Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 14, Number 1, 1 January 1997 — Life Foundation — OHA grant helps Hawaiians with HIV [ARTICLE]

Life Foundation — OHA grant helps Hawaiians with HIV

by Kelli Meskin Native Hawaiians have the second highest number of HIV cases in the state. They are second only to Caucasians. "Many people associate HIV with being a gay-white-male-oriented disease and therefore associate the Life Foundation as a gay-white-male-oriented foundation," said Paul Groesbeck, executive director. "But neither of those are true." Four years ago, when Groesbeck started working with Life Foundation, 76 percent of its chents were Caucasian. Today, 60 percent of Life Foundation's total clientele are native Hawaiian. Not all of Life Foundation's clients are male, 15 percent are women. OHA is supporting the Life Foimdation's efforts with a grant whieh enables them to hire a case worker. "The OHA grant allowed us to double the size of case managers working with native Hawaiians," Groesbeck said. Life Foundation has only nine case managers to assist 430 clients. Life Foundation makes sure all of its clients have everything they need to live healthfully and have a life of quality while undergoing treatment. Those needs may differ from person to person, Groesbeck added. About 20 percent of Life Foundation's clients are homeless. They may be staying with friends or living ■

in a car or on the beach. "It's (homelessness) crucial when children are involved," Groesbeck said. The foundation helps with housing, financial assistance or, when needed in psychological areas. Case managers work with clients to find out what exactly they need and if they are

eligible for child care, welfare, or human service funds. The case managers help witl the forms and the lengthy process. "It's a tour through AIDS," said Groesbeck. Those who are infected with HIV ean get along on their own Groesbeck admits, but it's easier if there are people to turn to. ' "You could go to China and get around but it'd be easier if you had a tour guide," Groesbeck said. Case managers will also go to where the client is if there is some reason they cannot make it down to

the inconspicuous Life Foundation office in the Gold Bond building. The office is located in a remote area so people don't see you in the hallway, Groesbeck said. The office is an informal and friendly plaee and there are friendly volunteers everywhere. "IFs not like walking into a dentist's office," Groesbeck explained. Having the HIV virus is a personal and private thing. In Hawai'i state law says that any individual who reveals a person's HIV status without his or her knowledge ean be fined between $1000 to $10,000.

"It's important for people to know that we don't do that, we can't do that and other people shouldn't do that either," Groesbeck said. The foundation also offers family counseling to better help families deal with HIV infected loved v ones.

"Someone with HIV needs emotional support, then physical support later," Groesbeck said. He mentioned one family

that dealt with the virus by assigning a plate and specific silverware to the infected family member because they were afraid and uneducated about the virus and the ways to contract it. "Ignorance leads to fear and if you don't know maybe it's smart to be afraid until you understand," Groesbeck

said. But with the notion of 'ohana being so strong in Hawaii it really hurts when one is pushed out by having HIV. Life Foundation also has a group of volunteer lawyers help with any issues clients may have. "I think people are smart enough not to fire someone whose HIV positive," He said. "But they ean make it uncomfortable." That may also be the case with landlords who may inquire about why so many people are coming and going to a client's apartment or house, when they may be getting home treatment.

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