DAP Health Celebrates East Valley Expans …

June 3, 2022June 8, 2022 by Steven Henke

DAP Health Celebrates East Valley Expansion with Two Exciting Events

Sexual Wellness Clinic and Revivals Indio Ribbon Cutting Ceremonies to be held Saturday, July 16

In its continued mission to meet clients where they are with what they need, DAP Health announced the opening of its new sexual wellness clinic at 81-719 Doctor Carreon Blvd, Suite D in Indio. The clinic, which officially opens on July 11, 2022, will operate Monday through Friday from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm and will offer testing for HIV, hepatitis C, and sexually transmitted infections including gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis. The clinic will also provide free pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) services. Case management and referrals to additional resources will also be available. Testing and treatment are confidential and free of charge.

“Our mission is to enhance and promote the health and well-being of our community and we do that by meeting people where they are,” said CJ Tobe, director of community health and sexual wellness at DAP Health who led the project. “We are adjusting the system to meet the needs of the community by not asking for your insurance while providing free services that don’t take weeks to be seen by a clinician. We will test you, treat you, prescribe Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), and connect you to any other medical or social support needs you may have. All of these services at the clinic are free from cost and free from judgment and shame.”

Indio Artists Help Make DAP Health's New Sexual Wellness Clinic a Safe, Welcoming Space

DAP Health is also celebrating the first anniversary of its Indio Revivals resale store. Located at 82-150 CA-111, Indio (corner of Monroe and Hwy 111), Revivals offers an affordable shopping experience while raising funds for comprehensive care at DAP Health. “We are truly branching out to bring DAP Health to the east county,” said Dane Koch, director of retail for Revivals. “Revivals is there to provide that affordable shopping experience while supporting the mission of DAP Health.”

Comprised of a unique blend of staff and volunteers, the welcoming community feeling at Revivals would not be possible without the generosity of those who volunteer. Over 180 volunteers donate over 13,000 hours each year, reselling gently used furniture, home goods, and fashion that has been donated by the generous local community at their four store locations.

The magic really happens behind the scenes where the team of volunteers sorts, prices and touches every donated item before it comes to the sales floor.  Together, the team has created a unique shopping experience - an exciting treasure hunt that delivers on their promise of affordability, discoverability, and community connection.

To commemorate these two milestones, DAP Health will host individual ribbon-cutting ceremonies on Saturday, July 16, 2022. The first will take place at 10:00 a.m. the DAP Health sexual wellness clinic and will include a tour of the facility. The second will occur an hour later at 11:00 a.m. at Revivals Indio and will include a free taco cart lunch, family-friendly give-a-ways, and a storewide sale. All are invited to attend.

Together, the clinic and the store represent DAP Health’s commitment to providing more people with more access to health services and expanding affordable shopping opportunities. “We are looking forward to building a deep relationship with the community and becoming part of the community,” said Koch. “As we mark this anniversary, this is a personal invitation to join us and see our store. If you are new to Revivals, come see what we have to offer. If you are already a Revivals shopper, come celebrate with us.”

About DAP Health

DAP Health is an advocacy-based health center in Palm Springs, CA serving over 10,000 patients, offering medical and mental health care, free STI testing and treatment, dentistry, pharmacy, and lab services. A variety of wraparound services enable patients to experience optimal health, including social services, support groups, alternative therapies, and other wellness services. Excellent HIV care is provided by the largest team of specialized clinicians in the area.  Click here to read more about our commitment to health equity.     

DAP Health opened one of California’s first COVID clinics and hotlines to offer screening, testing, and treatment. DAP Health is also working to address social determinants of health that are causing negative health outcomes during this pandemic, like food and housing insecurity, joblessness, isolation, and access to ongoing health care. 

DAP Health’s sexual health clinic offers free STI testing and treatment, free Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) services, and free HIV and HCV testing. DAP Health has earned Charity Navigator’s highest rating for the twelfth consecutive year – landing DAP Health in the top 6% of nonprofits rated. The distinction recognizes that DAP Health exceeds industry standards in terms of financial health, accountability, and transparency.     

