SAVE THE UCSF MEN OF COLOR PROGRAM On June 19th, 2007, our program will be meeting at City Hall in hopes to get our program refunded. By signing our petition, you are helping us show how much our clinic, 360: The Positive Care Center at UCSF/The Men of Color Program is needed in San Francisco. 360 reflects the degrees in a circle-the full circle of care-to highlight our emphasis on comprehensive services for those living with HIV/AIDS. It also represents a journey from health to illness to health again for many of our patients. Importantly, 360 represents our wide view to all aspects of HIV/AIDS care and research that drive our commitment to develop innovative solutions to bringing all living with HIV/AIDS into optimal care and providing them the tools to stay in care. In 2002, the Men of Color Program (MOCP) was created to meet the treatment and prevention needs of men of color in San Francisco, particularly African American men, living with HIV/AIDS not in optimal medical care. We serve over 100 such difficult to engage individuals with less than 4% of persons lost to follow-up! Yet, the need is great and ongoing: * HIV is 2nd most common cause of death in black men in San Francisco * Cumulative San Francisco AIDS cases disproportionate in Blacks (13% in San Francisco while representing only 7% of SF population); * San Francisco Blacks with AIDS do worse- in 2005, estimated deaths in persons with AIDS was 28% for Blacks i.e. 3 out of 10 deaths (while representing only 14% AIDS cases) The MOCP uses a comprehensive model of care that is culturally appropriate and population-specific involving coordinated outreach, health education, case management, and health care delivery. Our group of doctors, nurses, peer advocates, case managers, social workers, dietitians, and pharmacists provide a multidisciplinary approach to the overall wellness of our clients. We also work with providers, clients, and community leaders to identify and address common barriers, to inform treatment as well as additional challenges to care, including obstacles to effective service delivery. Based on our successes, we were recently funded to use MOCP as the hub of a telemedicine project with local community clinics to increase access to HIV specialty services not affordable or readily available locally, yet need for today\'s complicated patients. Any man of color in the San Francisco area living with HIV/AIDS can get these services and high quality of care in a friendly, culturally sensitive place. There are no other clinics that offer as many services specifically geared towards African Americans. Over 100 patients will suffer a loss of culturally competent medical and social services if we are not refunded. This could result in a negative impact on the delivery of public health services in San Francisco.

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