• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

THIS IS . 2014–2015 ANNUAL REPORT FAITHFUL TO OUR PAST, COMMITTED TO OUR FUTURE. FROM TPAN CEO PATTI CAPOUCH Committed to our future Looking back on 2014 and 2015, I am so proud Events like Barlesque continue to embrace the sex-positive to say that TPAN has made significant progress on roots of TPAN by engaging contestants representing over many fronts. a dozen community businesses as they compete for the title of “Chicago’s Sexiest Bartender” to raise money for TPAN knows that in order to promote good health and TPAN in this month-long, online strip-a-thon fundraiser well-being in our community, we must tackle the social each November. drivers of HIV, including stigma, poverty, homelessness, and discrimination. By being visible both on the local com- TPAN’s Prevention staff are employing a strategy to reach munity and national levels, using education and awareness those at higher risk for HIV by utilizing a mobile testing as tools of empowerment, and advocating for ourselves unit that served hundreds of clients in the community and our clients, we initiate change in a powerful way. and referred hundreds more to medical care since hitting “By being visible the road. both on the local During the last two years, TPAN has tackled the afore- community and mentioned barriers to care using a variety of innovative TPAN has been increasing the number of its educational national levels, means. For example, the Ride for AIDS Chicago raised forums for staff, clients, and HIV professionals in Chicago using education 1.5 million dollars for HIV services for TPAN and its through programming that focuses on women, healthy and awareness community partners—a stunning visual parade of riders aging, nutrition, mental health, and more. as tools of cycling 200 miles throughout Illinois and Wisconsin empowerment, reminds the world that HIV is not over. Special issues of P OSITIVELY AWARE have been enor- and advocating mously helpful for educating a national audience on for ourselves and Stigma should not prevent anyone from accessing qual- matters of crucial importance such as PrEP, hepatitis C, our clients, we ity health care or receiving social support. P OSITIVELY and aging with HIV. initiate change in Aware’s anti-stigma campaign, A Day with HIV, cap- a powerful way.” tures in pictures a single 24-hour period every September We are grateful to each and every one of our supporters, to illustrate the point that we all are affected by HIV advocates, and clients for remaining committed to TPAN’s and its stigma. Hundreds of people across the U.S. and work, allowing us to fulfill our mission as our founders around the world share their images and stories for intended. A Day with HIV. Thank you. The Reunion Project, spearheaded by P OSITIVELY AWARE Editor-in-Chief Jeff Berry, is holding summits throughout the country that unpack the history of HIV and the changing landscape of treatment, featuring an exciting lineup of researchers, activists, and long-term survivors PATTI CAPOUCH of HIV/AIDS in a mix of presentations, panels, and CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER facilitated discussion. OUR MISSION THE MISSION OF TPAN, established in 1987, is to empower everyone living with or at risk for HIV/AIDS to live open, healthy, and productive lives. TPAN innovates to deliver peer-led support programs and collaborative wellness services and to communicate comprehensive information. TPAN will do so until HIV/AIDS is eradicated. 2 TPAN 2014–2015 ANNUAL REPORT FROM TPAN BOARD CHAIR JOEL BOSCH A n exciting time to serve Several years ago, when I was looking to join a TPAN looks to finalize our strategic plan and organize our board, one of the things I kept hearing was “TPAN saved move into new offices in nearby Edgewater. It’s an excit- my life.” What a powerful statement; I cannot imagine a ing time as we reaffirm our mission and core values yet stronger testimonial about an organization. Helping people define new ways to meet critical community needs. from every walk of life through education, social support, HIV testing, housing information services, and mental There are many people who contribute to the success health therapy are lifesaving endeavors that occur every of an organization. I would like to thank the board and day at this agency, and it is a testament to TPAN’s com- staff for all their dedication, passion, and hard work in mitment to be there for those who need support the most. keeping TPAN a community leader. Over the past year, Since 1987 we have empowered individuals impacted by the board has provided critical leadership while the staff HIV/AIDS to lead happy, healthy, productive lives. has diligently stayed focused on serving our clients: the “ Over the past reason we do what we do. Finally, I would like to thank the year, the board has The past year has