Visit www.daphealth.org to learn more.     

About Revivals Stores

To help fund services, DAP Health opened its own thrift store in 1994 called Revivals which offers the valley’s best collection of resale items alongside brand new furniture at bargain prices under its owned brand - Mode. Revivals raises over $1 million annually for the non-profit, turning over 100% of profits to DAP Health each year since it first opened in 1994, and as the advocacy-based healthcare organization opened its doors wider to welcome more neighbors into care, Revivals opened more stores to help fund the work.

Revivals’ newest store location is in Indio, CA. at the corner of Monroe and Highway 111. The store was designed to embrace the brand evolution of DAP Health and reflect the organization's commitment to community throughout. 

You can support this great cause by volunteering, shopping, or donating to Revivals or directly to DAP Health. All donations provide comprehensive care for the 10,000 individuals who call DAP Health their health care home.  Learn more at www.revivalstores.com

Visit www.revivalsstores.com to learn more.

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INDIO ARTISTS HELP MAKE DAP HEALTH’S N …

May 31, 2022June 3, 2022 by Dustin Gruber

INDIO ARTISTS HELP MAKE DAP HEALTH’S NEW SEXUAL WELLNESS CLINIC A WELCOMING, SAFE SPACE

Words by Ellen Bluestein

May 30, 2022

When clients arrive at DAP Health’s new sexual wellness clinic in Indio, the first thing they will see is a colorful mural in the waiting room. Designed by Indio artists Cece Cruz and Evelyn Sofia Rivera, together known as Mujeres Murals, the full-scale artwork creates a warm and familiar environment to help alleviate the anxiety of those seeking services.

The clinic, located at 81-719 Doctor Carreon Blvd, Suite D in Indio, is set to open on July 11, 2022, and will operate Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. It will offer testing for HIV, hepatitis C, and sexually transmitted infections including gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis. The clinic will also provide pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). Case management and connections to additional resources will also be available. Testing and treatment are confidential and free of charge.

To celebrate the opening of the new clinic, DAP Health will host a ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday, July 16, 2022, at 10:00 a.m., with a tour of the facility. All are invited to attend.

“We started to do planning a year before the COVID pandemic to address unmet needs in our community and to respond to where we're finding new HIV cases and why new infections are happening to certain members of our community,” said CJ Tobe, director of community health and sexual wellness services. “[We] identified that there's such an unmet need for sexual wellness services, specifically surrounding Indio... The data showed new HIV cases located in the east valley. Latinos with lower income and under the age of 39 are most at risk. So, everything just made sense for us to respond to the need by opening a clinic there.”

“What was happening is that[clients] weren't doing routine testing, Tobe continued. “They were coming in for treatment which means they're having symptoms. They had to be seen right away. So, it wasn't just regular asymptomatic testing. We also identified through trends that the majority of new HIV cases were in people living under 200% of the federal poverty level. So, we also knew then that there was a cost barrier that may be preventing people in our community from accessing a clinic.”

At the new Indio clinic, “the patient will be able to come in, they'll be able to see our clinicians... and then they'll be able to get their medication right there too,” said Tobe. “They don't have to go across the street or down the road and maybe run into their cousin or, you know, something like that.”

Another barrier to service is the discomfort that often accompanies talk of sexuality. “There is a lot of stigma and shame attached to sexual wellness specifically in the Latino community in Indio,” said Tobe. “We're hoping, when we open the doors, that we start reaching the community and establishing trust with people.”

Part of establishing that trust included enlisting Cruz and Rivera to create the serene scene on the walls of the clinic’s waiting room. “I think once the community learns that Cece and her team created this beautiful mural in the clinic, that it will be welcoming and representative of the community, [it will start] building that trust,” said Tobe.

While Tobe picked the color palette and some elements for the wall-sized painting, Cruz and Rivera had artistic license to design the rest. “Both of us are very grateful for how much freedom we've had with this mural,” said Rivera. “We've been really appreciative of the fact that CJ has been completely open to the ideas and our styles.”

