Our Mission

We of the Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network offer our hearts and hands to provide compassionate and non-judgmental service to those affected by HIV/AIDS.  Through education and support, we — as individuals and faith communities — work to build bridges, reduce stigma and sustain hope.

We invite the religious community to join us in an informed, sensitive and compassionate response to those affected by HIV/AIDS. We are called to care through education, service and advocacy:

• working within our faith communities to promote education and prevention of HIV/AIDS
• educating clergy and laity in offering support to those affected by HIV/AIDS
• assuring the availability of spiritual care, respecting each individual's faith and tradition
• advocating in the community for those affected by HIV/AIDS

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Address/Contact

TIHAN's mailing address is:
TIHAN
1011 North Craycroft Road, #301
Tucson, AZ 85711

TIHAN is located in Craycroft Plaza, which is on the NW corner of Craycroft Rd. and 2nd St. (One block south of Speedway on the west side of Craycroft).  Suite 301 is in the NE corner of the plaza.

TIHAN's regular business hours are
8:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Monday - Friday

You can contact TIHAN at (520)299-6647 or via email at: friends@tihan.org

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Member Congregations

TIHAN’s Member Faith Communities
Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church
Bodhisattva Institute (Tibetan Buddhism)
Campus Christian Center
   Episcopal
   Lutheran
   Methodist
Casas Adobes Congregational Church (United Church of Christ)
Carondelet Health Care Corporation of Southern Arizona
Catalina United Methodist Church
Church of the Apostles (Episcopal Church)
Church of the Painted Hills United Church of Christ
Congregation Ner Tamid (Reform Judaism)
Congregation Or Chadash (Reform Judaism)
Cornerstone Fellowship
First Congregational Church (United Church of Christ)
Grace St. Paul Episcopal Church
Green Valley Community Church (United Methodist)
Lutheran Church of the Foothills (ELCA)
Mosaic United Methodist Church
Newman Center/St. Thomas More Catholic Parish
Prince Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME)

Our Mother of Sorrows Catholic Church
Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church (ELCA)
Rincon Congregational Church (United Church of Christ)
Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church
Santa Cruz Lutheran Church (ELCA)
Shalom Mennonite Fellowship
Southside Presbyterian Church
St. Andrew's Episcopal Church
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church
St. Cyril Catholic Church
St. Francis in the Foothills United Methodist Church
St. Mark's Presbyterian Church
St. Mark's United Methodist Church
St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church
St. Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church
St. Pius X Catholic Church
Temple Emanu-El (Reform Judaism)
Tucson Multi-Faith Alliance
Unitarian Universalist Church of Northwest Tucson
Unitarian Universalist Church of Tucson
Water of Life Metropolitan Community Church

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Services

CareTeams

One of the most vital direct non-medical services which the Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network provides to people living with HIV/AIDS is our CareTeams. CareTeams are made up of several volunteers (usually four or five) who are assigned to one CarePartner (a person who is living with HIV or AIDS). Team member take turns meeting with and supporting the CarePartner.

Our CareTeams perform a variety of supportive activities for and with our CarePartners. Some of these are:

• Emotional and Social Support
• Friendly visits
• Accompanying the CarePartner to appointments and social events
• Telephone contacts and reassurance
• Errands
• Shopping
• Transportation and companionship for appointments
• Cooking
• Light housekeeping
• Family Support
• Emotional support for family members in the home
• Respite time for primary caregiver
• Community Connections
• Referrals to other available support services in the community
• Referrals to supportive faith communities and HIV-knowledgeable clergy
• Our volunteers DO NOT provide these services:
• Dispensing medication
• Supplying nursing care, e.g., start IV's, clean catheters
• Rendering personal care, e.g., bathing, changing bedding
• Providing professional counseling
• Our volunteers DO NOT subject CarePartners to evangelizing nor promote any specific religious beliefs.

Poz Cafe

Monthly Lunch for People Living with HIV

Poz Cafe is an opportunity to get out of the house, take a break, meet other positive people and enjoy!

