Honors, Awards and Achievements

The Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work published “Effects of Drug Use on Sexual Risk Behavior: Results of an HIV Outreach and Education Program,” an article by Jennifer L. Lauby, PhD, senior research associate; Heather Batson, research associate; and Mary Milnamow, research associate, in its January 2010 issue. The article includes findings from the researchers’ evaluation of PHMC’s Pathways Project, an HIV intervention for out-of-treatment drug users. The researchers examined the effect of decreases in drug use on incidence of unprotected sex with main and non-main partners.

“Magic Johnson doesn’t worry about how to pay for medicine: experiences of black men who have sex with men living with HIV,” written by Lauby, Lisa Bond, PhD, senior research associate, and Archana Bodas LaPollo, MPH, senior research associate, along with Chong-suk Han of Middlebury College and Scott Edward Rutledge of Temple University, was published in the February 2010 issue of Culture, Health & Sexuality: An International Journal for Research, Intervention and Care. The article presents findings from PHMC’s Black Men’s Health Survey, which examines the everyday lives of HIV-positive black gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, and focuses on how being a racial minority may influence the ways they manage living with the illness.

Philadelphia Treatment Court case managers John Berry and Mary Santangelo received distinguished service awards for their more than 10 years of contributions and dedicated service to Philadelphia Treatment Court at the court’s 139th graduation ceremony in January.

Elaine Fox, vice president of Specialized Health Services, who manages Philadelphia’s Health Care for the Homeless program, moderated “Homelessness: New Approaches to a Changing Problem,” a panel discussion hosted by the Philadelphia Committee on City Policy (PCCP) in March. Lynne Kotranski, PhD, vice president for PHMC’s Research and Evaluation Group and a member of PCCP’s board of directors, provided welcoming remarks. The panel focused on innovative policy and programmatic solutions to address the spectrum of homelessness rarely seen—those who are struggling to break the cycle or are just a paycheck away from homelessness.

The April 2010 issue of Journal of Asthma included “The Child Asthma Link Line: A Coalition-initiated, Telephone-based, Care Coordination Intervention for Childhood Asthma,” an article by Kathleen Coughey, PhD, senior research associate at PHMC; Caroline West, MPAff, research associate at PHMC; Erin McCarville, MPH; Gary Klein, PhD; James Diamond, PhD; Abbie Santana, MSPH; and PHMC affiliate Health Promotion Council board member Michael Rosenthal, MD. The article focuses on Health Promotion Council’s Asthma Link Line, an award-winning, community-based call center that coordinates medical appointments, asthma education and other health and social services for families affected by asthma.

On April 20, 2010, Tammi Fleming, director of Plain Talk National Replication Center, received a certificate from the United Way Young Leaders Program after completing its board orientation program. The program provides networking and volunteer opportunities to United Way Leadership donors under age 40.

Social Work in Health Care published a book review in its March 2010 issue by Anya Goldberg, MSS, MPH, LSW, CPH. Goldberg, a forensic therapist at PHMC’s CHANCES, reviewed Righteous Dopefiend, a book by Phillipe Bourgois and Jeff Schonberg about the world of homeless drug users. “Righteous Dopefiend is a phenomenal contribution and must-read for all disciplines concerned with public health… . Professionals from various backgrounds will find this extremely frank and transparent study an invaluable addition to the field,” writes Goldberg.

In June, Rachel Kirzner, program director for PHMC’s Maximizing Participation Project (MPP), presented a poster session about MPP at the Administration for Children and Families’ 13th Annual Welfare Research and Evaluation Conference held in Washington, DC.

After serving two years as president-elect for the Pennsylvania Public Health Association (PPHA), Jessica Boyer, senior program officer at PHMC, began her term as president in the fall of 2009. Boyer, an active member of PPHA since 2003, previously served as treasurer.

Sulaiman A. Wood, program manager of Focus on Fathers for PHMC affiliate Resources for Children's Health, was invited to join the Advisory Committee to Review the Effects on Children of Incarcerated Parents convened by the Pennsylvania Joint State Government Commission after passage of Pennsylvania House Resolution 203 and Senate Resolution 52. The committee will study the effects on children of having incarcerated parents and recommend a system for assessing their needs, the services available to them and the barriers to accessing those services.

New Grants

In January, CVS Caremark Charitable Trusts Awards presented Linda Creed with a $10,000 check to continue providing screening and diagnostic testing to women in the community.

PHMC’s Specialized Health Services (SHS) component received $187,000 in April from the Pew Fund for Health and Human Services, part of The Pew Charitable Trusts’ Philadelphia Program, to implement the Homeless Early Intervention Project. Currently, SHS provides assessment services to children living in shelters. The grant will help expand services to children in transitional housing and aid efforts to remove barriers to the early intervention system for homeless children ages three to five.

The Leo & Peggy Pierce Family Foundation  awarded PHMC affiliate Interim House, which provides a continuum of comprehensive services to women addicted to drugs and alcohol, with a $30,000 two-year grant.

Community Health Data Base recently received four grants from major area foundations, including an additional $1 million over four years from The Pew Charitable Trusts and new support of $10,000 each from Philadelphia Foundation, CIGNA Foundation and Green Tree Community Health Foundation.

Correction

In the Winter 2010 issue of DIRECTIONS, we incorrectly reported the amount raised in PHMC’s 2009 United Way Employee Giving Campaign. The correct amount is $131,753. We apologize for the error.