Shanti and TPAN bring L.I.F.E. to Chicago

Chicago, Illinois–Chicagoans living with HIV/AIDS gain access to innovative health–enhancement program.

Shanti and Test Positive Aware Network (TPAN) are now enrolling for The L.I.F.E. Program® (learning immune function enhancement), an effective, health-enhancement program for individuals living with HIV/AIDS in Chicago. The first L.I.F.E. workshop begins August 11 at TPAN. Space is limited and registration is required. Participation is free, and open to all persons living with HIV/AIDS in Chicago.

L.I.F.E. incorporates the latest research in HIV, immunology, and health into a holistic model of care which empowers persons living with HIV to improve their health. During 13 weekly sessions, participants gain the knowledge, motivation, skills, and support necessary to manage biological, psychological, and social life issues that can impact immune functioning and overall health.

"TPAN has a long history of providing cutting–edge HIV/AIDS programs and services to meet the needs of our clients," said TPAN’s Executive Director Bill Farrand. "Our collaboration with Shanti in creating a Chicago-based, L.I.F.E. program will benefit many of our clients while continuing to add to the variety and quality of TPAN's programming."

TPAN is the nation's eighteenth site to offer L.I.F.E., and the only site located in the greater Chicago area. Since 1991, L.I.F.E. has been implemented in six states and has improved health outcomes and quality of life for more than 3,000 people living with HIV/AIDS.

"We've seen participants gain amazing results from L.I.F.E.: their highest CD4+ counts since diagnosis, returning to work for the first time in years, or regaining life purpose and long term goals," said Clayton Robbins, Director of Program Development at the Shanti L.I.F.E. Institute in San Francisco, California. "We are confident that Test Positive Aware Network is the ideal partner to implement L.I.F.E. in Chicago," stated Kaushik Roy, Executive Director of Shanti.

This project is made possible in part by a generous grant from Tibotec Therapeutics.

To join a L.I.F.E. workshop in Chicago, contact Billy Minshall at (773) 989-9400 ext.232 or by email.

About Shanti and the Shanti L.I.F.E. Institute
Founded in 1974, Shanti has been at the forefront of a growing national movement to enhance the quality of life for persons living with long–term or life–threatening illnesses by providing volunteer–based emotional and practical support, and national training on the Shanti Model of Peer Support. The Shanti L.I.F.E. Institute provides curriculum development, training, technical assistance, and outcomes evaluation to assist agencies and health departments across the country in offering effective health enhancement programming in their communities. The L.I.F.E. Program® is a health enhancement and wellness counseling program that integrates illness prevention, treatment, and medication adherence interventions into an effective 13- or 16-week program. For more information about Shanti and the Shanti LIFE Institute, visit www.shanti.org/life, or contact Clayton Robbins at (415) 203-9141 or by email.
About TPAN
TPAN empowers people living with HIV through peer–led programming, support services, information dissemination, and advocacy. TPAN also provides services to the broader community to increase HIV knowledge and sensitivity, and to reduce the risk of infection. Founded in 1987, TPAN is Chicago's oldest peer–led AIDS service organization and specializes in treatment information, support services, and prevention. TPAN publishes Positively Aware, an internationally known and respected magazine devoted to HIV treatment and wellness.

1 comments:

Kevin Burns said...

It's great to see that the important work that our L.I.F.E. Program does is being shared with yet another U.S. city. Congratualations to Shanti and in particular the hard working staff of the Shanti L.I.F.E. Program.

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