HEALTHY STRONG

NOV/ DEC 2012 VOL. VI ISSUE 2

Saludable y Fuerte

THE NEWSLETTER OF COMMUNITY ACCESS SERVICES

ALIANZA LATINA IS NOW...

NAME CHANGE|

Some of you know by now, and many may not, that over the past few months, our agency has undergone a name change. What was previously Alianza Latina is now Community Access Services. Maybe youve seen the Community Access Services ads at a bus stop at a busy intersection, or heard our recent promo on WBLKthats us!

NAME CHANGE|ALIANZA LATINA IS NOW...

COMMUNITY ACCESS SERVICES

Why did we need to change our name?
The name change was motivated by the need to communicate to the public in the areas we serve that our services are available to everyone, since our program area has expanded from just the West Side to include the East Side as well. The new name is also more descriptive of what we are about and will allow our agency to evolve and grow as we seek to diversify our services. Our agencys mission remains the same, however: to facilitate access to health & preventive services for under-served communities. When weve explained the rationale for the name change to clients and community members, people have been very enthusiastic and understanding of why the transition was made. Weve heard years Community Access Services can evolve into an agency that offers a variety of services to promote the overall health and well-being of the communities we serve. We anticipate that we will continue to have a strong emphasis on HIV prevention, but also seek to address asthma other and health dispardisity issues, such as diabetes, pulmonary ease, heart disease and other issues that disproportionately affect minority communities. We hope that we can also round out our programs to offer services in areas such as housing, job skills and community development, in order to contribute to the health of individuals and the stability of Buffalos neighborhoods on many different levels. Since our last newsletter, weve added new staff & programs, which you can learn about on the following pages. Give us a call or stop by to see us if we can be of service to you or someone you know. countless people say, oh, I never really knew what the old name meant anyway, so were confident that the new name will be well accepted as the word gets out.

Who does Community Access Services serve?

Our services are open to anyone, but are promoted primarily to adults and youth from communities of color residing on the West and East Sides of Buffalo. These are areas with disproportionately high incidence of HIV and STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections) and a large need for risk reduction services and prevention education.

Wishing you a joyful holiday season!

Senior Director

- Josh

IN THIS ISSUE:
Name Change.......................... 2 Cambio de Nombre................. 3 New Financial Literacy Program ................... 4 Meet Our New Staff ................5 Our Services ........................... 6 Upcoming Events .................... 7

Looking Ahead
Because we serve a diverse population with a broad array of needs, our hope is that in the upcoming

CAMBIO DE NOMBRE |ALIANZA LATINA AHORA ES...

Algunos de ustedes ya saben y algunos no, que en los ltimos cuantos meses nuestra agencia cambio nombre. Recientemente nos conocan como Alianza Latina y ahora somos Community Access Services (Servicios Comunitarios de Acceso). A lo mejor has visto algunos de los anuncios en una parada de autobs en un cruce muy concurrido o escuchado nuestra promocin de radio en WBLK, esos somos nosotros. comunidades de color y que viven en los lados Oeste y Este de Bfalo. Se trata de reas con incidencia desproporcionadamente alta de VIH y las ITS (Infecciones de Transmisin Sexual) y una gran necesidad de servicios de reduccin de riesgos y educacin para la prevencin. de salud, tales como la diabetes, el asma y la enfermedad pulmonar, enfermedad cardiaca y otros problemas que afectan desproporcionadamente a las comunidades de color. Esperamos que tambin podamos realizar programas para ofrecer servicios en reas tales como habilidades laborales, de vivienda y de desarrollo comunitario, con el fin de contribuir a la salud de las personas y la estabilidad de los barrios de Bfalo en muchos niveles diferentes. Desde nuestro ltimo boletn, hemos incorporado nuevo personal y programas, los que se puede conocer en las paginas siguientes. Llmenos o venga a vernos si podemos ser de servicio a usted o alguien que usted conoce.

Por qu cambiamos nuestro nombre?

Cuando hemos explicado las razones para el cambio de nombre a nuestros clientes y a los miembros de la comunidad la gente ha sido muy entusiasmada y comprende por qu la transicin se hizo. Hemos escuchado un sinnmero de personas decir: Oh, yo nunca saba lo que quera decir el nombre viejo de todos modos, por lo que estamos seguros de que el nuevo nombre ser aceptado mientras las voces se riegan.

El cambio del nombre fue motivado por la necesidad de comunicar al pblico en las reas que servimos que nuestros servicios estn disponibles para todos, ya que nuestra rea de programa se ha expandido de solo el lado Oeste de incluir el lado Este tambin. El nuevo nombre es tambin ms descriptivo de lo que la agencia es y nos deja desarrollar y crecer mientras buscamos a diversificar nuestros servicios. La misin de nuestra agencia sigue siendo la misma, sin embargo: facilitar el acceso a la salud y servicios de prevencin para las comunidades de color.

Mirando hacia el futuro!

Porque nosotros servimos una populacin diversiva con una gran formacin de necesidades, nuestro deseo es que en los prximos aos Community Access Services puede desarrollarse a una agencia que ofrece una variedad de servicios para promover la salud y bienestar de las comunidades que servimos. Nosotros anticipamos que vamos a seguir con una fuerte nfasis en la prevencin de VIH, sino que tambin tratamos de abordar otras cuestiones de disparidad

A quin sirve los servicios de acceso comunitario?

