Pathways Spring 2015

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V O L U M E 19 I S S U E 1

PATHWAYS

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Published by Evergreen Health Services

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PRESIDENT & CEO / Ronald T. Silverio EDITOR/ART DIRECTOR / John Carocci EDITOR / Martha Sawicki COPY EDITOR / Theresa Woehrel CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Justin Azzarella, Kelly Campbell John Carocci, Laura Pasquarella Martha Sawicki, Theresa Woehrel CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER John Carocci __________________________________________________

EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING / 716-847-0212 FACSIMILE / 716-847-0418 E MAIL / publications@evergreenhs.org ON THE WEB / www.evergreenhs.org _________________________________________________

Copyright 2015 by Pathways, all rights reserved.

Published by Evergreen Health Services, 206 South Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, New York 14201. Pathways circulation is 5,000. Pathways is received by request by donors and supporters. Distribution is by mailing list and placement. Views expressed herein are not necessarily the views of the publisher. Publication of any person or organization in articles, advertising or listings in Pathways is not to be construed as any indication of the sexual orientation or HIV status of such person or members of such organizations.

Pathways cannot acknowledge or return unsolicited manuscripts unless they are accompanied by a selfaddressed stamped envelope. Pathways’ mailing list is never shared. Pathways urges readers to consult their medical practitioners about any therapies or treatment strategies in this publication. To be put on the Pathways Magazine mailing list, call 847-0212 or e-mail ssciandra@evergreenhs.org. _________________________________________________

inside this issue From the Editor: Help and Hope / 1 AIDS Walk Buffalo / 2 Pathways Profile: Meet Sabrina's Crew / 4 Vicious Circle: Mental Illness and HIV / 6 Building on Our Success / 8 Patients Are the Stars at EMG / 12 Pride 2015 Preview / 14 Health Homes Revisited / 16 Art Therapy at the Wellness Center / 18 Fly Young Red at NBHAAD Event / 20

on the cover Evergreen Health Services will double the size of its West Village headquarters. See page 10.

Help for Today, Hope for Tomorrow I've wri en before about our slogan, adopted, along with the familiar pine tree logo, thirty years ago when the Buffalo AIDS Task Force became AIDS Community Services. These six simple words combine to form a powerful statement that has kept us focused on our mission through three decades of ever-changing needs and challenges.

Help for Today, Hope for Tomorrow. It was true in 1983, and it's truer than ever today. The Evergreen Associa on and its affiliates provide Help for Today through a mul tude of essen al services to the community: primary medical care, expanded care coordina on, mental health counseling, housing and nutri on assistance, an inhouse pharmacy, HIV and STI screening, support groups, syringe exchange, substance abuse counseling, the list goes on and on. As for Hope for Tomorrow, well, this issue of Pathways has that covered, too. Our 23rd AIDS Walk promises to be the best yet, with new energy and some big shoes to fill — last year's Walk raised nearly $100,000 to support the programs of Evergreen Health Services. There are big physical changes in store for the agency as well, and you can read about them star ng on page 8 of this issue. The Evergreen Commons renova on is nearly complete, and the Evergreen Lo s project will create 56 apartments in what is now a vacant former industrial site on Genesee Street. Last, but certainly not least, the Roanoke expansion will double the size of our West Village headquarters, and will feature an expanded, state of the art medical facility and Wellness Center.

All three of these exci ng projects will allow Evergreen to improve our exis ng services and bring on innova ve new programs for our clients and pa ents. Hope for Tomorrow? You bet. - John Carocci P.S. Congratula ons to Evergreen Associa on President and CEO Ron Silverio, who was named to the Business First Power 250 list.

