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“Would you like a condom with that?” What
may not be a typical question coming from a fast-food worker at a drive-up
window has become almost biblical to the outreach team at CAMPsafe. Many
hours this summer have been spent creating condom packets; distributing
condoms to bars, restaurants, and beach houses; and passing them out during
outreach nights. This year we set new records in condom distribution, over
18,000 condoms have been distributed during the past six months. So, now
that the summer has come to an end, what does the CAMPsafe program do
off-season?
During the fall in Sussex County, the
CAMPsafe program shifts its programs from bar/beach outreach to providing
more group-focused programs. The fall also marks the time to start planning
activities for the year, start looking at what worked this past summer, and
begin to plan for next season. In order to do this, the Community Advisory
Board (CAB) of CAMPsafe will start to meet again in September. The CAB is
comprised of men and women from the community, who meet monthly with
CAMPsafe staff to give advice about project activities.
The CAB also provides a link between the
program and the community, and is recruiting new members. The first CAB
meeting of the fall will take place September 25 at 7:00 p.m. at CAMP
Rehoboth.
HIV Testing and Counseling is an important
service that we offer at CAMP Rehoboth. It is important that every sexually
active gay man know what his HIV status is. It’s important not only to
know one’s health status, but also to not infect our sexual partners. A
simple procedure called the Orasure test is offered at CAMP Rehoboth. The
Orasure test consists of a simple swab of the mouth. Orasure is just as
accurate as the blood test and results are given within two weeks. Call
CAMPsafe at 302-227-5620 to schedule an appointment to come in and be
tested. Know your status, protect yourself, protect your lover, and protect
your community.
“Can I get HIV through oral sex?” This
question is a common question that guys are asking in the sexual health
counseling program. The sexual health counseling program began from a need
in the gay/bisexual male community in Sussex County to talk to someone about
basic sexual health questions. Many men who call the program for sexual
health information expressed that they were uncomfortable talking with their
doctors about sexual health issues.
They said that their doctors just didn’t
understand. So, CAMPsafe now provides individual sexual health counseling
(free of charge) on an appointment basis. The session generally lasts an
hour and covers any topic that needs to be discussed.
This fall marks the start of a special
M-Group. M-Groups are peer groups of men that get together to discuss issues
of importance. The theme of this year’s M-Group is sex! Boot Camp will
focus on how to make decisions about sex and the risks that are taken. The
group will also discuss risk-reduction techniques and explore ways to better
communicate with partners about sexual activity. Stay tuned to Letters to
see when the groups will meet.
Last year, a program called CAMPchats was
begun. CAMPchats is an informal
program that brings local service and health providers in to talk about
issues that matter most to the gay/bi community in Sussex County. These
events usually take place at one of the coffeehouses in the area and are
very informal and last up to an hour and a half. Coffee and pastries are
provided. A schedule of CAMPchats will appear in the next issue of Letters.
However, if you are dying for a sneak peek of what’s to come, you can call
CAMPsafe staff.
So, the CAMPsafe program is more than condom
distribution. The program doesn’t stop when the beach season ends. It is
here all year to provide free services to the community in Sussex County.
Please take some time out this year to get involved in an important issue
that affects our entire community. Whether it is joining the Community
Advisory Board, coming to one of the CAMPsafe groups, or even referring a
friend to one of the programs, without your support, there is no CAMPsafe.
CAMPsafe Notes
The staff of CAMPsafe would like to thank the volunteers who have helped
make the program a success this summer. Special thanks goes to the many
members of our community who took time out of their summer schedules to
stuff over 18,000 condom packets. Without your help, the CAMPsafe program
would be up to its ears in unwrapped packets. Thank you! Thank you! Thank
you!
Community Advisory Board (CAB)—The CAB is
currently recruiting new members to serve on the CAMPsafe Community Advisory
Board. The board meets once a month and provides input to the CAMPsafe
program so that we can better serve the community in Sussex County. Call
227-5620 for more information. The first meeting is September 25, at 7 p.m.
at CAMP Rehoboth.
CAMPsafe,
an HIV/AIDS education and prevention program of CAMP Rehoboth, is funded
through a contract with the Delaware Department of Public Health. For more
information, call CAMP Rehoboth at 302-227-5620.
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