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Project Inform
Index of articles from Project Inform
Our MissionProject Inform has been at the front lines in the fight against HIV and AIDs since 1985 -- when reliable information about the disease and its treatment was nearly impossible to obtain. Project Inform is a national, non-profit, community-based organization working to end the AIDS epidemic. Its mission is:
Over the years, Project Inform has maintained one primary focus: we remain dedicated to providing free, confidential, and empowering information to anyone who asks -- and we are committed to speeding the search for a cure. Through the generous support of private donors, a dedicated staff, and the efforts of hundreds of volunteers, Project Inform has earned an international reputation as a vocal, active, and effective advocate for the HIV/AIDS community it serves. More than 50% of our funding comes from individuals, the remainder from corporate and private foundations, individual bequests, and a very small amount from government sources.
Project Inform PublicationsPutting Hope Into Words Project Inform produces a variety of printed information resources, each designed to meet a special need. All provide up-to-date information on topics ranging from advances in HIV/AIDS treatment to commentary on government policy.
This provides vital information for people newly diagnosed with HIV, and for all of those who have made the decision to take charge of their health. The packet helps people realize that HIV infection is not a death sentence, and helps them create a comprehensive personal action plan. Materials from Project Inform provide supportive information on everything from choosing and working with a healthcare provider to understanding treatment options. Project Inform Fact Sheets provide detailed information on specific treatments, common infections, and strategies for maintaining health. They are based on the most current information from the latest research in HIV and AIDS. Your information is priceless! Project Inform is our only link for information other than our personal physician, and even he commented on how accurate and informative your papersare! Both the Introductory Treatment Packet and the Fact Sheets are available free of charge to Hotline callers (see Contact Project Inform below) and by request at Town Meetings (see Outreach and Education below). This comprehensive journal is published several times each year. PI Perspective provides information from the most recent clinical trials, plus perceptive analysis and discussion on the state of the art in AIDS treatment and research. It also takes a consumer advocate's approach to reporting on medical, governmental, and regulatory issues. This award-winning web site makes it possible for anyone to obtain free, confidential information. The Project Inform web site includes regularly updated information and alerts, plus the full range of Project Inform publications described in this brochures. Those without computers may gain access through public libraries, AIDS information centers, and schools. The web site provides convenient direct links to other HIV/AIDS web sites. I'm an RN working with people with HIV/AIDS. I go to conferences; I read a lot. PI Perspective has information that I haven't seen before.
The Hotline ProgramA Reassuring Voice The toll-free Project Inform National HIV/AIDS Treatment Hotline is the only nationwide hotline service dedicated to providing information about the treatment of HIV and AIDS. The Project Inform hotline is so highly regarded that the Centers for Disease Control, the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, the national AIDS Hotline, and other AIDS service organizations' hotlines regularly refer their callers to us for treatment information. Staffed by trained volunteers, the Hotline receives 45,000-50,000 calls per year, and serves as a gateway to other Project Inform services and publications. Callers can request Project Inform publications, get clarification on news reports about treatment options, and receive an objective, reliable "second opinion" to counter rumors, hype, and hysteria. Your Hotline is exceptional. It is not only helped me, but provides immediate answers toquestions that my friends ask me.
Outreach and EducationBringing the Message Home Project Inform outreach and education activities enable us to bring essential information directly to the communities that are affected by HIV/AIDS.
Informative, supportive -- and action-oriented -- Town Meetings are held throughout the U.S. and in San Francisco. Introductory Town Meetings provide basic information about HIV infection, while Update Town Meetings deliver advanced information on current issues and evolving treatment options. These grassroots forums have enabled Project Inform to take a leading role in urging anonymous testing, health monitoring, early intervention, combination therapy, and the prevention of opportunistic infections. Here's a schedule of upcoming Town Meetings.
Whenever possible, Project Inform provides AIDS service organizations with specialized training to enhance their knowledge of HIV/AIDS treatment. Project Inform shares resources, training, and technical assistance with "front line" workers in under-served communities. Special efforts are being made to reach out to women, people of color, and young people. I watched a roomful of participants turn from nervous strangers who had only their fear in common to a group of hopeful, empowered, supported people with action plans.
Advocacy ProgramsChallenging and Changing Public Policy In 1986, Project Inform became the first community-based advocacy organization to establish a constructive relationship with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the government agency responsible for the approval of all drugs and diagnostic tests. Such relationships have greatly expanded since then, giving Project Inform access to important information about clinical trials and research strategies -- early enough to change them for the benefit of people with HIV. In addition, these relationships help us deliver our advocacy messages, encouraging open collaboration among scientists and institutions, creating new models for research and the sharing of data, and expediting wide access to experimental therapies for people with HIV. Now that better treatments are available, Project Inform is confronting the issue of access to therapy. The high cost of new drugs and an increasingly cost-conscious healthcare system -- as well as severely underfunded and overburdened government assistance programs -- make it virtually impossible for many people with AIDS to take advantage of the best new therapies. Our advocacy efforts are at the forefront of a nationwide movement to address this growing problem. Project Inform has established working relationships with many organizations, including:
Created in 1991 by Project Inform volunteers, TAN is the largest national grassroots network of individuals lobbying on HIV/AIDS research and treatment issues. Today more than 1,000 TAN members communicate with elected representatives on federal HIV/AIDS appropriations and legislation. This kind of individual commitment is needed more than never. This unique program focuses research attention on immune-based therapies, and coordinates the efforts of scientists seeking to restore the immune systems of people in advanced stages of HIV disease. Project Inform's Immune Restoration sponsors meetings of the Immune Restoration Think Tank, which brings world-renowned scientific and medical minds together to share data and to develop new strategies and clinical protocols. A number of the studies initiated within the project have received international attention.
A Message of HopeTake Heart -- and Take Action A positive HIV test result can change everything about a person's life -- yet it is not a reason to despair. The Project Inform message is one of hope and self-empowerment. We believe that a well-informed person is better able to gain access to the full range of available treatment options and resources, and is better equipped to make decisions. Our goal is to help all people living with HIV and AIDS develop the ability to make the best of their fight with HIV disease, and to provide them with the invaluable tools of knowledge, hope, and power. For many years our motto has been "It's never too early to take charge of your health." We encourage everyone to:
Make a DifferenceYour Support Keeps Us Going Strong All of the services and information described in this booklet are provided to our constituents nationally and internationally free of charge. More than ever, your support makes a difference in our ability to maintain these programs and to meet the information and education needs of the communities affected by HIV and AIDS.
To volunteer, to make a donation or a pledge, or to receive more information on ways to support Project Inform (including making a gift through your will or estate), follow the above links or please call (415) 558-8669. I am very proud of Project Inform and the work we do here ... I cannot tell you how empowering it is to still be able to make a difference in this society.
How to Reach Project InformProject Inform: Treatment Infoline: Office Telephone: 415-558-8669 |
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