Out in the Mountains VT Health Department Continued from page 1 “AJDS is a community issue,” Lottero stated and emphasized that community involvement is needed if resolution is going to be achieved. Otherwise, he continued, “We will lose this fight, and we currently are losing this fight.” Lori E Dove Dioprielor %lcome ur usiness 350 Dorset Street, 30. Burlington (Harding Sou!/I an Dorm St, turn left onto San Remo Dr.) 802-863-2300 ' Fax 802-658-2191 Hours: 9:30 am. - 6:00 pm. Monday — Saturday Pen Dragon Bennington Bennington Free Library Bennington College Bennington Library Record Rack Southern Vermont College Brattleboro Brattleboro Food Coop Common Ground Everyone's Books Burlington Burlington College Chassman & Bem Fletcher Free Library Onion River Co—op Partners in Recovery & Growth Peace & Justice Center Pearls Planned Parenthood Castleton STEP Learning Center Chester Misty Valley Books Chester Craftsbury Craftsbury Public Library Where to Find OITM The focus of the workshop was upon finding effective ways to involve those who are at risk as well as those who are already infected. To do that, Lottero suggested that a dramatic shift in paradigms will be needed. One of those shifts is away from a perception of “clients”, “consumers” or “patients” as liabilities. The presenter spoke of the need to “map community assets” instead of continuing to create a dependency culture. Lottero affirmed that educational systems operate on many faulty assumptions, one of which is an “I know best” attitude in which information is presented in abstractions. “We mystify everything,” he said. This results in systems set up to push out people who appear to be failures. He cited the long history of unsuccessful programs and reaffirmed that HIV prevention is really about who survives the AIDS epidemic and who does not. “When people get a different message, they will feel invited to participate.” In considering this shift in paradigms, Lottero suggested that three specific perspectives must change — that of government as the source of funds, that of the provider of the service, and that of the consumer. Lottero ‘summarized the importance of Center Rutland Rutland Area Gay/Lesbian Connection East Hardwick Greenhope Farm Fair Haven Fair Haven Free Library Hardwick Buffalo Mountain Coop Galaxy Books Lyndonville Jon's Automotive Project EXCEL, Lyndon State College Manchester Center Northshire Bookstore Middlebury Addison County Women in Crisis Ilsley Public Library Middlebury Natural Food Coop Storm Cafe Montpelier Bear Pond Books Horn of the Moon Cafe Rivendell Books Woman Centered Morrisville Morristown Centennial Library Newfane < Moore Free Library rethinking prevention strategies because often a conflict exists between “priorities that negate someone else’s value system” and undercut effective prevention. “Far too many communities are in denial about the risks and about the persons who are at risk,” he concluded. Since last May, the HIV Prevention Community Planning Process Committee, created by the Vermont Department of Health, has undertaken several tasks: - the assessment of present and future impact of I-IIV/AIDS in all Vennont communities; - the identification of existing HIV prevention resources and unmet prevention needs within a wide variety of populations; 0 the definition of specific prevention strategies and interventions for the various populations; and - the development of a comprehensive statewide prevention plan. Lottero maintained that providers must look for the assets possessed by those persons who are at risk, and through those positive characteristics and qualities, prevention strategies will have a much higher chance of being successful. V Northfield Brown Public Library Norwich Social Alternatives for Gay Men Plainfield Woman's Study Program Putney Putney Library Randolph Kimball Public Library Rutland PFLAG Rutland Free Library United Methodist Churh Grace Cong. United Church of Christ St. J ohnsbury LUNA/NEVGALR c/o Umbrella Natural Provisions Regional Library St. Johnsbury Athenaeum Stowe Food for Thought Waterbury Video Exchange White River J uncfion WRJ Books Upper Valley Coop Williamstown, MA Wild Oats Co—op Orbysubstzriptionmailedrighttoyolrrdoorl