The Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center is a health services, education, research, and policy organization. Its mission is to educate, support, empower, and advocate for A&PI communities—and particularly for individuals living with or at risk for HIV/AIDS. It is the oldest and largest nonprofit in North America focused on sexual health and HIV in these communities. The center provides  hepatitis B and C testing; visit its website.

Tell CalHEP How You Marked World AIDS Day Dec. 1

Did you participate in World AIDS Day on December 1? Send us the story on how you integrated information on co-infection of hepatitis into your educational activities, and we’ll spotlight your story and organization in next month’s newsletter and on the website.

Click here for a printable version of this newsletter.

Volume 4, Issue 5

December 9, 2009

JOIN CalHEP
Click here to fill out the application to become a member of CalHEP.

World Hepatitis Day Kicks Off May 19 With a New Theme

With the theme “This is hepatitis…” for World Hepatitis Day on May 19 in both 2010 and 2011, the World Hepatitis Alliance is aiming to tell the human story of viral hepatitis and continue the battle of raising awareness of hepatitis B and C around the world. The WHA hopes that the new campaign will allow patient groups to develop their own national and local programs to create unity, engage policymakers, and reinforce the scale of the problem. Read about it in the WHA’s November 2009 newsletter. To join the newly formed World Hepatitis Alliance visit the website.

Redesigned CalHEP Website Aims to Build, Support Viral Hepatitis Community

CalHEP’s website has a new look and plenty of new content. Our objective was to enhance CalHEP’s ability to serve as the hub of education and advocacy to combat the viral hepatitis epidemic in California. We redesigned it with you in mind. Besides its sharp new look and easier navigation, the site features more ways for members to get involved and interact:

· Stay informed on the latest in policy and research by checking out our “Education Center” and “Policy” sections.

· Search for CalHEP members by county, organization name, or type via a database on the “Member Profiles” page.  

· Learn how to reach out to legislators and influence policy.

· Send us information on your events, and we’ll post them to the calendar. Tell us your stories, and we’ll let everyone know through reports in our “News” section and monthly newsletter.

· Download the HTML to create a CalHEP membership button for your website.

Please take some time to explore the site, then send us your comments.

ADVOCACY

CalHEP Joins Brainstorm on API Policy Summit

CalHEP attended the November 6, 2009, “Legislative Brainstorm” with Assemblymember Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco) in San Francisco, which was held to help prepare for the California Asian Pacific Islander Policy Summit set for May 3-4 in Sacramento. The intent was to engage community-based organizations in the legislative process at the beginning of the planning stages, develop a ground-up legislative agenda, and strengthen relationships between engaged community-based organizations and the API Legislative Caucus. The agenda focused on identifying issues and ideas for possible legislation that can be carried forth by advocates at the Summit. CalHEP discussed the organization’s continued support for the funding and implementation of a statewide strategic plan to address viral hepatitis in California. The “brainstorm” was sponsored by the California API Legislative Caucus, Asian Americans for Civil Rights & Equality, Asian American Education Institute, Asian Pacific Islanders California Action Network, and California Commission on Asian & Pacific Islander Affairs.

Hepatitis Act Gains Bipartisan Support in Congress

H.R. 3974, the Viral Hepatitis and Liver Cancer Control Act, was introduced October 29, in the House of Representatives. Writing in Roll Call on November 6, Lorren Sandt, chair of the National Virus Hepatitis Roundtable and member of CalHEP’s Advisory Committee, said this bill “would help establish, promote and support a comprehensive prevention research and medical management referral program under the Public Health Service Act for chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis C virus infection.” It would provide $90 million in funding in 2011, with additional funding in subsequent years. The legislation spearheaded by Rep. Mike Honda (D-San Jose) has garnered bipartisan support. NVHR is a coalition of public, private, and voluntary organizations dedicated to reducing the incidence of infection, morbidity, and mortality from viral hepatitis in the United States. To learn more about H.R 3974 or find out how you can support this historic legislation, go to NVHR’s website and find information and materials there for making your support known to Congress.