The scene features a wide range of colors – from browns and blues to pinks and purples - that can often be found in a desertscape. “It's not super bright. It stands out, but it's not aggressive,” said Rivera. Added Cruz, “It’s warm but it’s not dull. It’s not muted.”

The overall design concept was a collaborative process. “I really wanted to incorporate that feeling of not just the desert with the fields and the community and the people but also that feeling of nurturing with the tree and the Mother Earth,” said Cruz. “And so that was my idea of the part that I had sketched.”

“I really like cactuses,” added Rivera. “I feel like they're a symbol of home. I think that [they are] especially familiar.”

“We put together sketches but then we got community input as to which sketch, they wanted to go with,” Rivera explained. “We submitted three different sketches and then put them online and asked, ‘okay, which ones do you guys like better? Or do you want them all included?’ And everybody decided they wanted all of them. So now we've done a mixture of the three.”

Connecting with community is key to how both Cruz and Rivera work. “I think the rapport that we've been able to build with the community, throughout our mural painting is that people enjoy visually what it is that we've created so it's not going to be taken likely, Rivera said. “They trust us, and we trust them. It's mutual.”

“When I think about the mural...my hopes are that people see it and they feel just warm and welcomed and peace and it's familiar. Like whatever fear and anxieties anybody might be feeling, when they see it, they're like, ‘oh, okay,’ and kind of take a deep breath and say ah,” Cruz said demonstrating a stress-releasing exhalation.

“We wanted it to feel very welcoming,” she added. “You walk in and you're just like, oh, okay, I feel good here.”

Indio artists Cecelia Cruz and Evelyn Sogia Rivera, designed the new community mural in the Indio Sexual Wellness Clinic.

Reproductive Care is Health Care

May 5, 2022May 5, 2022 by Steven Henke

The Intersection of LGBTQ Health Care and Reproductive Rights

Prioritizing Patients Over Politics

DAP Health is an advocacy-based humanitarian organization that believes women’s rights are human rights. Women played a critical role in our founding and continue to help lead our organization today.

DAP Health stands in support of sexual and reproductive health care for women -- whether born cisgender, trans, non-binary, or lesbian.

DAP Health supports a woman’s right to choose. We believe all women should receive access to health care tailored to their needs, not policies or politics. We believe that health care access for LGBTQ individuals and reproductive health care are uniquely linked because challenges to each are often based on political or ideological arguments that fail to prioritize patient-centered care.

For 38 years, DAP Health has been advancing LGBTQ health care. First by focusing on HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, then on testing and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases, and most recently on gender-affirming care. We continue to expand our ability to provide culturally competent primary care and mental health care services.

We see health outcomes improve when barriers like shame are removed. And we see the impact of anti-LGBTQ legislation on our community's mental health. We advocate for stigma-reducing person-centric language while providing patient-centered care, free from judgment.

Access matters. According to the World Health Organization, lack of access to safe, affordable, timely, and respectful abortion care, and the stigma associated with abortion, pose detrimental risks to women’s physical and mental well-being throughout their lives.

The Federal Policy Director for the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), Julianna Gonen, wrote in 2019: "The movements for reproductive freedom and LGBTQ equality share deeply linked interests and concerns. We are all seeking control over our own bodies – the freedom to decide whether to become or remain pregnant, whether and with whom to have intimate relationships, and whether to seek medical care to help our bodies align with our gender identities. We seek the freedom to form our families on our own terms – to partner with and marry whom we love, to have children or not, and to live as our true selves as determined by us, not by someone else."

The LGBTQ Community Finds Care at Reproductive Wellness Centers

In Palm Springs, the LGBTQ community has enjoyed affirming health care at DAP Health since 1984. But in rural areas across California, and the nation, that same community often turns to reproductive wellness centers for judgment-free access to routine and preventative HIV and STI testing and treatment; gender-affirming care, and services related to reproductive healthcare.

