Thank you to all who participated in the AIDS Walk 2012 in Omaha!  Over 100 participants joined the Nebraska AIDS Project staff, Board of Directors and volunteers to raise $8,000.  The money raised at the AIDS Walk will help NAP continue to serve people living with HIV/AIDS and provide other educational services to the community in order to prevent the spread of HIV.

Again, thank you to everyone involved! Stay tuned as NAP hosts more AIDS Walks across the state in 2012!

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has awarded competitive funding for two years to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, who, in partnership with the Nebraska AIDS Project will implement an innovative HIV prevention demonstration project connecting outreach, education, HIV testing and linkage to medical care in the Omaha area.  This demonstration project was awarded $284,345 for 2012; the amount for 2013 has not yet been announced.  Projects are eligible to compete for continued funding for an additional two years, dependent upon project outcomes and availability of funds.

Last summer the CDC released this funding opportunity as to align national prevention activities with the National HIV/AIDS Strategy.  This funding opportunity focused on high impact prevention, strengthening targeted prevention with positives and high risk negatives, and increasing monitoring and accountability.

We are excited to partner with the Department of Health and Human Services in this demonstration project and look forward to using these new resources to continue leading the community in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

For additional information contact Jordan Delmundo at Nebraska AIDS Project, (402) 552-9260 or jordand@nap.org

Download your designer application here!

The Project Condom Fashion Show is an annual benefit for Nebraska AIDS Project’s prevention, outreach, and education efforts.  This year it will be held on Wednesday, June 27th and the Doubletree Hotel in downtown Omaha.

LB 891, the bill that would allow the state of Nebraska to add flexibility to its Medicaid Program to cover low-income people living with HIV before they become disabled, has advanced out of committee to the floor of the legislature!!!

LB 891 will keep people healthier and prevent the progression to AIDS, and it’s COST EFFECTIVE.  It’s cheaper to care for and prevent people from progressing to AIDS that it is to pay for people who are already disabled.  If people are healthy, they can WORK and contribute to the economy.  Not only that, but a Nebraska doctor and researcher co-investigated the study proving treatment reduces the transmission of HIV by 96%! This is a no brainer in the fight to END AIDS.  Read our fact sheet and learn more here!

What can you do?

Call or email your State Senator and ask them to support LB 891.  This is a huge opportunity for our state to take the lead in the fight to end HIV/AIDS in the U.S.  Tell them!  Find your Senator’s contact information here.

Please contact Jordan Delmundo at NAP with any questions: 402.552.9260 or jordand@nap.org

Follow our policy and advocacy blog: HIV Action Nebraska

Sign up for public policy email updates by sending an email to

hiv-action-nebraska+subscribe@googlegroups.com

Make sure to put the word “subscribe” in the subject line!

There’s a catch 22 when it comes to HIV and Medicaid.  Current law requires people living with HIV to wait until they are disabled by AIDS to qualify.  Wouldn’t it make sense, and save a lot of money,  if we treat people before they get disabled and keep them from becoming disabled?  Early treatment is cost effective and prevents transmission.

There is a way!!

It’s called a Section 1115 Waiver for Medicaid.  With this waiver a state, like Nebraska, could add flexibility to its Medicaid Program to cover low-income people living with HIV before they become disabled.  Not only does this help keep people healthier and prevent the progression to AIDS, but it’s COST EFFECTIVE.  It’s cheaper to care for and prevent people from progressing to AIDS that it is to pay for people who are already disabled.  If people are healthy, they can WORK and contribute to the economy.  Not only that, but a Nebraska doctor and researcher co-investigated the study proving treatment reduces the transmission of HIV by 96%! This is a no brainer in the fight to END AIDS.  Read our fact sheet and learn more here!

Guess what?  Nebraska lawmakers are hip to this idea!  State Senator Jeremy Nordquist (Omaha) has introduced a bill (LB891) that would initiate the process for Nebraska Medicaid to expand coverage to low-income people living with HIV through a Section 1115 Waiver.  Read it here.

What can you do?

It’s easy! Send an email to the members of the Health and Human Services Committee and ask them to advance LB 891.  This is an opportunity for Nebraska to take the lead in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Tell them!  Find their contact info here. The hearing for this bill is scheduled for 1:30pm on Wednesday, January 25th.

Stay tuned for updates in regard to this bill and the effort to get it passed in the Nebraska State Senate.  Take a minute to thank Senator Nordquist, as well as the other sponsors: Senators Conrad, Cook, Council, Howard, McGill and Mello, for taking a stand to care for those living with HIV/AIDS and leading Nebraska in the fight to END the HIV/AIDS epidemic.  Find their contact information here.