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Though the ground is s ll thawing and the threat of snow lingers as we put together the spring edi on of Pathways, we are looking forward with an cipa on to AIDS Walk, on Saturday, May 9, 2015. An incredible amount of prepara on is put into planning this amazing fund-raising effort, and we are striving to make this year’s Walk our biggest yet by bea ng last year’s benchmarks of over $95,000 raised, 532 walkers par cipa ng, and 1,253 donors contribu ng! We are, of course, focused on raising funds to allow us to con nue providing cri cal help to the thousands of individuals who depend on Evergreen’s services, as well as on educa ng our walkers and donors. Our primary purpose for all of this is to unite as a community to remember those we have lost, and honor and support those that con nue to struggle with the every day ba le of this disease. We have come a long way since the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s and 1990s, medical advances in treatment and search for a cure during the late 1990s and early 2000s, and now the preven on and suppression with the introduc on of PrEP, but we are reminded on a daily basis: the fight is not over. There are nearly 50,000 new cases of HIV diagnosed yearly in the United States, a stark sta s c to remind us that we're s ll figh ng for a cure. We hope you will join us on May 9, to celebrate, memorialize, educate, engage, remind, inspire—whatever your personal story may be—as we unite for our 23rd Annual AIDS Walk Buffalo. Many of our walkers and donors have incredibly powerful stories why they par cipate in AIDS Walk, whether they are living with HIV or AIDS, celebra ng a friend or a loved one who is living with HIV or AIDS, or remembering the legacy of a life cut short by AIDS. Some walkers have been par cipa ng since our humble beginnings back in the early 1990s! One team that has made an impressive impact in the history of AIDS Walk Buffalo is Sabrina’s Crew, who first came together in the late 1990s. Turn the page to find out more about Sabrina's Crew. - Kelly Campbell

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Western New Yorkers have been coming together for AIDS Walk for over two decades, and while everyone there shares a common goal — the end of HIV and AIDS — they also have their own, unique reasons for walking. The stories are as diverse and varied as the people who tell them. One team of walkers has been a reliable presence at the AIDS Walk since the late 1990s: Sabrina's Crew. Easy to spot thanks to their matching "Sabrina's Crew" t-shirts and bright smiles, this dedicated group of walkers is gearing up for their 18th AIDS Walk. Pathways cha ed with Jaclin Guash and her mom, Evelyn, the two driving forces behind Sabrina's Crew, to find out more about how they came to be one of the top AIDS Walk teams. Here's their story. - John Carocci

OUR TEAM

Sabrina's Crew is named a er my niece, Sabrina.

She is developmentally disabled, and the mother of two sons. Life hasn't been very kind to her.

Growing up with developmentally disabled parents herself, Sabrina was o en le without the proper care and supervision a child needs to thrive. As she got older, Sabrina became "street smart" because that's where she spent most of her me. It has been a constant struggle for our family to find the help Sabrina and her family desperately need. As I said, life has not been kind to Sabrina, but she's s ll here, and we love and support her very much.

I know the Lord is watching out for her, so we walk in her honor every year.

I organized Sabrina's Crew when we first found out that Sabrina had contracted HIV. She was 19 years old when she got pregnant with her first son.

When they ran tests to check on her and the baby, they found the illness, and gave us the news.

We've been walking for Sabrina for 17 years now. That first AIDS Walk was the hardest, because the reality of the magnitude of this disease was right in my face. It was a very dark me for all of our family and friends. We were so overwhelmed with ques ons, shock, sadness, and so many other emo ons. I remember having so much fear

that Sabrina would pass away, and I thought that pu ng together a team in her name would be a living legacy to her. But, 17 years later, thanks to the advances in medical treatments that are available to HIV+ people, Sabrina is s ll with us! Now, I'd say the greatest thing I get out of the Walk is pride.

I take great pride in represen ng and celebra ng the life of my niece. Our mo o is, "where there is life, there is hope". We are so thankful that Sabrina is s ll with us, and we are very hopeful that she will stay with us for a long me.

We've watched the Walk improve over the years. It's go en bigger and be er every year. All of the volunteers are always so great; they really make the day fun! I've also seen more teams join the Walk, which means more money is being raised for such a great cause. Yay! I look forward to the future of the Walk, with even more people, more celebri es in a endance, more donors, and more media coverage.

My advice to anyone who hasn't walked yet?

Get some sneakers and come on out; you will not regret it! Support local agencies that assist your neighbors in your own community! On behalf of Sabrina's Crew, I thank you for the opportunity to share our story. We'll see everyone at the Walk on May 9, so get to work on those dona ons!

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Walk With Sabrina's Crew and Hundreds of Other Western New Yorkers: Register at AIDSWalkBuffalo.org

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IN

2008, the World Health Organiza on (WHO) released a report that described a complex connec on between mental health condi ons and HIV. According to WHO, as many as 60% of people with mental health diagnoses engage in behaviors that increase their risk for HIV, including frequent unprotected sex and intravenous drug use. The prevalence of HIV among people in mental health care is nearly four mes higher than for the general popula on. The report also noted that an HIV+ diagnosis can increase the risk of mental health condi ons due to the stress of managing a chronic health condi on, loss of social support from family or friends, or physiological causes such as brain infec on or other opportunis c infec ons. It can also amplify the effects of an exis ng mental health issue.

