About Beyond AIDS
HELP US REVERSE THE COURSE OF THE HIV EPIDEMIC THROUGH SOUND PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY
Beyond AIDS, Inc. and Beyond AIDS Foundation
2200 Wilson Blvd., 102-232
Arlington, VA 22201-3397
E-mail: info@beyondaids.org
Web: www.beyondaids.org
Messages and Fax: (888) BEY-AIDS
BEYOND AIDS AND ITS ROLE:
Beyond AIDS is a non-partisan national organization committed to more effective control of the national and global spread of this terrible disease. We are unique, in focusing on improving public health policy to stop HIV as our primary mission.
We believe that this can be achieved by effectively applying proven public health measures, such as reporting, partner notification, universal screening, and intensive work with infected persons to motivate and assist them to avoid transmission to others. All of these and other techniques have been successfully utilized for other diseases for decades, but have been underutilized for HIV up to now for political reasons.
In fact, many traditional AIDS organizations spend considerable donated resources lobbying AGAINST the very changes we believe are scientifically necessary to control HIV. Beyond AIDS looks forward to a world "beyond AIDS," in which the HIV epidemic is on a downward course and attention can be redirected to other neglected public health problems.
Beyond AIDS advocates a balance between rights and responsibilities, and between risk avoidance and harm reduction, in protecting the lives and health of the human population. And while the struggle against HIV/AIDS epidemic is exceptional, Beyond AIDS opposes making it an exception to public health.
The organization also focuses attention on other neglected or emerging communicable disease threats for which adequate strategies have not yet been developed and funded, such as hepatitis C. We suggest that screening and education for other bloodborne and sexually transmitted infections might be cost-effectively coordinated with similar efforts for HIV/AIDS.
Our membership organization (Beyond AIDS, Inc.), works to change laws and regulations to improve public policy on HIV, at the state, federal, and international levels. Membership in Beyond AIDS is open to anyone who shares these goals. Although Beyond AIDS functions primarily as a national American organization, international members are welcome, and attention is increasingly global in scope.
Our tax-deductible Beyond AIDS Foundation [501(c)3] is devoted to education of public officials, health professionals, and the general public, as well as research, and supports our internship/fellowship program. Despite its name, the Beyond AIDS Foundation is not a Section 509 grantor and is not independently endowed at this time, but depends on donations to fund its work. Activities funded by this entity are generally identified with the Beyond AIDS Foundation name. Both are registered in Virginia as nonprofit corporations, Beyond AIDS in September 1999, and the foundation in January 2002 as a 501(c)3, EIN 54-2017450. To contribute to either or both, please click on Make a Donation.
BEYOND AIDS SUPPORTS LAWS AND PUBLIC POLICIES TO ACHIEVE
- Name-Based HIV reporting and partner notification
- Testing of all pregnant women and newborns to eliminate HIV transmission from mother to child
- Adequate Case Management and promotion of responsibility to help infected persons avoid spreading the virus to others
- Safer injection technology and improved infection control to avoid infections by accidental needle sticks or reused needles
- Eliminating barriers to routine testing in medical settings and correctional facilities
- Encouraging improved prevention and control in Africa and around the world
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND PROJECTS:
Examples of State Legislative and Policy Efforts:- Sponsored and achieved passage of law in California to increase prenatal HIV testing and make it easier to achieve
- Sponsored and achieved passage of law in California to require legislative re-evaluation of the state's HIV reporting system if it fails to meet federal standard
- Represented on state advisory committee to develop Oregon's HIV reporting system
- Actively lobbied for regulations on name-based reporting in Pennsylvania
- Supported legislation for name-based HIV reporting in Kentucky
- Led successful campaigns for vetoes by two Governors in California of legislation for reporting of HIV by secret codes; opposed subsequent regulations for "non-name" reporting system
- In local action, Beyond AIDS members achieved legislation on HIV reporting, partner notification, and newborn screening in New York; and have been active in HIV public policy issues in Florida
- Supported successful federal Ryan White CARE Act revision to more efficiently use federal funds for prevention
- Supported federal legislation to encourage all states to test pregnant women and newborns
- Met with leaders of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to propose a revised agenda to control the national HIV epidemic
- Participated in CDC's national HIV Prevention Summit, to develop new ideas on controlling HIV
- Delegation met with White House Director of National AIDS Policy, Surgeon General, and key federal and Congressional staff to promote an agenda for more effective HIV control
Examples of International Outreach:
- Met with health leaders in Japan and contacted Jamaican health officials on HIV policy issues
- Participated in Safe Injection Global Network, an online forum of the World Health Organization
- Commended legislation on prenatal HIV testing in Netherlands
- Distributed online bulletins to several thousand subscribers worldwide, in cooperation with Children's AIDS Fund
- Conducted scientific programs with continuing education credits on HIV epidemiology and treatment; bioterrorism; smallpox vaccine; and other emerging diseases such as SARS and hepatitis C.
- Conducted program on HIV in Africa
- Sponsored interns in California, New York, and Washington, DC
HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED?
- Fill out and submit a membership/donation form. This provides options to join our membership organization, make a donation for political work (non-deductible), and/or make a tax-deductible donation to the Beyond AIDS Foundation.
- E-mail a message of interest or questions, to info@beyondaids.org.
Tax Information: Beyond AIDS, Inc. is a nonprofit Section 501(c)4 organization. Because funds are used in part for legislative action, dues and contributions are not tax-deductible.
The Beyond AIDS Foundation is a subsidiary 501(c)3 organization founded for education and research purposes in 2001, incorporated in Virginia. Federal tax ID# 54-2017450. Contributions are tax-deductible.