PACPI News & Events

PACPI is dedicated to the mission of None Born Positive.

However, Governor Pat Quinn and the Illinois General Assembly are considering cutting HIV programs by $4 million, which will result in a 50% funding slash to community-based prevention programs like PACPI.

If the proposed cuts pass, PACPI may be forced to close its doors.

Based on data obtained from the Illinois Department of Public Health, these reductions would cause 108 additional people infected with HIV, including 38 infants. None Born Positive will never become a reality.

Here's how you can help:

Sign the petition to protect critical health services for people with HIV.

Click here for information on emailing, calling and visiting your legislators.

Spread the word. Together we can make None Born Positive a reality.

Did you know that HIV-positive mothers can give birth to HIV-negative babies?

Or that an HIV-positive man can father a HIV-negative baby?

Today, virtually no babies should be born HIV-positive. Education, testing and treatment, can prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission by 98%.

If you didn’t know that, you’re not alone. That’s why the Pediatric AIDS Chicago Prevention Initiative (PACPI) partnered with the AIDS Foundation of Chicago and the Cause Marketing Initiative at Northwestern University to launch a public education initiative called “None Born Positive.”

Throughout Chicago, starting April 30, 2012, you will begin to see public transit ads encouraging people to call PACPI if they’re HIV-positive and pregnant (or considering pregnancy). Online, you can follow the conversation on Twitter (#nonebornpositive) or through our Facebook page.

And in honor of your own parents and children, we hope you’ll consider donating to PACPI this Mother’s Day to ensure that none is born with HIV. Together, we can end mother-to-child transmissions.

Donate today and give the gift of an HIV-free life. 

For the full preview of our None Born positive campaign, click here.

On April 28, Team PACPI will begin training for the Chicago Triathlon as part of Team to End AIDS! T2EA uses endurance sports and social activities to raise funds and awareness in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The Chicago Triathlon takes place August 26 and involves a 1500-meter (.92 miles) swim, a 40k (24.8 mile) bike ride and a 10k (6.2 mile) run. Proceeds from Team PACPI support our crucial programs. To learn more or make a donation, click here!

PACPI has joined Zealous Good, a wonderful website that matches nonprofits in need of in-kind donations with those who want to give. We are always in need of baby supplies (car seats, diapers and wipes, bottles, etc), as well as healthy food for our prenatal classes and clothing for mom and baby. Please check out and share our profile, or email lauren@pacpi.org for more information!

Want to raise money for PACPI and have some fun? On Saturday, April 21 at 10 p.m., the Chicago Spirit Brigade will host a show at The Call (1547 W. Bryn Mawr, in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood). Suggested donation is $5, and Chicago Spirit Brigade will donate all proceeds plus 25% to PACPI! Enjoy the stylings of Ashley Morgan and the "Call Girls" while quaffing a $5 Absolut cocktail. More information about the event here - please share it with your friends. See you there!

PACPI prenatal classes (specifically tailored to HIV-positive pregnant women) will be held on April 25, May 2 and May 9 from 12:00pm - 4:00pm, at the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (200 W. Jackson Blvd., Suite 2200). Topics include newborn care, medication adherence and reproductive health. Lunch and child care are provided. Please contact Mary Brewster, Program Coordinator, at 312-334-0971 or mary@pacpi.org for more information or to register. 

Over the holidays, PACPI received a wonderful gift from a new friend. Discovery Chicago employees collected over $2,000 worth of gift cards for PACPI moms! These gift cards - for places such as Target, Walgreens and Jewel - will help our clients to buy baby supplies, groceries and other necessities for their growing families!

Discovery Chicago goes beyond traditional thinking to examine the environmental landscape. The agency's deep experience with thought leaders, clinicians, patients, and healthcare organizations provide insight to create enduring and effective medical communications.  Discovery Chicago's programs are grounded in sound strategic thinking, providing the education clinicians need to make informed and appropriate decisions about the clinical care and management of their patients.