Evergreen Health Services has long recognized the challenges that mental health condi ons present to our clients and pa ents who are HIV+, or dealing with any chronic illness. Mental health concerns are impossible to compartmentalize. They impact every aspect of a person's life, making HIV transmission more likely, and subsequent treatment more difficult. Depression, anxiety, and the fear of s gma due to HIV status or substance abuse can prevent people from seeking treatment; and unfortunately, health care providers are o en not adequately trained to iden fy mental health condi ons and take appropriate ac on.

Evergreen's Director of Mental Health and Substance Use Services, Rashida Williams, sees this first hand.

"Mental health condi ons affect the lives of many of our clients, at every stage of the treatment process," says Williams. "Many of the people who walk through our doors are unable to meet even the basic, bread-and-bu er needs: food, shelter, income. These needs are urgent, and they have to be met before we can begin to tackle the underlying health issues."

Mental health counselors work closely with Care Coordinators and other Evergreen staff members to assess each client's situa on, get those basic

needs met, and remove as many obstacles to emo onal and physical healing as possible.

"When clients have their situa on stabilized, and they have a trus ng rela onship with our staff, they are far more likely to engage and par cipate in treatment, greatly increasing their chance of success," says Williams.

Evergreen currently offers counseling services to individuals, families, and couples, as well as a variety of support groups in partnership with the Pride Center and Community Access Services. Evergreen's mental health counselors see an average of 80–90 clients each week; about a third of those people are HIV+.

Counseling is designed to address a mul tude of mental health issues: trauma, anxiety, depression, stress, loss, substance use, childhood issues, LGBTQ issues, and more.

Evergreen promotes the Harm Reduc on model of treatment in conjunc on with the more common Abs nence-based approach, par cularly with regard to substance use.

"If someone is depressed, and they're drinking or using drugs to cope with their symptoms, we're not going to demand they stop in order to be allowed into our program," says Williams.

"Our goal is to provide a safe environment, and establish a trus ng, therapeu c rela onship with clients. We ask them 'What do you need?

How can we help you achieve it?'"

The Harm Reduc on model means there's no judgment or shame directed at clients who are ac vely using, which in turn means they can be open and honest about the issues they're facing without the fear of being penalized.

"The process of change is incremental, and we need to celebrate all the accomplishments— large and small—along the way," says Williams.

The result is that clients feel empowered, confident, and invested in their own progress.

This is the founda on for long-term success.

The Harm Reduc on philosophy also means accep ng the fact that perfec on is difficult, if not impossible, to achieve.

"Our goal is to reduce risk, and improve each person’s emo onal wellbeing," says Williams.

"Being emo onally and mentally healthy

doesn’t mean never going through bad mes, or experiencing any emo onal problems. We all experience disappointment, loss, and change.

The difference is that emo onal healthy people are able to bounce back from adversity, trauma, and stress. They're resilient. They're flexible.

They can iden fy their emo ons and express them in a healthy way. This gets them through bad mes without ge ng stuck in depression, anxiety, or other nega ve states." For our HIV+ clients, emo onal health also means the ability to maintain a some mes complex treatment regimen in order to stay as healthy as possible for as long as possible.

In addi on to emo onal health, a strong social support network is cri cal to responding to life's challenges.

"Having people you trust, who you can turn to for encouragement and support, will boost your resilience immensely," notes Williams.

Many of our clients don't have adequate social support from family or friends due to the s gma of HIV, homosexuality, transgender status, or substance use. Evergreen has developed a number of peer-based programs to meet this key need for the people we serve. Peers play a unique role that is part counselor, part support network. It's a role they understand, because many of our peers are former clients, and they've struggled with the same challenges themselves.

Connect+ is one of Evergreen's newest peerbased programs, designed to help HIV+ people cope with the s gma and anxiety associated with mental health and behavioral treatment, barriers which may be preven ng them from seeking care. Through educa on and peer support, Connect+ helps guide clients through the mental health care system, increasing the likelihood that they will follow through on their treatment plan and improve their quality of life.

As Evergreen Health Services grows and evolves to meet the needs of the people we serve, mental health care will con nue to be an essen al part of the overall treatment plan.

This comprehensive approach to care will help our clients and their families enjoy a happier, healthier quality of life.

