McLean County AIDS Task Force
Connections Community Center, 313 N Main St, Bloomington, IL 61701
Phone: 309.827.AIDS (2437) | Fax: 309.827.0456
www.mcatf.org | mcatf@mcatf.org
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What's This?

Text Box: Story by: Josh King, Co-Chair
Client Services / joshking@mcatf.org You log onto the internet, into your favorite chat room, and search for the guy of the evening. You exchange some personal information about your height, hair color, how cut your abs maybe or may not be, and you arrange a meeting place. The mental image that Mr. Right painted for you was a little distorted, but after he left you decide to look for another encounter. Within the hour you could have guy number 2 banging on your door. A week later, you’re being treated for syphilis. What do you know about the people that you have slept with? Do you know who gave you the STD? Do you have contact information for the health officials to contact to alert them of their possible contraction? Reports are showing that men who sleep with men (MSM) between the ages of 18 and 29 are more likely to use the internet to hook up with someone without discussing if they have an STD or HIV. In San Francisco 88% of the reported syphilis cases were MSM, and

Text Box: 33% were from internet hook ups. One case had a male who had 160 plus partners in the year, and the subject did not have anything other than a screen name or email for any of the partners. The San Francisco Health Department issued an urgent email to everyone involved, stating the need for testing. Less than 1/4 responded. Many areas are using the internet to alert people of their possible contraction to a STD or HIV. The National Coalition of STD Directors recommends for internet service providers or local public health departments to post banner ads in chat rooms where MSM frequent; advising the risk of STD’s or clinical based STD services. And that’s just what MCATF does! We have trained Internet Risk Reduction Counselors to help your answers. But we can’t always be there when you’re online. So, her are a few steps you can take to protect yourself from STD or HIV contraction; Ask about STD status! You have the

Text Box: right to know and not be embarrassed about it. Also ask when the last time they were tested. This might kill the mood, but do you really want to contract something. If someone says they are only looking for safe sex, ask what they mean by safe sex. Does safe sex mean using a condom? No anal intercourse, no exchanging of actual names, using a safe word incase of pain? Safe sex means many different things to many different people. Keep a little black book. Right down a name, phone number, or even a screen name to contact someone incase you have contracted something. Do you want to be responsible for spreading STDs? Decrease the number of sexual partners you may meet online. Monogamy is best if you are sexual active. Make sure you choose a partner who is monogamous also. Last but not least, WRAP IT UP. Always use a condom. You need to remember that the only person that is responsible for your sexual health is yourself.

Text Box: Story By: Ed Bruner,
outgoing Co-Chair Client Services First of all, I want to thank whoever it was that sent their comment to the board of directors in their ballot (see letter on right). During my time I served in Client Services, we had very few comments and responses from our clients. Comments are ALWAYS appreciated. Over the past 4-5 years, Client Services has offered HIV+ support groups for gay men, HIV+ support groups for women, HIV+ support groups open to any HIV+ person, support groups at churches and away from churches, with licensed, certified counselors and, yet, the only person we could rely on being there was myself and the counselor. We’ve proposed trips to Six Flags Pride St Louis for a day of fun in the water park & amusement park (many said they thought it was a good idea but backed-out at the last moment), we’ve had private and group dinners & cookouts, provided “Buddies” to our clients when possible, and we have worked with clients that wanted

Text Box: public speaking help, so they could talk to various groups in the Twin Cities. We also deliver holiday food baskets every year, send different clients to the State HIV/STD/TB Conference in Springfield, have transported numerous clients all across Central Illinois 3 more out of state in our volunteers’ personal cars, and have made ourselves very available to all clients by listing our cell numbers. Many of our clients call or email members on the Client Services Subcommittee to stay informed and to offer suggestions. We provide a LISTSERV you can join to keep informed about Client Services & MCATF events, provide computers, software, and printing, software games, the latest HIV info, television for your viewing pleasure, etc … all topped off with free popcorn & soda for clients. But we truly believe our biggest shortfall is not lack of ideas, but volunteers to help make those ideas come to fruition. The first step towards making client services the premier agency of it’s kind is for the clients, themselves, if possible, to get involved in any way you can! Take ownership of MCATF! Come to the next Client Services Committee Meeting & let’s plan for what you want!!!