Black Gay & Bisexual Men and HIV Conference

The Black Gay & Bisexual Men and HIV Conference is the third conference in a series of four. Previous Conferences fouces on Black Communites and HIV and Black Women & Girls and HIV.

Join us on Friday, June 12, 2009 to engage in a day long conference focused on HIV disparities amongst Black gay and bisexual men. Confirmed national experts include Darrell P. Wheeler, Ph.D, M.P.H. Associate Dean for Research & Community Partnerships and Associate Professor at the Hunter College School of Social Work, and David J. Malebranche, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor at Emory University Division of General Medicine.

There will be rich discussion throughout the day followed by an opportunity to engage participants in a transformative action plan that will result in concrete recommendations for serving Black Gay and Bisexual men in our communities.

Agenda

9:00a - 9:30a        Registration & Continental Breakfast

9:30a - 9:45a        Welcome & Opening Remarks

9:45a - 10:05a      Epidemiologic Data on HIV Amongst Black Gay and Bisexual Men in Massachusetts

10:05 - 11:00a      Identity & Labels: The Impact on HIV Risk Behavior

11:00a - 11:10a    Break

11:10a - 12:30p   Examining Community and Public Health Infrastructures

12:30p - 1:30p      Lunch

1:30p - 2:15p        National & Local HIV Research on Black MSM

2:15p - 3:50p        Engage Participants in a Transformation Process

Session 1: Increasing Access to HIV Services

Black gay and bisexual men face many barriers to HIV prevention and care services, from both internal and external obstacles. These range from fear of knowing one’s HIV status and fear of disclosure, to lack of institutional readiness to provide culturally competent care. At the end of this session, participants will identify strategies and opportunities to increase the utilization of prevention and medical services among Black gay and bisexual men.

Session 2: Community Identification & Mobilization:

Session 3: Mental Health:

Root causes of HIV risk will be reviewed within the context of the mental health needs of Black gay and bisexual men. Individual mental health service needs are examined aside the community and public health capacity to provide such services. Training needs of HIV/AIDS service providers and primary care clinicians will also be reviewed. At the end of this session, participants will identify strategies to address the need of effective, culturally competent mental services for Black gay and bisexual men.

3:50p - 4:00p Evaluation & Closing

Registration Information

Registration fee only - Free

Registration fee with Coninuing Education Credits - $40

CE credits will be available for Nurses and Socal Workers. Application for licensed Mental Health Counselors is pending.

If paying by check, please print the confirmation page and attach it to the check OR indicate the order number and name(s) of attendee(s) on the check. Checks have to be received within 10 days of registering. If not, the registration will be voided. Make checks payable to Multicultural AIDS Coaliltion. 

Online registration ends Wednesday, June 10, 2009 at 5PM.  Limited on-site registration will be available. 

Conference Planning Committee:

Multicultural AIDS Coalition, MDPH - Bureau of Infectious Disease - Office of HIV/AIDS, Boston Public Health Commission, The Male Center – AIDS Action Committee, Greater Love Tabernacle, The Fenway Institute/Fenway Health, New England AIDS Education and Training Center, Tapestry Health and South Coast & South Shore HIV/AIDS Service Coordination Collaboratives - Programs of Health Care of Southeastern Massachusetts, Inc.

Transportation to and from the conference is FREE and available to all participants. Seating is limited and will be assigned on a first come, first serve basis. Please contact your area provider for more information:

South Coast & South Shore

Contact Steve Baker; SCC Program Coordinator South Coast & South Shore: sbaker@hcsm.org or 508-583-2250 x223

West of Boston (Springfield, Worcester)

Contact Francine Coleman; AIDS Project Worcester: fcoleman@aidsprojectworcester.org or 508-755-3773

Lowell/Lawrence

Contact Victoria Nayiga; Lowell Community Health Center: victoriana@lchealth.org or 978-322-8657

If you need more information about transportation, please contact: conference@mac-boston.org or 617-238-2428.

 Parking

Park for a discounted rate of $12/day (for a maximum of 10 hours) at 1330 Boylston Street Garage (underneath Fenway Health) so long as you enter the garage before 9:00am and leave no later than 10 hours later with the parking ticket given at arriival. The garage entrance is at the corner of Boylston and Jersey Street. Phone number is (617)-236-1814.

Hotel Information

Best Western-Boston

342 Longwood Ave

Boston, MA 02115

(617)-731-4700

Rate: $159 per night (June 11-13)

Discount code: Black Gay & Bisexual Men and HIV