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our goal is to reduce risk, and improve each person’s emotional wellbeing

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BUILDING ON OUR SUCCESS

by Martha Sawicki and Jus n Azzarella

Above: the Evergreen Lofts "before" shot and architect's rendering of the finished project. Opposite: the Evergreen Commons renovation is nearly complete. Shown are Rolls Hall and the front entryway. Photographs by John Carocci.

Evergreen has come a long way since our humble beginning in 1983. At our incep on, we were the Buffalo AIDS Task Force—a small group of volunteers who acted as first responders to the AIDS crisis. Without the security of steady funding or permanent office space, we worked relessly to ensure the future of our services. y Now, in our 32nd year, Evergreen serves over 13,000 Western New Yorkers. Our staff of more than 200 people is rapidly growing, and our service offerings are expanding. More than ever, we are commi ed to delivering services—from medical care to care coordina on; from free healthy lunches to HIV tes ng— in our community. y Evergreen is expanding its campus in order to best accommodate our growing clientele and offerings. Purchasing and renova ng real-estate keeps with our commitment to provide the best quality care for our clients and neighbors in need.

Evergreen LoŌs The Evergreen Lo s project is the Associa on’s first major expansion of our already -successful client housing program. Fi y-six apartments will be created within a now vacant, former industrial building located at 392 Genesee Street in the City of Buffalo.

A myriad of state and federal funding has been leveraged by Evergreen Health Services and our development partner Southern Tier Environments for Living (STEL) to bring this project to frui on. Funding sources currently include both historic and low-income tax credits. Tenant eligibility for The Lo s will be based on state and federally-mandated criteria, including homelessness, income level, and chronic disease status. Evergreen’s Senior Director of Housing Development & Suppor ve Services, Brian Planty, serves as an integral liaison with local and state housing agencies to help ensure that the Evergreen Lo s will meet the demographic demands for new affordable housing in Buffalo and Western New York. LPCiminelli is serving as General Contractor with architectural design work completed by SWBR Architects of Rochester.

Evergreen Commons A er much planning and hard work, the Evergreen Commons will open to the public this spring! Upgrades to the space include: an en rely updated HV/AC system; plaster and paint repair; extensive carpentry work; new flooring; electrical and plumbing system upgrades; state-of-the-art sound, projec on, and IT capabili es; an en rely redesigned main congrega on hall, computer lab, staff and client mee ng rooms; three separate and architecturally unique large group mee ng areas with the ability to cater to groups of ten to 800 people. A special congratula ons to AVP Gary Williams and his Facili es team who have managed the construc on of this redevelopment project over the last two years. F&D Construc on, a long me vendor and supporter of Evergreen Health Services, served as General Contractor with architectural design work completed by Architectural Resources of Buffalo.

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BUILDING ON OUR SUCCESS

It is with great pride that we share our plans to double the size of our headquarters building, the historic Roanoke Arms Hotel.

Plans for a contemporary building addi on were approved by the City of Buffalo Planning and Preserva on Boards in December 2014. Clients, staff, and supporters will experience an en rely new Evergreen Medical Group facility—with a larger wai ng room and check-in area and twice as many examina on rooms.

A new Wellness Center and drama c atrium entrance will be located along West Chippewa Street. Evergreen Vice President for Community Development, Jus n Azzarella, is managing the project.

LPCiminelli will serve as General Contractor. SWBR Architects is responsible for the addi on’s beau ful exterior façade and interior design work. Construc on is an cipated to begin this summer.

Check out future issues of Pathways for updates on the progress of Evergreen's exci ng construc on projects.

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Goodies and Smiles at EMG

"Here, have a goodie bag!" is probably not the typical gree ng at most primary care facili es, but during Pa ent Apprecia on Month (PAM) at Evergreen Medical Group, pa ents were welcomed with goodies and a smile.

The past few years have been a period of incredible growth for EMG. In 2013, the number of ac ve pa ents increased by 45%, to 1307.

That number grew by another 35% in 2014, and now there are just under 2000 Western New Yorkers coming to EMG for their primary health care. The sta has grown as well, adding 13 new people over the same period, to accommodate

the growing pa ent base and ensure that we con nue to provide quality, compassionate service to everyone who walks in the door.

Evergreen Medical Group is thriving by nearly any measure.

Of course, so much change in such a short period of me brings with it the poten al for chaos. EMG sta has made it a priority to keep confusion and inconvenience to an absolute minimum, despite rapid changes.