On the third Thursday of each month, volunteers from local Tucson congregations provide a fantastic, delicious and nutritious lunch for people living with HIV. This is followed by time to "hang out", chat, participate in a game or two of bingo, enjoy our raffle of fun and useful gifts or even "shop" in the Poz MarketPlace. People living with HIV and their guest are invited to join in this wonderful opportunity. All attending the cafe are asked to honor the highest standard of confidentiality. A guest may be a partner, spouse, relative, friend or volunteer. 

The cafe is open from 11:30am to 2:00pm at St. Francis in the Foothills Church, located at the corner of Swan and River roads. It's a beautiful setting, somewhat away from the hustle and bustle of life in the middle of the city. Limited transportation may be provided, as available.

Poz MarketPlace

Another component of TIHAN's successful Poz Cafe lunch is the Poz MarketPlace. After lunch, participants can pick up needed items from a table stocked with donated toiletries and personal care items. Items available at the marketplace include but are not limited to:

Disposable Razors
Toilet Paper
Skin Lotion
Bar and Bath Soap
Toothpaste
Tooth Brushes
Shaving Cream
Dish Detergent
Ensure

Poz Breakfast at Mother Hubbard’s Restaurant

Free weekly Wednesday breakfast for people living with HIV. Mother Hubbard's warms the stomach and heart. Drop-in for a friendly breakfast with friends. Vouchers are available to CarePartners living with HIV.

Memorial Fund

Assisting families with the costs of burial and cremation after the loss of a loved one due to the effects of HIV/AIDS. This fund, established in memory of Bill Ellsworth, provides limited financial assistance to offset the costs of burial and cremation.

Information, Referral, and Advocacy

Offering as-needed assistance and support, ranging from advocacy with case managers and other medical and social service providers. TIHAN works closely with other service providers and social service agencies to advocate for people living with HIV/AIDS, and works to make sure that people living with HIV are aware of the other options for support available in the community.

CarePartner Support Programs

TIHAN provides emergency financial support to persons living with HIV/AIDS, assisting with living expenses such as rent, electricity, phone, and food costs on an emergency basis. Additional support includes assisting persons living with HIV/AIDS with donations of furniture and other needed household goods donated to the organization. The holidays are made brighter through donations for Thanksgiving and the December holidays for our CarePartners living with HIV/AIDS. HIV+ persons and family members are served as part of our holiday season “family day” for children and parents in which they can chose gifts to give to their loved ones for the holidays, and then a dinner and dance to brighten their holidays as well. Full turkey dinners are delivered to a limited number of CarePartners living with HIV and their families for the holidays, and there is a free Thanksgiving dinner at Mother Hubbard’s Restaurant.

Clergy Referral Network

The Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network not only offers compassionate care and support through our CareTeams and healing services throughout the year, but we also offer pastoral care and spiritual support for those who request it.

The Clergy Resource Referral Network is composed of more than 60 area clergy from a wide array of different faith religions and denominations. You do not need to be a TIHAN CarePartner or even someone who is HIV-positive to speak with a member of the Clergy Resource Referral Network. If you are affected by HIV/AIDS and would like to speak with a member of the clergy, we would be glad to put you in touch with a member of our referral network. As with all TIHAN volunteers, there will be no proselytizing, or any attempts made to convert you to that clergy member’s religion.

For more information about the Clergy Resource Referral Network, please call the TIHAN office at (520) 299-6647 or send an e-mail to scott@tihan.org

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Make “someday” today

TIHAN gratefully accepts credit card donations to support our work. You can donate right now by clicking on the link below which will take you to a secured site where you can safely enter your donation information.

https://payments.auctionpay.com/
ver3/?id=w011392

If you would prefer, you can call the TIHAN office (520-299-6647) and we will be happy to take your credit card donation over the telephone. Thanks for your support of TIHAN!

Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network (TIHAN)
1011 North Craycroft #301
Tucson, Arizona  85711
(520) 299-6647
www.tihan.org

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History

In times of trouble, people have traditionally looked to their communities of faith for guidance and support. Today, we have another crisis demanding a response. It is estimated that 1 million people in the U.S. have been infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. That translates to about 1 in every 250 people in the United States.

AIDS is currently a leading cause of death in the U.S. among people aged 25 to 44 years. And the number of people infected and affected is growing exponentially. The demographics of the disease are changing quickly, with increases in rural areas and among youth, women, people of color and heterosexuals. One in every four new HIV infections in this country are estimated to occur among people under the age of 20. Each hour, two more teenagers become infected with HIV in the United States. There is no known cure, and the treatments developed so far are only partially effective.

In Pima County, Arizona, it is estimated that more than 6,500 people are living with HIV. There is a great need for the people of Southern Arizona to respond with greater compassion, generosity and concern for all affected by HIV/AIDS. And what people are more called to respond than people of faith?

As people of faith, we believe that God's reassuring and embracing presence reaches out to all those who are alienated and oppressed. We serve God and humanity by striving to emulate divine compassion, to seek justice and to provide service. This is our prophetic task.
- AIDS National Interfaith Network

Our communities of faith must be able to deal with the growing number of members who will be seeking support and guidance as this pandemic grows to touch more of our homes, our families, our congregations, our hearts. AIDS is found in every segment of our community, and it affects every faith community. For each person infected there are countless friends, families and co-workers affected.

Many faith communities in the Tucson area are stepping forward to respond to this crisis, discovering that there is tremendous value in gathering together, sharing ideas, supporting each other, and linking people of faith together to respond as one people of care and compassion for those living with HIV/AIDS.

AIDS is a challenge, but it also represents an opportunity for communities of faith to respond with ministries of healing and hope, of concern and compassion. This disease challenges us to be healing communities, to respond from our deeply-rooted belief systems of caring for and affirming the dignity of all people. We are called to reach out with compassion rather than judgment, to foster awareness and education rather than fear, to support and minister to those living with HIV, to comfort the dying and the grieving, to respond in the face of suffering and pain, to act on the tenets of our faith.

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Board

TUCSON INTERFAITH HIV/AIDS NETWORK
BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2008

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Tom Muller, Au.D. (Board President)
Aimee L. Graves, MA (Board Vice President)
Cathy Davis (Board Secretary)
Melinda Sims (Board Treasurer)

MEMBERS

Bill McManus
Yvette Miller, M.D.
Tom Murray, MA
Natalie Perkins, PharmD
Rev. Gale Rawson, LCSW
Beth Strauss
Deborah Van Sant, R.Ph.
Peggy Williams

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Staff

Scott Blades
Executive Director
scott@tihan.org

With a wide-ranging background in education, law, counseling, media, GLBT issues, and volunteer management, Scott helped found TIHAN in 1994 as a means of supporting the religious community to address the growing crisis of HIV affecting our community, and the accompanying issues of religious homophobia. With his passion for equality and justice issues, Scott is active in many groups and organizations in community, advocating and working to build bridges of understanding. He has been featured in many print and television stories, and was awarded the TORCH Award for Community Leadership.

Scott’s position with TIHAN involves overall day-to-day management of the organization, along with working with the board of directors, and development and community relations responsibilities. As TIHAN’s only full-time employee, Scott also works closely to support TIHAN staff with their responsibilities.

Ari Kelly
Director of Education and Community Relations
ari@tihan.org

Ari (rhymes with "Mary") was born in Tucson and has lived here most of her life. She comes from a large family that values education, hard work, and community service. She graduated from the U of A and volunteered at TIHAN for about a year before applying for the position. She is married to a youth minister, and in her spare time she enjoys playing soccer and babysitting.

Ari coordinates HIV/AIDS awareness and education programs for faith communities, training and supporting TIHAN volunteers, working closely with congregations and their liaisons, coordinating agency publicity, and building upon TIHAN's relationships with other agencies, service providers, and the general community.

