to care. But we must do more to apply this model of success to other health disparities.

It’s time that HIV/AIDS organizations -- specifically those that are non-clinical providers -- really begin to think about how we can serve the whole person and the whole community. The end of the epidemic is in sight, but it certainly isn’t here. Yet we have some very unique skillsets, tools and access to communities to be able to do more with regard to other health disparities, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. While we’re routinizing HIV testing, we can also make sure people know their HDL and LDL cholesterol levels.  Likewise, if we know that smoking contributes to heart disease, we can link members of the community to smoking cessation programs and help to reduce community incidences of heart failure.

At AIDS 2012, we celebrated how far we’ve come in the prevention, care and treatment of HIV/AIDS. And yes, we are closer to the end of the epidemic than we’ve ever been before.

But now that we know better, we must do better. 

Sincerely,

A. Toni Young
Executive Director
Community Education Group

Job Openings at CEG


Community Education Group is looking for candidates to fill the following full-time positions:
Strategic Operations Coordinator: The ideal candidate will provide guidance to senior program staff with the goal of maximizing the productivity of its core programs. He or she will analyze current processes, develop strategies for process improvements, and implement interim and long-term solutions in the areas of program implementation and evaluation. Most importantly this person will move CEG further along in its transition from an organization that tracks mostly outputs to a more outcome-based framework. The successful candidate will have the ability to take outcome summaries from the program evaluator and effectively package and market them to current and potential funders. This position presents a unique opportunity for an experienced program manager to increase the efficacy of an innovative AIDS service organization that is implementing cutting edge solutions in the fight against HIV and other health disparities.
To Apply: Submit a cover letter, resume, salary history and writing sample to lynn@communityeducationgroup.org.

Assistant Manager of Programs and Evaluation
This candidate will provide program management and evaluation services for various initiatives aimed at reducing health disparities.  The Assistant Manager of Programs and Evaluation position provides a unique opportunity to implement innovative strategies in the areas of health education and patient navigation while making a difference in the lives of South East DC residents.  This position will report to the Executive Director and Manager of Testing and Field Operations.

To Apply, submit a cover letter, resume and writing sample to Lavietra@communityeducationgroup.org .   Please put Assistant Manager of Programs and Evaluation Position in the subject line of your email.

Development Specialist
CEG is looking for someone to research, identify and define funding sources to support existing and planned program activities. This candidate will also prepare proposals and grant applications in response to solicitations in accordance with CEG’s preferences and guidelines; prepare supporting documents for proposals and grant applications in accordance with CEG’s preferences and guidelines; and establish clear timelines for the completion of all proposals and grant applications. Other responsibilities include producing technical grant proposals within discrete timeframes in accordance with CEG’s preferences and guidelines; designing graphs, charts, and visuals to illustrate key concepts; and developing workable implementation plans for proposals and grant applications.

To Apply: Please forward a cover letter, resume, salary requirement and one-page writing sample to LaVietra Shannon at lavietra@communityeducationgroup.org. Please put “Development Specialist Position” in the subject line of your email.

Thursday, May 3, 2012

2012 Final Report: National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day


Each year, joined by many community team members, it has been a great honor working with you to commemorate National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. This March marked the 5th year that Community Education Group, Inc. (CEG) developed campaign materials and themes for National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, an effort supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health. The year proved to be a successful year as CEG, along with you, our community partners, exceeded each of our deliverables on the contract.
Among the successes of this year’s campaign were:
  • The development of posters in both English and Spanish for the first time.
  • A collaboration with the Greater than AIDS campaign, the National Latino AIDS Action Network and others. 
  • The creation of an alliance of 527 community partners from 48 states, all doing their part to ensure that the National HIV/AIDS Strategy lives up to its goals of reducing HIV incidence, increasing access to care and reducing HIV-related health disparities.

From Columbia, South Carolina to Seattle, Washington, there are many more stories of lives that were transformed as a result of this year’s National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day events. In the pages that follow, you can read more of the highlights from functions across the country. A total of 44,995 pieces of campaign materials and giveaways were distributed at various events, including 83 copies of the DVD produced by Gilead Sciences entitled “Many Women One Voice –The African-American Woman and HIV.”  
This campaign would not have been a success without all of our community partners and the many people, organizations, government agencies and corporations who provided support. With the relationships forged and strengthened in the planning of this year’s National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, we have built a network that together can reach even more people and change more lives in 2013 and beyond. 
As we stand at a crucial point in the fight to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic, it is not too soon to begin building upon this year’s successes. As you are well aware, each year CEG competes for the contract for National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. To ensure that next year’s observance benefits from the foundation that we have constructed together, we are asking all of our community partners to contact Dr. Nancy Lee, Director of the Office on Women’s Health, to share with Dr. Lee your support for CEG’s continued role in the planning and implementation of National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. We ask that you let Dr. Lee know how this event has made a difference in your community, and end the letter by saying that you would like to work with CEG again next year to build upon all that we accomplished together in 2012.  Dr. Lee’s email address is Nancy.Lee@hhs.gov.
Thank you to everyone who made National HIV/AIDS Awareness Day 2012 a success. I look forward to creating more deciding moments with you in the future, and I truly appreciate your support in making this possible. The goal is to end the epidemic. 

Sincerely,

A. Toni Young, Executive Director
Community Education Group