The Pa ent Apprecia on Month campaign was rolled out in March as a way to say "thank you" to pa ents for choosing EMG as their

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health care partner. Ellen Kaminsky, Community Development Specialist at Evergreen Health Services, coordinated PAM, and served as the unofficial "EMG Ambassador" throughout the campaign. She said the reac on from EMG pa ents was overwhelmingly posi ve.

"People were genuinely surprised that a medical provider would take the me to say thank you" says Kaminsky. "It's a small but very important act of kindness. Unfortunately, that's rare in the world of health care." Kaminsky noted that EMG staff members enjoyed the campaign just as much as the pa ents.

"It was cyclical," she says. "Everyone ended up feeling good. For me, it was a gi to be able to give something to our pa ents."

Special pa ent apprecia on cards were mailed to all ac ve pa ents, along with a s cker saying "I am the Star at Evergreen". Pa ents also received healthy snack boxes a er their March medical appointments, along with the very popular cookies for dessert. A series of posters in English and Spanish were placed around the agency, and all Evergreen Associa on staff members were encouraged to wear a PAM pin.

EMG staff members were asked about working with pa ents, and their answers were used in slides that were displayed on building monitors and posted on Facebook throughout the month.

Here are a few of the staff tes monials from the campaign: My favorite thing about EMG pa ents is that they always make me smile! A I think EMG pa ents are magnificent! A I knew from my very first day that EMG was the place for me! A EMG is like a mosaic: a blend of different types of people! A I don’t come to work for the pa ents; I come to work because of the pa ents! A I feel blessed to work with the BEST people! We are a family. A If I only have one word to describe our pa ents, it’s WOW! A Working at EMG inspires me! A My pa ents teach me so much about myself, the world, and life! A My pa ents are awesome! I love them! A My favorite thing about EMG is coming to work to care for my pa ents!

A Compassion is the word that best describes EMG! A There really is so much camaraderie here at EMG. We are all in this together! A

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Buffalo & Western New York Pride Week 2015 will be June 1–June 7.

This year’s events are bigger and be er than before—a celebra on of advocacy, community engagement, and—of course—pride!

Join us for • Flag raising ceremony • Big Gay Sing, featuring the Buffalo Gay Men’s Chorus • Gay 5k Run • Jim Rolls Memorial LGBTQ Art Opening • Dyke March • Allen Street Fes val • Pride Parade • Pride Fes val at Canalside

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3 YEARS AGO THE SWITCH FROM COBRA CASE MANAGEMENT TO HEALTH HOMES ROCKED THE HEALTH CARE WORLD. HOW DO THINGS LOOK NOW THAT THE DUST HAS SETTLED? In our 32 years, the road hasn't always been

manageable disease. While the factors leading to

smooth, but Evergreen staff and management

this reclassification were very much welcome —

have turned each bump into an opportunity to

more effective treatment regimens and longer

strengthen and grow, allowing us to meet new

life spans for HIV positive people — the change

challenges along with the ever-increasing

also meant less urgency, less attention, and yes,

demand for our existing services.

less funding for HIV prevention and AIDS care

Evergreen encountered one of its biggest

efforts. At the same time, there was a strong

bumps a few years ago, when the Federal

movement here in New York State to streamline

government "demoted" AIDS to a chronic,

the systems that provide care for people with

chronic medical conditions. The goal was to provide better, more effective care and spend less money doing so. The result was Medicaid's switch from COBRA Case Management (in which Case Managers provided services to clients in quarter-hour "units", and were then reimbursed

by New York State) to a new Health Home program which stressed coordination between agencies and prevention efforts to reduce the number of hospital stays and emergency room visits, both of which are expensive and inefficient.

What exactly is a Health Home? It's a collaboration among health care and social service agencies intended to provide the best care to the most people, while reducing expenses through the elimination of duplicate services.

Evergreen is part of Health Home Partners of WNY, Inc. which also includes Catholic Health and Spectrum Human Services. Clients of our Health Home have access to the programs and services offered by all three member organizations, and Care Coordinators share information on a daily basis to make sure nothing falls through the cracks.

The Health Home model meant big changes for Evergreen, both in terms of the work we do and the people we serve. Our client base, once 100% HIV+, is now approximately 35% HIV+. Our focus has expanded from HIV and AIDS to any qualifying chronic medical condition, including diabetes, heart disease, and asthma. This may seem like a big change for our Care Coordinators, but they have always provided care to a client base struggling with a multitude of health and social issues, of which HIV was only one: poverty, drug or alcohol addiction, hunger, mental illness, sexually transmitted infections, homelessness, and on down the line.