Roe v Wade and Marriage Equality

We as a grassroots organization, founded in part because of denied access to health care and discrimination, firmly and ardently support the rights of every individual to make decisions based on their own personal needs.

If the court does indeed overturn Roe v Wade, legal advocates say it has implications for other rights rooted in privacy, such as the rights pertaining to private sexual activity, and marriage equality.

This includes the 2015 SCOTUS Obergefell v. Hodges ruling which affirmed that the Constitution grants same-sex couples equal protection and equal rights under the law. These rights cover access to employer-funded medical insurance coverage for same-sex couples and their dependents, family medical leave, and hospital visitation rights.

Why DAP Health Focuses on Culturally Competent Care

LGBTQ people experience worse health outcomes than the population overall due to barriers including high rates of health care discrimination, stigma, and humiliation; all of which are compounded by racism and poverty.

Delayed preventive and medical care directly impact health outcomes for the LGBTQ community. Removing barriers to care while standing alongside our partners in reproductive health is the vital work that remains to be done to improve the health and well-being of everyone in our community.

We Dined Out For Life…Together

April 30, 2022May 2, 2022 by Steven Henke

On April 28 We Dined Out For Life...Together.

Sixty-Eight locally owned establishments support DAP Health

Participating establishments, restaurants, bars, and bakeries, donated all or part of their gross sales from the day. All funds stay in Greater Palm Springs to support DAP Health’s work to reduce HIV stigma and provide access to HIV care, prevention, and testing.

Elizabeth Cervantes and her husband Alberto own Carousel Bakery. Her reason for participating this year was very simple and inspiring. She said, "We want to support everyone in our community".

The founder of Lulu California Bistro, Jerry Keller got up early to talk with NBC Palm Springs about his family's reasons for supporting DAP Health, "It's just the most powerful charity in this valley that takes care of people. What I love is the fact that it keeps evolving and the new focus is taking care of the whole valley".

DAP Health joined forces with community partners to help spread the word that eating in greater Palm Springs is more popular and more important than ever. This year was the perfect way to reconnect with old favorites or choose among a variety of top-rated eateries that recently opened.

Pride in Community

It will take a few weeks for all of the participating establishments to report what they raised, but the last time restaurants and community members came together in support of Dining Out For Life in 2019, the top three fundraising restaurants in North America were all based in Palm Springs raising $307,000. This is a powerful story about generous restaurants and our local community support. The event generates community awareness of HIV/AIDS and supports DAP Health’s mission to enhance the health and well-being of those living with HIV/AIDS.

View More Photos on DAP Health Facebook Page

Growing Need for HIV Care and Prevention

DAP Health continues growing to meet the demand for access to care created by barriers to health in the Coachella Valley. Efforts are underway to increase its capacity from serving 10,000 patients annually to 25,000 patients.

In 2021, fear of COVID caused many people to put health on hold by staying home. DAP Health created new ways of keeping them connected to HIV testing and care with:

8,182 administered HIV tests at our campus and in our mobile clinic
566 HIV self-test kits mailed to homes
53 patients were welcomed into HIV care immediately after testing positive

187 people resuming antiretroviral treatment (ART) after lapses
351 patients accessing PrEP for the first time
22,500 condoms made available through our Condom Club

DAP Health Director of Brand Marketing, Steven Henke spoke with the owner of LuLu's California Bistro, Jerry Keller, about his families support of DAP Health and Dining Out For Life.

About Growth at DAP Health

The Vision Forward strategy details the organization's expansion of its physical footprint through the construction of additional primary care, mental health, addiction, and dentistry clinics — not to mention additional affordable housing units. The goal - to strengthen DAP Health’s safety net for those who lack access to the care they deserve. Find out more at daphealth.org/visionforward

DAP Health provides a sense of community for many people living with HIV, a health condition requiring ongoing medical management and commonly stigmatized by society and many in the health care profession.

“At DAP Health, you don’t wonder if you belong,” says David Brinkman, DAP Health CEO. “You just feel it.”

Isolation is dangerous for people living with HIV, but DAP Health offers opportunities to choose something different than being alone.