Nuestros servicios estn abiertos para cualquier persona, pero estamos promocionando primariamente a los adultos y jvenes de

Le deseamos una temporada de fiestas muy alegres, Senior Director

- Josh

NEW PROGRAM|FINANCIAL LITERACY WORKSHOPS

Need help with money? Know somebody who does? Look no further! Community Access Services is happy to announce that we are now offering a workshop in financial literacy. All are welcome and encouraged to attend!

MEETING PLACE|COMMUNITY ACCESS SERVICES BOARDROOM- 200 S ELMWOOD AVE. DATE/TIME|WEDNESDAYS @ 10:00AM-11:00AM
But what is financial literacy anyway?
Simply put, financial literacy is the ability to understand finance. More specifically, it refers to the set of skills and knowledge that allows an individual to make informed and effective decisions about their money.

What topics will be covered?

The course we offer here at Community Access Services is a basic, one day workshop that thoroughly covers the most fundamental principles of your everyday banking, savings, and credit matters.

Who should attend?

The course aims to help anyone who is having difficulty managing their money, and would like to learn to save and budget it in a way that will make living more comfortable, and more importantly, less stressful. Because, really, who wants to waste their time worrying about money?

So spread the word, or come by 200 S. Elmwood any Wednesday at 10:00am and see what its all about. We promise it wont be a waste of your time, or money- especially since its FREE!

CONTACT US AT 716.852.5969 FOR MORE INFO!

MEET|OUR NEWEST STAFF MEMBERS

CHRISTINA TURNER
A little help and kindness can make a world of difference for many people. I believe that once the appropriate information and services are obtained, quality of life can be vastly improved. I grew up in Buffalo and I can recognize many of the challenges that we face as a community. Prior to my employment I volunteered with various organizations throughout the community including Hi everyone! My name is Christina and I am the new Prevention Counselor at Community Access Services. I provide HIV risk reduction counseling, run some HIV prevention programs and conduct outreach in the community. Im excited to be a part of the CAS team; I truly have a passion for helping people improve their lives. an environmental justice agency, soup kitchens, and youth programs. I recently received a Bachelors Degree in Community Health at Daemen College which has given me the tools necessary to understand and address some of the direct and indirect factors that impact peoples health.

STEFANIE POKORSKI
Hi, Im Stefanie- I am the instructor for our new Financial Literacy Workshops and am an AmeriCorps member serving at Community Access Services as our Community Engagement Specialist. Prior to my time at CAS, I lived for 6 months in Thailand, teaching English to elementary school students. I graduated with a degree in Graphic Design from Buffalo State College and use my skills to help CAS attract and engage with clients and the community. I am enthusiastic about the work I do, and am happy to be back in Buffalo, working with Community Access Services!

OUR SERVICES
RISK REDUCTION
Safety Counts: Reducing the risk of HIV and viral hepatitis infection/transmission for crack and injection drug users. Comprehensive Risk Counseling & Services (CRCS): one-on-one risk counseling for individuals at risk of becoming infected with or transmitting HIV. Pregnancy Testing: Free and confidential pregnancy for sexually active women, along with appropriate referrals to services.

ACCESS TO SERVICES
RESPECT: Two brief interactive counseling sessions focused on understanding ones susceptibility to HIV infection and to develop a risk reduction plan. HIV, STI & Hepatitis C Screening: These free and confidential services are available Monday through Friday. Staff will ensure that linkages are made to medical care, partner notification assistance, or other necessary supportive services, in the case of a positive result. Wrap-around services: available at CAS or through our partnership with Evergreen Health Services and the Pride Center of WNY: Mental Health Services Substance Abuse Services Primary medical care Pharmacy Housing & nutrition services Care Coordination Syringe exchange program

OUTREACH
Our Staff and Peer Educators are constantly conducting outreach on the streets and on your favorite social media sites to provide the public with information and resources to stay safe and healthy. Find us at: www.facebook.com/alex.safesex www.facebook.com/jess.safesex www.facebook.com/CASWNY

PREVENTION EDUCATION
SISTA: (Sisters Informing Sisters about Topics on AIDS): a five session program for Women of Color focused on ethnic and gender pride, HIV knowledge and building skills for sexual risk reduction. HIV 101 & Safer Sex Groups: Presentation of the basics of HIV and STI transmission and risk reduction strategies for groups of adults or adolescents; Safer Sex Groups include interactive skill-building activities. VOICES: Culturally-appropriate videos and guided discussion are used to promote condom use among heterosexual African American and Latino men and women.

CONTACT US AT 716.852.5969 FOR MORE INFO!

UPCOMING EVENTS
Be on the lookout for these Community Access Services events happening early 2013!

FEBRUARY 2013
(Date of event to be determined!)

MARCH 9, 2013

NBHAAD2013
National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

Celebrate YOU
NATIONAL WOMEN & GIRLS HIV/AIDS Awareness Day 2013

Like us on Facebook & Invite your Friends www.facebook.com/CASWNY

200 SOUTH ELMWOOD AVENUE BUFFALO, NEW YORK 14201 716.852.5969 WWW.CASWNY.ORG