Wichita's Positive Directions announces change in organization's focus

Positive Directions, Inc. has announced a modification in the organization's focus. Positive Directions is a HIV/AIDS service organization, formed in 1991, to provide community, action, resources, education and support for those with HIV/AIDS and their loved ones. PDI also educates the general public about behaviors that put them at risk for HIV infection.

Marc Durfee, Positive Directions Board Chair, describes the changes. "As a Board, we've looked at the changes in the community we serve, and we're committed to refocusing our organization to reflect these changes," he said. "With that in mind, we're making three major changes."

1. Positive Directions did not apply to renew the grant from KDHE that funds case management services. "We see other organizations in the community that provide the same high-level quality of case management services that we do, but do so more efficiently and effectively," said Durfee.

   "Case management services are critical, but other organizations are better suited to provide them." Positive Directions will continue to provide case management to their clients through the end of the current grant, June 30, 2016.
    

2. Positive Directions will discontinue their food pantry services, effective April 1, 2016. "There was a time when side effects of HIV medications made it important that patients have specialized nutrition plans, and that made the food pantry at Positive Directions a unique service for HIV/AIDS patients," said Durfee.

   "But today – thankfully – advances made in these medication means that the drugs are much less harsh and do not require specialized diets; furthermore, the number of people that were coming to Positive Directions has dropped substantially. There are a number of food pantry services in the city that provide the kind of nutrition support that our clients need, and we're focused on getting this information to the population we serve," added Durfee. Positive Directions will donate much of the equipment from their food pantry (refrigerators, freezers, shelving, surplus food, etc) to First Metropolitan Community Church, a large food pantry that serves more than 1,100 people each week.
    

3. Positive Directions will put renewed focus on prevention services (free condom distribution, free HIV testing, etc), education about HIV/AIDS, and advocacy. "We looked at the environment, and have tried to refocus Positive Directions to address unmet needs in our community," said Durfee.

   "Our community has tremendous resources for medical case management, specialized food pantries, and more for families affected by HIV/AIDS," said Durfee. "It was clear to us that the real unmet need was in prevention and awareness, as well as serving as an advocate for the population we're committed to support."

To reflect this new approach to serving the HIV/AIDS population in Wichita, Positive Directions is seeking two new positions:

• Prevention Director – manage all of Positive Directions' prevention services, including free condom distribution, administering rapid HIV testing, outreach to specialized groups (youth, prison populations, substance abuse groups) and more.
   

• Development Director – coordinate all of Positive Directions' fundraising, education and advocacy efforts. This will include managing major fundraising events (ArtAID, AIDS Walk, Dining For Friends), conducting educational classes at community events (World AIDS Day, Wichita PRIDE Festival, etc), and making regular trips to Topeka to meet with State legislators, share the work being done by Positive Directions, and communicate the need to stay focused on the reduction/elimination of new HIV infections.

Anyone interested in learning more about either the Prevention Director or Development Director position at Positive Directions should email a resume and cover letter to Marc Durfee (marc@pdiks.com).

The Gayly - 4/6/2016 @ 10:56 a.m. CST