Michael O’Neil compliments being a DAP Health patient with volunteering on its Client Advisory Board, and helping other patients get the most they can out of DAP Health.

“DAP has worked on my teeth, my body, my mind,” Michael says.  “Now, DAP Health’s given me goals and some sense of self again.” 

Dining Out For Life Greater Palm Springs was sponsored by Subaru, Bank of America, The Desert Sun, NBC Palm Springs, Steve Tobin & Johnny Krupa/Grace Helen Spearman Foundation, and Road Runner Print & Ship.

About Dining Out For Life

Each year, more than 50 local HIV service organizations partner with 2,400+ participating restaurants, 4,100+ volunteers, and 300,000+ diners to raise over $4.5 million for people living with HIV/AIDS in the United States and Canada. Best part? All funds raised through a city’s Dining Out For Life event stay in that city to provide help and hope to people living with or impacted by HIV/AIDS.

Launched in 1991, Dining Out For Life® is a trademarked North American fundraiser held annually in more than 50 cities across the United States and Canada; Dining Out for Life raised more than $4 million for AIDS Service Organizations in past years. 2022 marks DAP Health’s 17th year participating in the event.

Dining Out For Life national board member, Brett Klein explains the importance of the annual event.

Dining Out For Life Returns April 28

April 15, 2022April 15, 2022 by Steven Henke

2022 Dining Out For Life is Thursday, April 28th

Make One Meal Matter - Dine Out | End HIV

Appetites are building for Thursday, April 28, when Dining Out For Life (DOFL) happens all day at restaurants, bars, and bakeries across greater Palm Springs. For 17 years, this event has helped fund DAP Health as it works to reduce HIV stigma and provide access to HIV care, prevention, and testing. Participating businesses donate all or part of their gross sales from the day. All funds raised stay in Greater Palm Springs to provide help and hope to people living with or impacted by HIV/AIDS.

More information about DOFL, participating establishments, volunteering, and sponsoring can be found at daphealth.org/DOFL/

DAP Health joined forces with community partners to help spread the word that eating in greater Palm Springs is more popular than ever. This year’s DOFL is the perfect way to reconnect with old favorites or choose among a variety of top-rated eateries that have recently opened.

This year’s promotional videos feature local personality Kelly McQueen, aka DJ Mod Girl, capturing the excitement and satisfaction of eating all three meals of the day— breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with a cocktail or two—at DOFL participating restaurants and bars on Thursday. You can view them on the DAP Health Youtube Channel

The Palms Springs Show with Jacob Cunningham created a multipart series that explores eateries in the Palm Springs area, just in time to plan for the big day. You can tune in here: youtube.com/c/PalmSpringsShow

Growing Need for HIV Care and Prevention

In 2021, fear of COVID caused many people to put health on hold by staying home. DAP Health created new ways of keeping them connected to HIV testing and care with:

8,182 administered HIV tests at our campus and in our mobile clinic
566 HIV self-test kits mailed to homes
53 patients were welcomed into HIV care immediately after testing positive

187 people resuming antiretroviral treatment (ART) after lapses
351 patients accessing PrEP for the first time
22,500 condoms made available through our Condom Club

“At DAP Health, you don’t wonder if you belong,” says David Brinkman, DAP Health CEO. “You just feel it.”

Isolation is dangerous for people living with HIV, but DAP Health offers opportunities to choose something different than being alone.

Michael O’Neil compliments being a DAP Health patient with volunteering on its Client Advisory Board, and helping other patients get the most they can out of DAP Health.

“DAP has worked on my teeth, my body, my mind,” Michael says.  “Now, DAP Health’s given me goals and some sense of self again.” 

