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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (April 6, 2001)
26 » aprii 6.2001 r • i 1 I I t s not over. Brochures and billboards alike convey the message from Cascade AID S Project that HIV and AIDS are still serious ■ health concerns. The slogan, however, just as easily could apply to the nonprofit orga nization, which for years fought for its own — wel l -bei ng. O f its recov- K " T .- a ery. executive director % V k, ? J ''- | Thomas Bruner pro- i l l claims, "Cascade AIDS ' I Project is healthier today, v ’ in every way, than at any other time in its history.” Confronted with growing T ' f had to ask that question before. Today, organi zations that aren’t asking the question are short sighted and should be asking the question.” Bruner also questions the goals of the sup port services C A P provides by asking: “Toward what end are we serving you? If we don’t know what our goal is, how do we know if we’re there or not? How do we gauge if we’re making any progress?” C A P now is implementing a long-term strategy for life with HIV or AIDS. In February, the organization hired Bevan Hurd for the new position of intake coordinator. As a single, initial point of contact, he will work one-on-one with new clients to tailor individualized, goal-oriented programs. A key component will he each client’s personal par ticipation in determining his or her own needs. “This social worker will conduct a thought ful, extended interview with you to really assess with you— not for you— what you need,” Bruner says. “And what you don’t need, what you don’t want and what you’re not willing to do. How long you want or expect help. What we’re going to do, what you’re going to do. Our limits, your limits. The discussion has changed from this vague, poorly defined, ‘I need; you help; great, here we go’ to a very different one, in which this is a partnership.” the reins in lyyo. lo ■ 1 some> C A P does lcx)k bet V L %T ter. To others, there are ;s ^ scars. fH |jSi| Although some BfctW » restriicturing was neces- sary simply to provide financial stability, other . . changes have been in ‘ ^ direct response to the evt lution of the epidemic. . National statistics contin r . ue to indicate two major trends are affecting _ _ l HIV/AIDS health and human services organiza tions around the country. First, sophisticated drug regimens have extended life. Second, the demographics of the population with HIV or base is accompanied by a different set o f com AIDS continue to shift. panion issues. No The combination of these two longer is it simply dynamics has caused C A P to about sexual behavior ineuexuM itr-i reassess who it serves, what it can but a whole range of do for them and how to offer struggles interconnect 001. t • tftttt I those services within the con ed with a client’s HIV straints of limited resources. status. "It’s been clear for some years “More and more now that the need is so big, so frequently, HIV or complicated and multifaceted AID S is one of an array of human needs that people bring to our door,” Bruner says. Bruner says. "Places like ^his mm “Places like this need In this issue: often have had a very difficult it r - r H f to be knowledgeable time admitting the difference jn and resourceful regard between what they can do and Hr ing a multitude of what they can’t, as opposed to pH health and human ser saying, ‘Here’s the piece of this vice issues.’ that we can help with, and we’ll He lists among help you find people that can help with the other them drug addiction, alcoholism, homelessness, pieces.’ ” mental illness, illiteracy and long-term unem ployment. These concerns often pre-empt dis cussion of HIV prevention or treatment. When faced with day-to-day survival, a client might not want to talk about how to receive medical r , ***"" 7 In the earlier days of the epidem- attention. / ■ *c > caseworkers would see clients “We’re working on how to manage this dis / for only weeks or months. Death was ease within the context of their entire life,” Wl / the ultimate and rather immediate deputy executive director Dan Bueling says. “If Wj / closure of C A P’s relationship with its the goal is to get people stabilized and treated jj / clients. and healthy, then you have to address the other / / Today, caseworkers see clients for years, barriers that prevent them from doing that.” / sometimes continually and sometimes / sporadically. The organization, therefore, / finds it necessary to reshape how it defines / the meeting of a client’s needs— and how / to find adequate long-term funding to s part of its realization that it cannot meet / ensure those services are effective and avail- the full demand for assistance, C A P has ’ able for an extended period of time. become an arbiter of who needs help and who “Let’s say you have HIV,” Bruner hypothe can help themselves. A diagnosis of HIV or sizes. “How long do we serve you? Do we serve AID S no longer is sufficient to guarantee entry you for a while? Do we serve you for years and through C A P ’s door. Instead, an unfulfilled years? Do we serve you until you die? We never need must exist. Complicated companions NCIGMORHOOO ss&sss-' ' < iW 'A If Xv»: Timeout T imothy K rause P hotos by M arty D avis by P f 0 | s tX » ......... ;■.... Casearie. I Cascade n
