Connect to Protect (C2P) -Detroit Coalition
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What is C2P-Detroit?
C2P-Detroit is a coalition of representatives from a variety of AIDS service, LGBTQ, youth-serving, and other community-based organizations. The goal is to reduce HIV infection in Detroit youth through structural change. The coalition also provides a discussion forum for sharing information about Detroit HIV-related issues on a regular basis.
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What is Connect to Protect?
Connect to Protect (C2P): Partnerships for Youth Prevention Interventions is a multi-site project developed by the Adolescent Medicine Trials Network for HIV/AIDS Interventions (ATN). The overall goal of the project is to ultimately reduce HIV incidence and prevalence in youth 12-24 years old through community mobilization supporting structural change.
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What is structural change?
Structural change is any change in policy, practices, or the built environment that can be sustained over time and is logically linkable to preventing the acquisition or transmission of HIV.
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How is C2P funded and for how long?
The NIH (National Institutes of Health) funds C2P coalitions around the country as part of the national Adolescent Medicine Trials Network for HIV prevention (ATN). C2P is funded for 5 years, starting in July of 2011, with a possibility of continuation for 5 additional years in 2016.
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What are the benefits of involvement with C2P?
There are many benefits to participating in C2P including:
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Access to local maps and epidemiological data for use in grant applications
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Capacity building trainings to members
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Networking and resource sharing
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Develop strong partnerships and linkages with other local organizations
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Offer insight into structural change interventions in Detroit
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Opportunity to affect change/make a difference in the lives of youth in Detroit
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How often are the meeings held?
C2P-Detroit hosts monthly meetings. Large community group meetings are held bi-monthly and the subcommittee meetings are held on alternating months. Subcommittees may choose to meet more frequently (i.e., once a month) depending on their needs.
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How do I become involved?
Contact the C2P-Detroit Coordinator, Valentina Djelaj at C2PDetroit@gmail.com or
586-307-2215! Interested individuals may join the C2P-Detroit listserv, stay up-to-date on the coalition’s work by reading the C2P-Detroit newsletters, and/or attend a C2P-Detroit meeting.
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How do I maintain my membership?
General members who have signed a letter of commitment to regularly participate in the coalition must attend 7 out of the 12 C2P working group meetings and/or subcommittee meetings annually.
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Are there leadership roles that members can fill?
There are several ways members can fill leadership roles within C2P. Members can join the Board of Directors, serve as co-chair for the coalition, or serve as co-chair on one of the subcommittees.
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Does C2P host events? If so, how often?
C2P plans to host 2 socializing events this year for its members.
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What are C2P subcommittees?
C2P-subcommittees have been established based on the root causes of HIV in Detroit. Current subcommittees include:
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Linkage to Care
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HIV Education
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LGBTQ Youth Support
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Sustainability and Leadership
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What are the root causes of HIV in Detroit?
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Lack of support for LGBTQ youth leading to abandonment and lacking agency for condom use
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Lack of appropriate sexuality education
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Lack of access to testing and prevention treatment, too few certified testers, insensitive providers conducting testing
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HIV+ youth not linked, engaged, or retained in care
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Who are some of C2P-Detroit’s partners?
Some of C2P-Detroit’s partners include: Wayne State University School of Medicine, the Detroit Department of Health and Wellness Promotion, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), Equality Michigan, AIDS Partnership Michigan, Health Emergency Lifeline Program (HELP), Matrix Human Services...plus many more!