Dining Out For Life Greater Palm Springs is sponsored by Subaru, Bank of America, Steve Tobin & Johnny Krupa/Grace Helen Spearman Foundation, Road Runner Print & Ship, The Desert Sun, and NBC Palm Springs

Pride in Community

The last time restaurants and community members came together in support of Dining Out For Life was in 2019. The top three fundraising restaurants in North America were all based in Palm Springs. 83 local restaurants raised $307,000 during Dining Out for Life 2019. Greater Palm Springs is the smallest participating market but ranked second in overall fundraising among the 50 participating cities across the United States – raising more funds than cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington DC, and Phoenix. This is a powerful story about generous restaurants and our local community support. The event generates community awareness of HIV/AIDS and supports DAP Health’s mission to enhance the health and well-being of those living with HIV/AIDS.

About Growth at DAP Health

About Dining Out For Life

Raul Ruiz Wins Health Equity Award

April 1, 2022April 15, 2022 by Steven Henke

Raul Ruiz Wins Health Equity Award

Recognition scheduled at The Chase for fighting for health access

Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) will be presented with the inaugural DAP Health Equity Award at the 28th Annual Steve Chase Humanitarian Gala on April 9 at the Palm Springs Convention Center. The accolade honors Rep. Ruiz for his long commitment to health justice locally and nationally. The DAP Health Equity Award honors leaders who have reduced health disparities locally, especially improving access for people who traditionally are economically and socially disadvantaged.

To buy tickets for The Chase or learn more about sponsorship and volunteer opportunities, go to www.daphealth.org/thechase

Leveraging his platforms as a physician and a U.S. Representative, he has called out health disparities, influenced broad support for change, and secured more funding for care and education. He stays engaged in each issue he supports in the Coachella Valley to make sure promises are kept and change happens.

“Dr. Ruiz understands that calling attention to specific barriers in healthcare is the first step in removing them,” said David Brinkman, DAP Health CEO. “DAP physicians offer the highest standard of health for more than 10,000 patients, helped by funding, public support, and the advocacy consistently provided by our friend.”

For years, Congressman Ruiz has been a strong health advocate for the people of Coachella Valley, and the impact of his work is sizeable. He has consistently voted to increase health center funding since coming to Congress. When COVID emerged, he fought for additional funding so that all health centers could stand up to the challenge. DAP Health has received over $8 million in federal grants, thanks to his advocacy.

Dr. Ruiz also works to ensure his advocacy in Washington is put to good use here in the Coachella Valley where he grew up.

Understanding the importance of educational opportunities, Dr. Ruiz has been a long-time advocate of the Teaching Health Center Program. He has led efforts to increase funding, which has happened twice under his leadership. The program also helps meet area staffing needs.
When COVID hit, underserved farmworker communities in our region immediately experienced disparities in vaccination rates. Dr. Ruiz increased local awareness by speaking out and helped secure thousands of tests and vaccines. He also led public health education events in the fields to meet people where they are.
Dr. Ruiz’s support was vital to the success of Get Tested Coachella Valley/Hazte la Prueba Valle de Coachella public health initiative. This groundbreaking 3-year, $5 million effort sought to dramatically reduce HIV through education and routine testing for more than 81,000 individuals and provided linkage to care for 88% of newly diagnosed HIV patients. The 2014-2016 project united more 150 community partners, making it the nation’s first community-based initiative of its kind. It was recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the California State Office of AIDS, and at two White House conferences.

To learn more about Congressman Raul Ruiz, visit https://ruiz.house.gov/

The Chase Sponsors

Presenting Sponsor: Amazon

Producing Sponsor: Eisenhower Health

Major Sponsors: Desert Care Network, Steven Anders\The Elizabeth Firth Wade Endowment, Kevin Bass & Brent Bloesser, Jim Burba & Bob Hayes, The Desert Sun\Local IQ, Patrick Jordan, NBC Palm Springs, Steve Tobin & Johnny Krupa\Grace Helen Spearman Charitable Foundation

Star Sponsors: Neil Lane Couture, David Zippel & Michael Johnston

The Chase 2022 Press Release

February 21, 2022February 22, 2022 by Steven Henke

DAP HEALTH ANNOUNCES NEW VISION FOR 'THE CHASE'

DAP Health announces the 2022 Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards 'The Chase' returns as an all in-person event on April 9, outdoors, at the Palm Springs Convention Center. DAP Health is making it safer to come together for this yearly tradition, timing it for some of the season’s most ideal evening weather.

