North Jersey Community Research Initiative Receives Grant from Office of Minority and Multicultural Health

The North Jersey Community Research Initiative(NJCRI) is New Jersey’s largest and most comprehensive HIV/AIDS community-based organization. Our mission is “to help people with HIV/AIDS and those at risk for HIV/AIDS.” We conduct state-wide HIV clinical trials, and HIV treatment, care and prevention services in the Greater Newark Area. Populations we serve include youth and adults, men and women, men who have sex with men, people who acquire or who are at risk for HIV through injection drug use, and others.

NJCRI just received a grant from the Office of Minority and Multicultural Health (OMH) called Community Health Expansion Technical Assistance (CHETA) to provide health and technical assistance in order to build the capacity of local community based organizations (CBO’s) in the Greater Newark area, which includes Irvington and East Orange in New Jersey.

Project CHETA focuses on small CBO’s that are primarily minority lead agencies devoted to eliminating health disparities. CHETA will offer a comprehensive technical assistance service package for the organizational development of 15 agencies, conduct monthly workshops and an annual conference on Substance Abuse. For more information contact me at (973) 483-3444 x 204 or visit us at www.njcri.org and click on “Project and Services” and then on “Community Health Expansion Technical Assistance (CHETA).” Attached is a CHETA elegibility checklist for your information.

NJCRI has new exciting events happening in the next few months. The following are just some of them (http://www.njcri.org/events/index.html):

July 2009

CPR Anytime Program
Thursday, July 9, 2009 from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. at NJCRI, 393 Central Avenue in Newark, NJ.
This training is provided by NJCRI's Project CHETA, with funding from the Department of Health and Humans Services, Office of Minority and Multicultural Health. For more information call (973) 483-3444 x 204.

Strategic Planning Training
Tuesday, July 21, 2009 from 9:30 - 4:00 p.m. at NJCRI, 393 Central Avenue in Newark, NJ.
This training is provided by NJCRI's Project CHETA, with funding from the Department of Health and Humans Services, Office of Minority and Multicultural Health. For more information call (973) 483-3444 x 204.

NJCRI's Community Festival
Saturday, July 25, 2009 from 10:00 - 4:00 p.m. at NJCRI, 393 Central Avenue in Newark, NJ.
Family and Friends are encouraged to come out and have a great time!! You will be able to receive information and find out about available health services in your community. For more information call (973) 483-3444. Looking to reserve an exhibit table? Please see attached table reservation form and event flyer.

Upcoming Events

August 2009

Everything You Need to Know About Methadone, Suboxone and Beupenorphine Conference
The North Jersey Community Research Initiative (NJCRI) and The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) will host a substance abuse treatment conference entitled, “Everything You Need to Know About Methadone, Suboxone and Beupenorphine”, on Thursday, August 13, 2009. The conference will take place at the Hilton Newark Penn Station hotel from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. For more information call (973) 483-3444 x 204.

Understanding Statistics Training
Wednesday, August 19, 2009 from 9:30 - 4:00 p.m. at NJCRI, 393 Central Avenue in Newark, NJ.
This training is provided by NJCRI's Project CHETA, with funding from the Department of Health and Humans Services, Office of Minority and Multicultural Health. For more information call (973) 483-3444 x 204.

September 2009

Curriculum Development Training
Thursday, September 24, 2009 from 9:30 - 4:00 p.m. at NJCRI, 393 Central Avenue in Newark, NJ.
This training is provided by NJCRI's Project CHETA, with funding from the Department of Health and Humans Services, Office of Minority and Multicultural Health. For more information call (973) 483-3444 x 204.

NJCRI's Counseling, Testing and Referrals Health Fair List
Information on NJCRI's Counseling, Testing and Referrals
2009 Health Fair List

United We Stand Night of Outreach
The United We Stand Night of Outreach project conducts street outreach to injection drug users, sex workers, gay men and other individuals at high risk for HIV infection during non-traditional hours (usually evenings). This outreach is conducted by saturating an area known to have high concentration of persons at risk for HIV (i.e. housing projects and areas where drugs are used or sold). Outreach is conducted by a coalition of HIV/AIDS service providers and other community based outreach organizations. Outreach by multiple agencies has been shown to be more effective and can be conducted safely in areas normally "off limits" to outreach. For more information call (973) 483-3444 x 203.

Free GED, literacy, ESL and Spanish GED Courses for NJCRI Clients
NJCRI has met with representatives of the Newark Board of Education and hope to have them conduct free GED, literacy, ESL and Spanish GED courses in our building for our clients. The target start date is Labor Day. For more information, email a.williams@njcri.org.

October2009

Presentation and Communication Skills
Thursday, October 8, 2009 from 9:30 - 4:00 p.m. at NJCRI, 393 Central Avenue in Newark, NJ.
This training is provided by NJCRI's Project CHETA, with funding from the Department of Health and Humans Services, Office of Minority and Multicultural Health. For more information call (973) 483-3444 x 204.

Highlights

Support Groups
The support groups are: Men's, Women's, Double Trouble (HIV/Substance Abuse Issues), Alternative Live Styles (LGBTQ), Hispanic (Spanish Speaking), and Treatment Adherence. Each group session is held weekly from noon to 2:00 p.m. and a light meal is served. Please call for the scheduled at (973) 483-3444.

Women's Group
Every Friday from 12:00-2:00 p.m. at NJCRI, 393 Central Avenue in Newark, New Jersey. Let's talk, cry, laugh, give hope and support to one another. Refreshments will be served and transportation is available if needed. For more information call (973) 483-3444 x 115.

COPE Support Group
Every Thursday from 1:30-3:00 p.m. at NJCRI, 393 Central Avenue in Newark, New Jersey. Project COPE's support group is for those struggling to begin or maintain their recovery and are seeking for a support group. A light luch will be served. For more information call (973) 483-3444 x 203.