AIDS Groups Attend Training Conference on Improving AIDS Outreach for Minorities

AIDS agencies and outreach groups in Newark, N.J., last week attended a five-day regional training conference organized the by National Minority AIDS Council, which was intended to build the capacity of organizations working with minorities who are living with HIV or who are at risk of HIV infection, the Newark Star-Ledger reports. Although African Americans and Hispanics each make up 13% of the population of New Jersey, they represent 56% and 21% of HIV cases, respectively. "It has become clear that minority communities are in need of specialized attention," NMAC Executive Director Paul Kawata said, adding, "By building the capacity of local organizations to help fight the epidemic, we hope we can slow and even reverse the extremely high infection rates among communities of color." Workshop participants worked on improving their grant writing skills to secure funding, which some said has become a greater challenge in the face of "dwindling" state, federal and private funding, according to the Star-Ledger. Participants also discussed possible shifts in treatment models for HIV-positive people whose conditions are complicated by other diseases such as cancer and hepatitis (Kukla, Newark Star-Ledger, 11/20).