Nobody was certain how – or even if – the transition to Health Homes would work. As the third anniversary of our switch approached, Pathways talked with Angela Palmer, Vice President of the Center for Community Services, to find out how the new way of providing care to our clients is working. Palmer was quick to reassure that the system is indeed working largely as planned, and more people are getting much-needed, coordinated care through the Health Home system. Early data from the State also shows that Health Homes are achieving the main goal of reducing costly emergency room visits and hospitalizations. Care Coordinators stay in close contact with staff from other Health Home agencies, checking in on a daily basis and meeting regularly to discuss trends and best

practices. Palmer notes that we have an already effective team that is always looking to improve.

The numbers bear this observation out. Our active client base has grown to more than 1200, and aggressive outreach efforts are adding more people to the ranks. Evergreen receives a list of potential clients every month, and our Outreach & Engagement Specialists make every effort to contact each person on the list – through phone calls, letters, and personal visits – to make sure everyone has the opportunity to sign on.

"The floodgates have definitely opened," says Palmer. "We're recruiting new clients by the day, and our community referrals have increased by a factor of 7 or 8, up to 45 per month."

While the day-to-day duties of a Care Coordinator are similar to those of our former Case Managers, there are some significant differences, and the higher caseloads under the Health Home system require new methods to achieve our goals. Palmer notes that, as a whole, clients are far more likely to be facing multiple health issues and have multiple needs. This means more pressure, more deadlines, and more expectations for Care Coordinators and support staff.

"Our Care Coordinators place emphasis on assessing and prioritizing," says Palmer. "We empower and encourage clients to take charge of their health as much as possible."

So far, it's working. The goals set by the State have been met, and our regular audits have all gone well. Palmer credits the New York State Department of Health's AIDS Institute for helping make the transition as painless as possible for everyone involved, especially clients.

"They've been outstanding," says Palmer. "It was sort of like building a plane as we fly it, but it all turned out just fine."

One challenge the Health Home system has brought to Care Coordination is more complex documentation. Staff must still document each client encounter (in person, or via telephone) and any work done on the client's behalf. Now, they must also complete patient tracking forms for each client semi-monthly, and client records are stored in as many as four separate database systems. Palmer says this is an area that could use some streamlining.

"There's a very heavy workload for our administrative staff," says Palmer.

So what's the overall verdict on the Health Home system? Working as intended, and getting better all the time. Or for Evergreen, just another bump that we turned into an opportunity.

P

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OUR CLIENTS ARE EMPOWERED AND ENCOURAGED TO TAKE CHARGE OF THEIR LIVES AND THEIR HEALTH AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE

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Art therapy uses the creative process to improve mental an d

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The Art Therapy Group, led by Laura Pasquarella, is one of the most popular groups offered at Evergreen Health Services' Wellness Center.

Art Therapy uses the creative process as a way for participants to improve mental and emotional wellbeing. The process of creating and reflecting provides an appropriate outlet for emotions, encourages creativity, reduces stress, and boosts self-esteem and self-awareness. The creation of art also promotes coping skills, personal development, and cognitive function.

The scientific roots of Art Therapy are based on personality theories, psychology, family systems, and art education. Art Therapists are trained in both art and psychological therapy, and are able to identify and interpret the nonverbal symbols and metaphors that are often expressed through art and the creative process, concepts that may be difficult for someone to express with words.

The Art Therapy Group held an exhibition of participant artwork in December, 2014, and the group's artwork is also featured regularly in Pathways. Watch future issues for updates from the Wellness Center's Art Therapy Group.

Photo: masks created by participants in the Wellness Center's Art Therapy Group. Laura Pasquarella writes: During the month of February, the Art Therapy Group focused on the topic of self image. We explored real and ideal self, and discussed the dierent ways we present ourselves to the world. This included crea ng masks.

Clients spent several sessions embellishing their masks, and discussing the dierent masks we some mes wear in everyday life.

d e m o t i o n a l wel l being

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Fly Young Red Evergreen Health Services presented Fly Young Red with DJ Yama in a special Na onal Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day event in February.

The event also served as an unoďŹƒcial rollout of the agency's PrEP awareness campaign. For more photos of this or other Evergreen events, like us on Facebook: facebook.com/EvergreenHealthServices.

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Non-Profit Org.

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US Postage PAID

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Buffalo, NY Permit No. 57

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