To buy tickets for The Chase or learn more about sponsorship and volunteer opportunities, go to www.daphealth.org/thechase

Co-chairs Kevin Bass, Lauri Kibby, and Scott Nevins are leading a reinvention of the evening promising that "We’re going to gala like never before."

This year's honorees will reflect the community of volunteers and donors that supported DAP Health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Los Angles events company JJLA has been tagged to lead that reinvention focusing on an evening filled with entertainment and experiential activations around the outdoor floorplan.

“JJLA is thrilled to work with DAP Health in bringing back the acclaimed Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards in an exciting and reimagined new way as 'The Chase'. Guests will be welcomed to a lively cocktail and hors d'oeuvres experience with special photo opportunities before being seated in a multi-stage setting for the awards program. The evening will feature legendary performers and exciting up-and-coming talent sure to leave guests excited and thrilled to be back celebrating at one of the desert community's most iconic events.” says Jeff Consoletti, JJLA Founder, Principal & CEO.

Headline entertainment and the evening’s host will be announced shortly.

“The evening will be fashionable and glamorous as attendees have come to expect, but we want the entire experience to feel new and exciting” explains DAP Health CEO, David Brinkman. “We’re going to be mission-centric with our program this year, sharing vital information about our plans for the future of health care.”

Beginning at 5:00 p.m. and ending at 10:00 p.m. the evening will fund the ongoing mission of DAP Health (formerly Desert AIDS Project) and introduce attendees to the organizations' Vision Forward plan to expand its campus to serve more than 25,000 individuals.

The Need is Great

Most view and experience the Coachella Valley as a sublime oasis. But for many, that pristine picture is far from reality. Our neighbors—people of color, people living with HIV/AIDS, people living in poverty, and trans individuals, many of whom have yet found their way to DAP Health—wrestle daily here with pain, sadness, and desperation.

Because a community can only be as strong as its weakest member—as healthy as its sickest—it is crucial that we join forces so that barriers to health and wellness are abolished.

After all, is it not the duty of those standing tall to lift up those who have fallen?

How DAP Health is Poised to Help

Founded in 1984 by a group of community volunteers in the face of the AIDS crisis, DAP Health is an internationally renowned humanitarian healthcare organization. In 2013, the non-profit expanded its scope to care for all marginalized people, regardless of HIV status.

Our goal is to improve the overall health of our entire community—especially the disenfranchised—by providing culturally competent, quality primary and preventative health care and social services on one campus. These include infectious disease care, dentistry, and programs related to mental health, substance use recovery, and sexual wellness.

The expertise, infrastructure, reputation, and donor base atop which DAP Health’s considerable success stands was bolstered by our more recent involvement providing for all those devastated in countless ways by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thanks to 38 years of caring for people directly and indirectly affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic and other public health emergencies, we have the physical and intellectual resources, the desire, and—most importantly—the imagination to effect even greater positive change in our beloved Coachella Valley community and beyond.

The next epidemic has not yet been named. Just as DAP Health met HIV, HEP C, STIs, and COVID head-on, its team of infectious disease specialists stands ready to protect our community’s health and well-being. With 53% of our community not knowing their HIV status because they have never been tested, our commitment to ending the HIV epidemic and caring for individuals living with HIV will never waver.

DAP Health Rises to Meet Core Challenges Today:

Comprehensive health care access remains uneven. It’s estimated that 46% of our community lives below the federal poverty level. In communities of color, communities living in poverty, and in the LGBTQIA+ community, DAP Health is removing barriers to care to build a healthier tomorrow.

The mental health crisis requires an intervention. DAP Health is doubling its capacity to deliver life-saving access to psychologists, therapists, and psychiatrists. We know mental health is health, but too many individuals experience shame in asking for the care they need and face challenges when they need it most.

