The impact of HIV on women worldwide will be the topic of October's Hartford HIV Forum. Lisa Cruz, MPA, of the AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts (AAC) will speak on Tuesday, October 11 at noon at the Living Center, 1841 Broad Street. The event is free; lunch will be provided and advanced registration is required.

As AAC's HIV Health Institute Manager, Ms. Cruz provides educational programming for health and social service providers, people living with HIV/AIDS, and populations at risk. Her approach is "to engage people in a dialogue"; she sees her presentations as "a resource to begin that dialogue."

Ms. Cruz's talk will offer a broad overview of the issues women face who are living with HIV/AIDS or at risk for HIV infection. She approaches these from a global as well as national perspective. Topics will include: a profile of the epidemic; risk factors; pharmacokinetics of HIV drugs on women; tips for talking to providers; HIV and pregnancy; accessing treatment; holistic self-care and advocacy for women.

By attending this month's Forum, people living with HIV/AIDS or at risk for HIV infection, case managers and other direct social service and health care providers, as well as interested members of the public, will learn about the impact of the HIV epidemic on women, overcoming barriers to treatment, and accessing supportive services such as child care and mental health care. Cruz hopes to stimulate conversation that will enable people to learn from one another and identify additional topics of interest. "Education and knowledge is power," states Cruz. "The more people know about the impact of HIV on women, not only in the U.S. but globally, the better they are able to begin a conversation. And that's a good start."

This is the second lecture in the Fall, 2005 series of forums organized by The Institute for Community Research and the Connecticut AIDS Education and Training Center. The Hartford HIV Forum meets from 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m., on the second Tuesday of each month from September through June. The goal of the forums is to give the local community the most up-to-date information on current topics in AIDS prevention, treatment, research and care. To register for the forum, call the Institute for Community Research at 860-278-2044. For more information about the series, contact Peg Weeks at The Institute for Community Research at 860-278-2044 X229.

The Institute for Community Research is an independent, nonprofit organization that conducts applied research and community enhancement programs to promote equal access to health, education, and cultural resources. The Connecticut AIDS Education and Training Center trains providers with the goal of improving HIV clinical care through a grant from the Health Resources & Services Administration (Federal Grant No. 1H4A HA 00050-AO).