LEGAL ACTION CENTER

Need-to-Know News: Aug. 12, 2011

August 12, 2011

In a significant move forward for HIV prevention in New York City, Mayor Bloomberg announced that his new Young Men's Initiative would include a mandate for a semester of sex education in city schools. Follow this link to read the full statement applauding this news from our WISH-NY project and its partner, the Young Women of Color HIV/AIDS Coalition (YWCHAC).
National Policy Director Gabrielle de la Gueronniere is quoted in the Aug. 15 issue of Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly on the critical need for a robust mental health/substance use disorder benefit as part of the essential health benefit mandated by healthcare reform.

National

The ACLU has released a report showing that recent policy changes in historically “tough on crime” states have significantly reduced incarceration rates and saved taxpayers billions of dollars.
In related news, the American Society of Criminology has devoted the new issue of its journal Criminology & Public Policy to mass incarceration in the United States.
The federal executive and legislative branches have begun working to push back against state and local laws that criminalize exposure to or transmission of HIV.

Reentry Net has launched the People's Guide, an online source of information about the consequences of criminal charges, convictions, and incarceration in New York State.
The State Associations of Addiction Services (SAAS) is asking providers to complete its Provider Readiness and Capabilities Assessment (RCA) to help . The online survey, due by Aug. 19, will help strengthen advocacy to provide the field with technical assistance as healthcare reform shifts the service landscape.
The Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Providers of New York State (ASAP) is holding its annual meeting in Albany on Sept. 21, and the agenda will include board elections. Details will follow, but contact Sherry at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) with any questions about dues.