AFC, community organizations present 'Getting to Zero' town halls
Wed. December 27, 2017 1:25 PM by GoPride.com News Staff
New HIV cases in Illinois dropped by nearly 28% over the decade from 2006-2015
Chicago, IL -
AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) along with its organizational partners will host a series of 'Getting to Zero' town hall meetings in January 2018.
The community groups hope to build on the state's progress in the fight against HIV. New HIV cases in Illinois dropped by nearly 28% over tihe decade from 2006-2015, and Illinois has nearly eliminated mother-to-child HIV transmission. In the City of Chicago, there have been fewer than 1,000 new HIV cases annually since 2013, the fewest cases reported annually since 1990.
"It's time to take stock of the state's portfolio of programs targeted for people vulnerable to and living with HIV or for general populations and optimize them for today's epidemic," the organization said in a statement. "Most importantly, it's imperative that we eradicate health disparities so everyone–regardless of HIV status–can thrive. That's why it's time for an Illinois Getting to Zero plan."
In July 2016, a small group of people living with HIV, advocates, service providers and government officials met to explore a plan to dramatically impact the course of the HIV epidemic in Illinois. The result of the year-long project was the Getting to Zero Framework.
AIDS Foundation of Chicago, Alexian Brothers Housing and Health Alliance, Center on Halsted, Chicago Black Gay Men's Caucus, Chicago Department of Public Health, Howard Brown Health, Illinois Department of Public Health, Illinois Public Health Association, Lake County Health Department, Northwestern University, Ruth M. Rothstein CORE Center, and University of Chicago participated in the development of the 'Getting to Zero' framework.
As part of the process, AFC and the participating organizations are seeking community input through a series of town hall meetings to ensure the 'Getting to Zero' efforts makes a difference for people living with and vulnerable to HIV.
The following town hall sessions are scheduled:
Thursday, January 18
Normal Public Library
206 W. College Ave.
Normal, IL
6 – 8 p.m.
Tuesday, January 23
Waukegan Public Library
128 N County St.
Waukegan, IL
5 – 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, January 25
Simmons Cancer Institute at SIU School of Medicine
315 W Carpenter St.
Springfield, IL
12 – 2 p.m.
Friday, January 26
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District
201 W Kenyon Rd
Champaign, IL
9:30 a.m. – 12 noon
Saturday, January 27
Moline Public Library
3210 41st St.
Moline, IL
12 – 2 p.m.
Tuesday, January 30
Carbondale Civic Center
200 S. Illinois Ave.
Carbondale, IL
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, January 31
Doubletree Hotel
1000 Eastport Plaza Dr, Collinsville
Collinsville, IL
2 – 4 p.m.
The community groups hope to build on the state's progress in the fight against HIV. New HIV cases in Illinois dropped by nearly 28% over tihe decade from 2006-2015, and Illinois has nearly eliminated mother-to-child HIV transmission. In the City of Chicago, there have been fewer than 1,000 new HIV cases annually since 2013, the fewest cases reported annually since 1990.
"It's time to take stock of the state's portfolio of programs targeted for people vulnerable to and living with HIV or for general populations and optimize them for today's epidemic," the organization said in a statement. "Most importantly, it's imperative that we eradicate health disparities so everyone–regardless of HIV status–can thrive. That's why it's time for an Illinois Getting to Zero plan."
In July 2016, a small group of people living with HIV, advocates, service providers and government officials met to explore a plan to dramatically impact the course of the HIV epidemic in Illinois. The result of the year-long project was the Getting to Zero Framework.
AIDS Foundation of Chicago, Alexian Brothers Housing and Health Alliance, Center on Halsted, Chicago Black Gay Men's Caucus, Chicago Department of Public Health, Howard Brown Health, Illinois Department of Public Health, Illinois Public Health Association, Lake County Health Department, Northwestern University, Ruth M. Rothstein CORE Center, and University of Chicago participated in the development of the 'Getting to Zero' framework.
As part of the process, AFC and the participating organizations are seeking community input through a series of town hall meetings to ensure the 'Getting to Zero' efforts makes a difference for people living with and vulnerable to HIV.
The following town hall sessions are scheduled:
Thursday, January 18
Normal Public Library
206 W. College Ave.
Normal, IL
6 – 8 p.m.
Tuesday, January 23
Waukegan Public Library
128 N County St.
Waukegan, IL
5 – 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, January 25
Simmons Cancer Institute at SIU School of Medicine
315 W Carpenter St.
Springfield, IL
12 – 2 p.m.
Friday, January 26
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District
201 W Kenyon Rd
Champaign, IL
9:30 a.m. – 12 noon
Saturday, January 27
Moline Public Library
3210 41st St.
Moline, IL
12 – 2 p.m.
Tuesday, January 30
Carbondale Civic Center
200 S. Illinois Ave.
Carbondale, IL
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, January 31
Doubletree Hotel
1000 Eastport Plaza Dr, Collinsville
Collinsville, IL
2 – 4 p.m.