Visit Discovery Chicago's website to learn more!

A simple click of the mouse can help HIV-infected pregnant women in Illinois. PACPI is part of the CITGO Fueling Good Giveaway, which will distribute free gasoline to nonprofit organizations who receive the most votes.

PACPI underwrites transportation expenses for clients to attend essential medical appointments and treatment. Any help with this effort is very much appreciated!

Click here to vote - you may vote once per day until February 9, and please share the link with friends!

Due to instructor conflict, the dates of the Winter 2012 Prenatal Classes have been changed.

The class will now take place February 1, February 8 and February 15 from noon to 4 pm at the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (200 W. Jackson Blvd., Suite 2200).

Classes are open to all HIV-positive pregnant women. To register, contact PACPI Program Coordinator Mary Brewster at (312) 334-0971 or mary@pacpi.org.

PACPI helped 131 HIV-positive women last year! To learn more, click here for our latest Annual Report.

Interested in making a gift to PACPI for the holidays? Contact Development Coordinator Lauren Whalen at lauren@pacpi.org or click here to make an online donation. Thank you for your support! 

PACPI prenatal classes (specifically tailored to HIV-positive pregnant women) will be held on January 25, February 1 and February 8 from 12:00pm - 4:00pm, at the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (200 W. Jackson Blvd., Suite 2200). Please contact Mary Brewster, Program Coordinator, at 312-334-0971 or mary@pacpi.org for more information or to register.

Case Manager Lucy Rios has been named a recipient of the Women of Achievement Healthcare Award by the Lake County YWCA.  Lucy is being honored for excellence in her 15 year career working in HIV/AIDS as a bilingual outreach counselor, case manager, and health educator.  The award ceremony will be held on May 20, 2011.  For more information visit http://www.ywca.org/site/pp.asp?c=6dKIIWNtEnG&b=6538459.  Congratulations Lucy!

In the August 25, 2010 issue of Streetwise, PACPI client ‘Susan’ discusses how she overcame isolation, homelessness and AIDS through the PACPI Housing Program.  Read full article HERE.

The HIV-specific PACPI prenatal classes will be held on July 13, July 20 and July 27 from 12:00pm - 4:00pm. Please contact Mary Brewster, Program Coordinator, at 312-334-0971 or mbrewster@aidschicago.org for more information or to register.

On June 3rd, PACPI received a $7,500 grant from the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation (CAAF) to support new moms and their newborns. The grant will specifically provide support to PACPI to ensure that newborns will have the basic essentials including infant carriers, bassinets or cribs, diapers, diaper bags and digital thermometers. PACPI is extremely grateful for this support and looks forward to strengthening our relationship with CAAF to support the women and children we serve.
 

After 10 years of dedicated service and commitment to serving the nutritional needs of PACPI’s clients, our prenatal class food vendor, Levy Restaurants, has decided to move on to allow other food vendors to contribute to the needs of HIV-positive pregnant women. PACPI is in need of a new food vendor to take over this service, which includes providing lunch for 15 women for 3 class sessions 5 to 6 times a year. Interested food vendors should contact PACPI Program Coordinator, Gretchen Weiss at 312-334-0971 for more details on how your food service or restaurant can help out.

Become a fan of PACPI through Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PACPI2000 and follow us on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/PACPI

A comprehensive report and guide outlining the medical and legal surrounding HIV and pregnancy in the US is available through the Center for HIV Law & Policy website. The Legal Supplement, available upon request, details the legal issues advocates may face when representing a woman living with HIV throughout pregnancy, and provides legal arguments and strategies to best represent women living with HIV.
To request a copy of the Legal Supplement, please contact Rene Bennett at rbennett@hivlawandpolicy.org.

To download the HIV and Pregnancy guide (without the Supplement), go to: http://www.hivlawandpolicy.org/resources/view/474.