HCAP to OMB: Fund Hepatitis in President's Budget

On behalf of 80 organizations—including CalHEP—the Hepatitis C Appropriations Partnership on November 9, 2009, requested that the Office of Management and Budget include increases in funding for programs that address viral hepatitis in President Obama’s FY2011 budget. The proposed increase would help ensure that those at high risk of infection are protected and those currently infected are diagnosed and receive lifesaving medical care. Read the letter to OMB Director Peter Orszag.

AWARENESS

300+ Attend Fall CalHEP Membership Meeting,

Hepatitis C Summit in Los Angeles

CalHEP and the Hepatitis C Task Force for Los Angeles County co-sponsored the 7th Annual Hepatitis C Summit in Los Angeles at the California Endowment on November 19. Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco) delivered the keynote speech at the Fall CalHEP Membership Meeting, and other sessions featured CalHEP Medical Advisor Diana Sylvestre, MD; Rachel McLean, MPH, California’s adult viral hepatitis prevention coordinator; CalHEP Senior Consultant Martha Saly, MSOD; and CalHEP Steering Committee Member Ryan Clary.
     In her address, Ma reiterated her commitment to hepatitis awareness, prevention, and treatment. She built upon her personal story with an anecdote about a recent trip to the physician with her mother, illustrating the importance of being an educated user of health care.

     Sylvestre’s talk on “ABC’s of Hepatitis” was a hit with attendees, each of whom received a copy of the book she co-authored with CalHEP Honorary Chair Chris Kennedy Lawford, Healing Hepatitis C, for each correct answer they gave to questions she posed. For example, Sylvestre asked, “When is it important to do a biopsy?” The answer: “When the results will make a change in a treatment decision.”

     McLean, Saly, and Clary spoke on a panel called, “From Grassroots to Treetops: Local, State, and National Prevention and Policy Forum.” McLean talked about how state cutbacks in August resulted in reducing the availability of testing for hepatitis C from more than  50 counties to 17 counties. The state continues to have  resources from the CDC to provide free vaccinations for hepatitis A and B in targeted settings that serve at-risk adults. Contact your county health department to learn more about this program. Clary discussed the legacy of activism in HIV through Project Inform, the Hepatitis C Advocacy listserv for local efforts, and CalHEP’s statewide advocacy efforts. Saly gave an NVHR update that included H.R. 3974 and the Institute of Medicine’s report on Viral Hepatitis in the U.S., which is expected to be released in early January.

· To learn more about Fiona Ma’s work on hepatitis B click here.

· To learn more about Diana Sylvestre and her work click here.

· To read more about Ryan Clary and  Project Inform click here.

· To read more about Martha Saly and NVHR click here.

More than 300 health care providers and consumers in viral hepatitis attended the Summit, which is the largest annual gathering of people affected by viral hepatitis in Southern California.

ACCESS

AASLD Presents ‘The Best of The Liver Meeting’ 2009

If you were not able to attend the American Association of Liver Disease annual meeting in Boston October 29-November 30 then you might want to check out the “The Best of The Liver Meeting” web page. Sessions are presented with audio files synchronized to slide presentations. Catch up on what you missed or  revisit a session you wish to share with your colleagues.

CONNECT

Vote for Us!

Click on the button above and vote through your Facebook account to give the Center for Health Improvement and CalHEP a chance at receiving a share of $5 million in grants and donations available through the Chase Community Giving Campaign. Hurry! Voting ends December 11.

SUPPORT CalHEP

Click on the button above to make a secure donation via Network for Good. Make sure to designate your tax-deductible gift for CalHEP, which is an initiative of the Center for Health Improvement.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

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Questions or comments? Contact Michele Peterson, associate director of community health programs for CHI,

at mpeterson@chipolicy.org or 916-930-9200

 

CalHEP is a program of the Center for Health Improvement.

1330 21st Street, Suite 100

Sacramento, CA 95811

916-930-9200

www.chipolicy.org