Kim Talerico
Volunteer Coordinator (part-time)
kim@tihan.org

Kim Talerico is a Native Tucsonan who is a life-time volunteer and has a comprehensive understanding of our community and its needs. Since her retirement from the insurance industry in 2005, after 26 years of service, she has dedicated her time to TIHAN as a volunteer. Kim, her husband Dan, son Jeremie, and daughter Alicia believe in giving back to the community and do so on a regular basis. She brings to TIHAN over 20 years experience in management, public relations, customer service, leadership training, public speaking, accounting, budgeting and human resources.

Kim works 20 hours/week on volunteer recruitment, orientation, placement, and support.

Leslie Johnson
Administrative Assistant
leslie@tihan.org

In May 2004, Leslie and her husband (Rev. Stewart McDonald) moved to Tucson from Seattle. Leslie is a college graduate who has worked in office support positions in not-for-profit organizations, large and small companies, and for the past fifteen years in various communities of faith. She has been involved in a variety of volunteer activities, both as a leader and as a participant. Leslie especially enjoys working with the caring people committed to TIHAN's mission.

Leslie’s responsibilities include overseeing the administrative volunteer staff, database and computer maintenance, and other office equipment and systems.

Job Openings

Director of CarePartner Support (client services)

The Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network (TIHAN) seeks a full-time Director of CarePartner Support to oversee support services for people living with HIV/AIDS.

Responsibilities include coordination of CarePartner support services, supervision of volunteer CareTeams, Poz Cafe monthly lunch program, and other volunteer-based support services for CarePartners living with HIV/AIDS. Additional responsibilities include recognition and retention practices that will support TIHAN volunteers and programs, and maintaining relationships with healthcare providers and social service agencies. Full-time position (32-40 hours) requires Bachelor's degree, three years experience in client support services and volunteer coordination, sensitivity to HIV-related issues, interfaith and multi-cultural issues, and confidentiality. Requires some evening and weekend availability.

Salary DOE; benefit package includes health/dental insurance. Bilingual persons and persons living with HIV encouraged to apply. AA/EOE. Submit cover letter, resume and list of three professional references to scott@tihan.org or TIHAN, 1011 North Craycroft Road #301, Tucson, Arizona 85711.

Job Summary: Responsible for support services for people living with HIV/AIDS: including coordination of CarePartner support services, supervision of CareTeams, overseeing the memorial fund, Poz Cafe, breakfast program, and financial assistance to CarePartners. Additional responsibilities include recognition and retention practices that will support TIHAN volunteers and programs and maintaining relationships with healthcare providers and social service agencies.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor Degree in social work, public health or related field
• Minimum three years experience in client support services and volunteer coordination/volunteer management
• Excellent communication and organizational skills, including presentation experience
• Knowledge of HIV-related issues, interfaith and multi-cultural issues
• Microsoft Office competency, to include database skills, and analysis of information
• Excellent qualitative and quantitative analysis skills and projection of needs
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality
• Bilingual, preferred

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Overseeing services for CarePartner support
• Outreach linking services and advocacy for CarePartner services
• Educate volunteers working in CarePartner support
• Responsible for supporting and maintaining effective relationships with CarePartners, volunteers and partner agencies
• Supervise the Poz Cafe program, the Poz MarketPlace and the holiday programs
• Solicit, collect and process donations for Poz MarketPlace and the holiday programs
• Collaborate with partner agencies and faith communities for Poz Cafe, Poz MarketPlace, Poz Breakfast and holiday programs
• Create and revise educational materials for distribution to CarePartners, CareTeams and others as appropriate
• Work within budgetary guidelines
• Responsible for overseeing and maintaining database records of CarePartners and volunteers
• Maintain and compile information for referrals
• Periodically evaluate programs for client and volunteer satisfaction and effectiveness
• Other duties as required/assigned

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©1998-2008 Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network
A 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization

Last updated 26 July 2008