Please contact Jordan Delmundo at NAP with any questions: 402.552.9260 or jordand@nap.org

Follow our policy and advocacy blog: HIV Action Nebraska

Sign up for public policy email updates by sending an email to

hiv-action-nebraska+subscribe@googlegroups.com

Make sure to put the word “subscribe” in the subject line!

On November 27th, KETV aired a feature on the 10pm news recognizing the growing number of young people living with HIV.  The report featured a Tommy Dennis, a young man living with HIV, explaining what it was like for him to learn about his diagnosis.  Tommy is taking and stand and is now dedicating his time to share his story and raise awareness.  Thank you to KETV and Melissa Fry for bringing awareness to the HIV epidemic in Nebraska.  See the report here.

The last 20 years have seen great progress in the battle against HIV/AIDS.  Innovative treatments and medications have changed what was an almost certain death sentence into a more manageable condition. Many AIDS Service Organizations, around the country, like NAP, continue to provide compassionate and empowering support to people living with HIV.

However, there is still much work to do.  Just because we have made progress against HIV does not mean the fight is over.  HIV continues to strike at every demographic group with more than 50,000 new infections diagnosed annually in the U.S.  Over 200,000 people in the U.S. have HIV and do not know it due to lack of education and the social stigma that surrounds HIV/AIDS.  Today there are approximately 1.1 million people living with HIV/AIDS in the U.S.  Every 9 ½ minutes someone in the U.S. is diagnosed HIV positive.

Our biggest enemy is silence.  Misconceptions, fear and discrimination thrive in silence.  The conversation must shift from fear and discrimination to one of understanding and progress.  On this eve of World AIDS Day, let’s all be advocates and raise awareness about HIV/AIDS like Tommy.

*Please also understand that an increase in the number of young HIV+ people seeking services from NAP does not necessarily mean the rate of HIV infection among that age group is increasing.

Gary and Nakiea have been partnering with the Omaha Correctional Center Substance Abuse Unit (SAU) for over four years.  Every three months they would provide a minimum of four hours of HIV education to inmates involved in the SAU program’s re-entry phase.

From the award ceremony program:

They have maintained a commitment to offer extensive information that undoubtedly keeps inmate’ attention, as well as handouts and information regarding where inmates can go for a variety of free services when they are released.  Gary and Nakiea are very professional with a firm and consistent approach.  NAP’s commitment and dedication to the education fo our inmate population regarding such extremely important information is truly appreciated.

An estimated 530 walkers in Scottsbluff, Norfolk, Omaha, Lincoln, Kearney and Hastings participated in annual AIDS Walk across the state of Nebraska raising over $20,000. This statewide event raised a remarkable sum to support local HIV prevention, testing, and care services.

Kearney

Hastings

The funds raised by AIDS Walk Nebraska 2011 play a vital role in our efforts to radically reduce new HIV infections in Nebraska, ensure everybody knows their status, and make sure all people living with HIV/AIDS get the care they need. AIDS Walk Nebraska 2011 is about a community of people coming together not only to create something special, but also to make a substantial impact in the fight against HIV/AIDS across the entire state of Nebraska.

Lincoln

Scottsbluff

This year marks the 30th year since the first reported cases of AIDS in the United States. Currently 1.1 million people are living with HIV/AIDS nationwide, the highest number in the history of the epidemic. Every 3 ½ days in Nebraska, one more person is infected with HIV. Alarmingly, rates of new HIV infections are rising among gay and bisexual men, the only risk group for which this is the case.

The AIDS Walk joins everyone together across the state of Nebraska to support friends and loved ones living with the disease, to honor those we have lost, and to strive to end the AIDS epidemic.

Omaha

We give our deepest thanks and congratulations to the AIDS Walk Nebraska participants, volunteers and organizers.

The corporate community continues to show strong support of AIDS Walk Nebraska through team fundraising and major sponsorship. This year’s Sponsors include:

Scottsbluff Sponsors:
Calico Spirit
Community Action Partnership of Western Nebraska
Regional West Medical Center
Hutt, Davis, Townsend, & Paz Psychological Services
Western Community Health Resources

Kearney Sponsors:
Good Samaritan Hospital
Blade Runner Salon
University Laundry
Kearney Clinic
Susan Bice with Century 21 Midlands
Geneva State Bank
Ashley Furniture Homestore

Hastings Sponsors:
Five Points Bank of Hastings
Family Medical Center of Hastings
Hastings State Bank
Mary Lanning Memorial Health Care

Norfolk Sponsors:
Norfolk GM Auto Center
Jazzercise
Quiznos
TNT Sports Bar and Grill
Sinful Delights

Lincoln Sponsors:
Hy-Vee
UNL Organization, Students for Sexual Health

Omaha Sponsors:
ConAgra
Scheels