News from Hartford Gay and Lesbian Health Collective.

The Hartford Gay and Lesbian Health Collective is please to announce that it has received a grant from the Susan G. Komen For the Cure Connecticut Affiliate for Breast Cancer Outreach, Awareness, Education, and Screening. The amount awarded is double the amount that the agency has received in the past.

The grant will provide for outreach, education and screening for women  of low income, targeting lesbian, bisexual and transgender women, women with HIV/AIDS and women of African-American and Hispanic ethnicity in the Greater Hartford area. The goal of this program is to promote awareness about breast cancer, early diagnosis and treatment among uninsured, underinsured and underserved women through the distribution of educational materials. Healthy Breast House Parties , breast self-exam instruction and clinical screening.

For more information about Women’s Health Services at the Hartford Gay and Lesbian Health Collective or if you wish to be involved as a volunteer, please contact Kathey at (860) 278-4164 x16 or katheyf@hglhc.org.

Become a Healthy Breast Colunteer: Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign.

Join HGLHC as they contact hundreds of women around Connecticut about the importance of breast cancer early detection and encourage them to make a regular mammogram appointment. We’re asking each Healthy Breast Volunteer to send letter with personal notes and breast cancer education materials to ten (10) female friends, family, loved ones. The Health Collective will supply all the materials you need and you can use postal mail or talk to her in person.

For more information about Letters to Friends contact Kathey Women Services Coordinator at (860)-278-4163 x 16 or katheyf@hglhc.org.

A Message from the Executive Director about HIV prevention.

The Health Collective has received funding from the Sate of Connecticut Department of Public Health to expand HIV prevention services. In addition to providing counseling and testing, HGLHC will be developing HIV prevention programs throughout the state.

Linda Estabrook, Executive Director, said, “HGLHC has resolved to be proactive, creative, timely and part of the solution. Many of us experienced first-hand the devastation of the 1980’s and early 1990’s. We watched our friends in their 20s and 30s get sick and die. Even today, when someone we know dies, we can feel that sorrow and dread from years ago. We don’t want our community to repeat history. We don’t want to see ourselves and others go through that awful experience ever again. This is personal for us and we look forward to a renewed opportunity to make a difference.”

The Gay and Lesbian Health Collective will be hiring three full-time positions for our HIV prevention program: Mpowerment Coordinator, Social Networking Strategy Coordinator/HIV Counselor, and Peer/Non Peer Outreach Coordinator. Position descriptions and directions for submitting resume can be found on the Health Collectives website. www.hglhc.org under Employment Opportunities.

To find out about the services provided by the Collective call 278-4163. Hours M-F 9-5 and on Thursday (clinic night they are open till 9pm.)