Grabbing onto a lifeline
The Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources
Emergency (CARE) Act is federal legislation that funds health and
health-related services for people living with HIV?AIDS.
The CARE Act was named after an Indiana teenager who
was a hemophiliac and contracted AIDS through a blood transfusion. His
heartbreaking battle against discrimination helped to raise national awareness
of the AIDS epidemic.
Title IV of the CARE Act focuses on women and
children with HIV/AIDS> Due for reauthorization, supporters of the act say
it is in danger of being rewritten to cover only "core needs" meaning medical
treatment, but not mental health, natural-health programs or currently
supported programs. In his State of the Union address Jan 31, President George
W. Bush asked Congress to reform and reauthorize the act and to "provide new
funding to states."
Stillwell has rallied the Bothell City Council to
help bring AIDS-related health care issues to the attention of legislators. In
a letter to the Council, she writes that two years ago her daughter "decided to
take control of her life and moved home (to Bothell).
"We found a group called BABES Network in Seattle
that is a nonprofit peer group to support women with HIV/AIDS. (Nicole's) self
-esteem, health and focus (have) changed 180 degrees in the past two years due
to the support she found within this women's group ," the letter states.
"She is now employed by BABES Network - YWCA as a
peer counselor/event coordinator and is an advocate for women facing HIV/AIDS.
She has decided to embrace being HIV-positive and turn it into something
positive."
BABES Network is funded by the CARE Act. The
organization was formed by a diverse group of HIV-positive women in 1989 an
became part of YWCA - Seattle-King County-Snohomish County last year.
BABES program manager, Sarah Benton, said goals of
the organization include promoting self-empowerment, reducing isolation and
creating enjoyable social opportunities for women who fear they might be
shunned in other settings. BABES also helps with child care and transportation
as women receive medical treatment.
"We've started a knitting group, a walking group,
trips to sports events, and we run two women's support groups, which meet
evenings or afternoons. Child care is available for the evening sessions."
Benton said.
We've also started a co-ed heterosexual support
group for men and women who are HIV positive. Straight men with HIV suffer from
the stigma, too!
The BABES office has a clothing/toiletry closet for
low-income women who may need things for themselves or their kids; a computer
the women can use for 3-mail, health research or job hunting; a kitchen, a
small reading library and collection of toys; and a mannequin in the corner
named "Stella," as a reminder of all the BABES who have gone before them.
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