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SISTA/SISTER

November, 2009

This fall was once again a success for SISTA. We had a full enrollment for each class. I was able to co-facilitate along with Jaceita and then start a class of my own at Atkins House. I look forward to enrolling more women from the community to participate in SISTA.

SISTA was originally created to lower the spread of HIV/AIDS among African American women. Recently, we have noticed an increase of diversity among our women involved in SISTA. We are proud to say that SISTA is reaching out to educate and empower all women.

As usual, the first class was the introduction period for the women, as well as the facilitators. During this initial “meet and greet,” we took time to get to know each other and formed a family bond. Over the course of five weeks, the women really began to open up during our discussions. As time passed, the groups took on a new feel. By the end of the five weeks, it was as if we had been friends forever meeting up to have “girl talk.” The discussions were often centered on relationships and how to openly communicate to your partner. The women really related to each other, since they have similar sexual experiences. We found that most women have the same fears when confronting their partner about safe sex and the use of condoms. We stressed the importance of being open with your partner, and we received great feedback from the women. We all learned something from each other, and I am sure I will continue to be enriched through the voices within the next group of women. The SISTA program is voluntary and is open to all women.

Susan Burke, B.S.

“You must love yourself before you love another. By accepting yourself and fully being what you are…your simple presence can make others happy.” — Jane Roberts

SISTA 

In May 2009, SISTA Sisters’ (Sisters Informing Sisters about Topics on Aids) continues to further educate and empower choices of women about HIV/AIDS based upon the SISTA Assertiveness model.  By the third session, patterns developed for our current group and there was trust and bonding among our participants.  Like the previous month, the women reinforced the need for us to meet them “in their yard,” and look at things from these participants points of view.  Our group’s cultural makeup was African, English and Jamaican. Again the SISTA Assertiveness Model Education block was enlightening. It produced an examination of facial expressions, tone and volume of voice and their impact on the acceptance of a woman’s decisions by her significant other. We are taught in the United States, to look a person in the eye when we are speaking to him and to use a firm voice and an even tone when we are asking for our needs to be met. This approach is considered to be a good assertive business approach. What is not said is that in our Judeo-Christian culture, an assertive woman is still not really accepted.

According to our group, in certain African nations, in England and in Jamaica for a woman to look a man in the eyes and use a firm voice is an ultimate act of betrayal.  For our participants this was the first time they thought about their own needs or asking for their needs to be met. However the women told us that the consequences for these behaviors can range from beating to abandonment or death.  As facilitators of the group, we encourage discussion and decision making based upon the SISTA Assertiveness model.  It is gratifying to watch the women comprehend the immense importance of using the SISTA Assertiveness model in the problem solving aspects of their lives.   With each step toward assertiveness, the women come closer to the self assured moment of “I can do anything I can dream” and personal values become reality for them. 

The group’s maturation is like small saplings braving storms, infestations and fires to become a future forest.  Our quest continues…..

Sunny Days
April, 2009

Sunny Days is a support group held at Atkins House for women who are HIV Positive.  This group is in compliance with our mission to provide information, skill development and ongoing support to help women offenders lead law-abiding, productive and responsible lives-free of crime, drugs and alcohol. 
 
This women’s support group for HIV+ women has begun to meet every Monday, 12noon to 1pm here at Atkins House located at 311 E King St., York, PA.  Its purpose through interactive discussions within this group of women will be to emphasize gender pride and help women identify and maintain supportive people in their social networks.  This group will enhance awareness of HIV transmission risk behaviors, discredit myths regarding HIV prevention for people living with HIV/AIDS, teach communication skills for negotiating safer sex and reinforce the benefits of consistent condom use.  We will also teach women how to distinguish between healthy and unhealthy relationships, discuss the impact of an abusive partner and other family members on life choices and inform women of community resources and activities to enhance their lives.

A discussion on medication regiments, proper dosage, side affects and the importance of open communication with health care providers was held on April 20, 2009. Linda Otero, Disease Intervention Specialist with The City of York Bureau of Health presented the information.  The women of Sunny Days chose this topic because they understand that their emotional and intellectual well-being depends upon their physical health and understanding of the effects of the medication to combat HIV, in addition to any other medications taken for diabetes, high blood pressure, depression etc. Linda did an excellent job of delivering information in layman’s terms.  Two subjects that Linda discussed and impressed upon the women were the need to follow medication regiments as prescribed and make sure all health care providers a woman is seeing know what has been prescribed by other health care providers.  Our clients can be very transient.  Linda told the women that each move must be accompanied by a full disclosure of health information to any and all new health care providers.   Lastly, Linda informed the women how important it is to get a copy of their lab work, each and every time they have blood work completed.  Linda told the group that there was important information in the history of the lab work.  Copies should be kept in a binder, which Atkins House will supply.  A patient can follow the changes in her health by looking at her lab results.  Any questions that arise should be directed to her health care provider.  Linda Otero agreed to facilitate a group on how to read lab work in the near future. 

As the mist evaporates, Sunny Days are rising……

SISTA 

In April 2009, SISTA Sisters’ (Sisters Informing Sisters about Topics on Aids) quest continued.  A new experience captured co- facilitator, Jaceita Chilton-Walker and my attention. For the first time, the dominant cultural makeup of the group’s women was African-Jamaican descent.  This experience was refreshing, informative, yet challenging.  Jaceita and I realized quickly that being of African American descent clashed with our women’s African Jamaican descent often when we were talking about the roles and responsibilities of men and women. 

Jaceita and I realized that to reach this group of women, we had to “meet them in their yard”.  As African Americans, part of our culture is “what goes on in your house stays in your house”, however; neighbors will intervene if it comes into the “front” yard.  In Jamaica, if domestic violence spills into the “front” yard, grocery store, school yard or elsewhere, women do not expect neighbors, strangers or authority officials to intervene.  The women in Jamaica desperately want sexual rights, but the culture and history of the island deny these rights.  

The SISTAS Assertiveness Model in session 3 was the most important block of education for this group.  Due to acceptance of violence against women in the Jamaican culture it was essential, that these women used this model in their decision making process.  An American woman often takes for granted many of the decisions she makes for her family, such as how much money can be spent on groceries.  A woman in Jamaica could place herself in a life threatening situation if she makes this same decision.  As co-facilitators, we realized that as African Americans, violence is accepted in our homes, however, as American women, we are aware there is a judicial course of action we may pursue if we choose.  The hardest part of facilitating this group was remembering the view of the justice system is much different for a woman of Jamaican descent.  She considers herself alone.  The beauty of the group meetings was that the Jamaican women were able to meet other women from Jamaica, talk about HIV/AIDS education, risk behavior, develop support networks and know they are not alone! They asked us to keep in touch with them when they returned to Jamaica.

Refreshed, informed and challenged, our quest continues….