seen some significant changes within community for its continued support. Without you, we provided critical the organization. We added several board members would not be able to provide services—services that save leadership while the and key staff, including our new CEO, Patti Capouch. lives every day. staff has diligently Patti brings over 15 years of experience serving the HIV stayed focused on community and joins the organization as we move from JO EL BOSCH serving our clients: building internally to focusing externally. As 2016 unfolds, BOARD CHAIR the reason we do what we do.” TPAN BOARD OF DIRECTORS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MeE MB RS AT LARGE Joel Bosch C arl Branch Scott Shafer B OARD CHAIR Contract Senior Regional Site Partner eCD Market Manager, Midwest Clinical Deloitte Tax LLP Chief Operations Officer Monitoring Services, Inc. Billy Stevenson Molly Morrison Neuleib Scott Cook, Ph.D. Owner, VCEI Chair Research Director iCandee Marketing Corporate & Foundation Department of Medicine Associate Director of Development, The University of Chicago James Sumers Northwestern University Senior Manager, Arthur Paris Service Recovery Operations Jeff Kendall Owner United Airlines SCRETARE Y Urban Markets Inc. Director Strategic Program, Meg Valentini, RN, BSN, CHPN Combined Insurance Nirmalpal Sachdev Admission RN, General Manager Horizon Hospice Chicago Frederic Valentini Steamworks Chicago T REASURER April Whitworth Midwest Regional Sales Manager Executive Assistant ML-Draabe Systems Elevate Energy EX-OFFICIO Patti Capouch CEO, TPAN TPAN 2014–2015 ANNUAL REPORT 3 CLIN E T SPOTLIGHT MIKKEL Q. T he art of passion Mikkel Q.’s enthusiasm infuses a room with creative energy. From the mo- ment he arrived in the Art Therapy group he was bustling with ideas for various imaginative projects. Although fairly new to TPAN, already he has become a valuable resource for other clients, having joined the agency’s Client Advisory Board. When Mikkel, 30, tested positive for HIV at TPAN, he felt utterly shocked and sad- dened. But John, his testing counselor, “ I’ve always been a reassured him he would be alright and that solitary person, feel- it was not “a death sentence.” John immedi- ing different from ately linked Mikkel to another staff member other people.Art who would provide him a comprehensive Therapy helps cre- TPAN intake in order to officially become a ate a much needed client, and then helped him coordinate with social space for the AIDS Foundation of Chicago to assign making new friends, him medical case management services finding common at TPAN. That same day he was also set interests, and just up with an appointment at Howard Brown enjoying checking Health Center for medical services. in with everyone. I didn’t know a Mikkel embarked on a “frenzied HIV fact place like this even finding mission” and readP OSITIVELY existed.” Aware issues from cover to cover. The magazine helped him calm down as he was learning what was going on in his body. Mikkel says PA helped him “break the infor- mation down into small bites so I could ab- sorb it without getting too overwhelmed.” Mikkel has since graduated from TEAM (Treatment Education Adherence Man- agement), TPAN’s 10-hour HIV treatment AFC PER E T DAY (2015) BY MIKKEL Q. education program. He most appreciated 11 X 7 in. watercolor pencil on paper the opportunity to “access people who were really knowledgeable about HIV and medications, as group meets, he is working on something impressive, opposed to just searching the Internet and hoping I could whether it’s a watercolor pencil drawing, knitted scarf, find the answers I needed.” or teaching himself to make pop-up books. He is also generous with his fellow studio-mates, often bringing in Within Future Focused, TPAN’s eight-week therapeutic inspiring visual material to share. “It helps release tension support group for those newly diagnosed, Mikkel says and gives me a creative focus in a setting that’s relaxing he felt “really good about being among people who were and comfortable, and where there’s no pressure to neces- sharing the same problems, providing a safe space to talk sarily finish an art project. “ Despite his outgoing pres- about what’s going on.” Future Focused supported Mikkel ence, he says, “I’ve always been a solitary person, feeling with issues of disclosure, opening up to his friends and different from other people. Art Therapy helps create a family about his diagnosis. much needed social space for making new friends, finding common interests, and just enjoying checking in with Mikkel is passionate about the arts. Each time the art everyone. I didn’t know a place like this even existed.” 4 TPAN 2014–2015 ANNUAL REPORT BOARD MEMBER SPOTLIGHT carl branch L ooking back, giving back My name is Carl Branch. I’m a second generation were in the same proverbial boat.

Load more

  20

Copy Link