Addiction is a serious problem that requires a therapeutic solution. Substance use affects the individual and the family that loves them. DAP Health’s patient-centered model of care combines primary care, mental health, outpatient care, and traditional 12-step support groups that meet individuals where they are.

Housing is health care. The housing and rental market have made shelter unaffordable for too many hard-working individuals. Some 2,300 of our neighbors experience homelessness on any given night. DAP Health is adding 61 additional affordable housing units to its campus, increasing its housing capacity by 75%.

DAP Health has earned a national reputation as a one-of-a-kind advocacy-based health care organization. With an 11,000-square-mile service area – roughly the size of the state of Massachusetts – some clients travel from as far away as Blythe on the Arizona border, as well as from the cities, towns, and rural areas of San Bernardino, Riverside, and Imperial Counties.

DAP serves over 10,000 patients today. By 2025, we will serve 25,000 in our expanded medical, dental, and mental health clinics while bringing our total of on-campus housing units to 141. Every month, over 100 new patients walk through the doors of DAP Health seeking quality and comprehensive health care. Because of YOU, those doors are always open.

Tradition Meets Health Care Access

For 28 years, The Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards ‘The Chase’ has raised millions of dollars for direct patient services at DAP Health while honoring Humanitarians from all corners of the globe. They are people who radiate compassion – who seem to have been born for a higher purpose. Their example reminds us that everyone can make a positive difference in the lives of others. Since our very beginning, over 36 years ago, DAP Health has listened to the community we serve and taken its lead in solving tomorrow's challenges. This year’s honorees share DAP Health's vision of health equity and justice. They are people who have led and continue to inspire others.

With over 15,000 people in need of medical care in our region, DAP Health needs your help today to expand our services. First organized by and named for famed interior designer Steve Chase — also a DAP Health donor, volunteer, and board member — ‘The Chase’ is a highlight of the desert community’s social season! Just a few of the honorees, award presenters, and entertainers in the past years have included Ann-Margret, Annette Bloch, Diahann Carroll, Carol Channing, Kristin Chenoweth, Joan Collins, Melissa Etheridge, Queen Latifah, Andy Linsky, Wynonna Judd, George Hamilton, Tom Hanks, Senator Ted Kennedy, Patti LaBelle, Angela Lansbury, Judith Light, Shirley MacLaine, Bob Mackie, Barry Manilow, Harold Matzner, Liza Minnelli, Prof. Luc Montagnier, Megan Mullally, Pauley Perrette, Debbie Reynolds, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and Dionne Warwick

Your presence at the 28th Annual Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards, beyond supporting our honorees, also signals your continued support for DAP Health’s patients and clients. Attendees are humanitarians helping remove roadblocks to access for quality care and supportive services that allow our patients, who are your neighbors and friends, to live their fullest potential.

PRODUCING: Eisenhower Health

MAJOR: Steven Anders/The Elizabeth Firth Wade Endowment, Kevin Bass & Brent Bloesser / Jim Burba & Bob Hayes, Desert Care Network, The Desert Sun \ Local IQ, NBC Palm Springs, Steve Tobin & Johnny Krupa and The Grace Helen Spearman Charitable Foundation

SUPPORTING: Acqua California Bistro & Lulu California Bistro, Diageo, Gilead Sciences, Inc., Scott Nevins & Philip Hodges, Walgreens

BENEFACTOR: Revive Wellness

PATRON: Desert Insurance Solutions, Reaction Marketing & Promotions Inc

MEDIA: CV Independent, Gay Desert Guide, Palm Springs Life, PromoHomo.TV, The Hollywood Times, The Standard Magazine

About DAP Health

DAP Health is an advocacy-based health center in Palm Springs, CA serving over 10,000 patients, offering medical and mental healthcare, STI testing and treatment, dentistry, pharmacy, and lab services. A variety of wraparound services enable patients to experience optimal health, including social services, support groups, alternative therapies, and other wellness services. Excellent HIV care is provided by the largest team of specialized clinicians in the area.   

DAP Health opened one of California’s first COVID clinics and hotlines to offer screening, testing, and treatment. DAP Health is also working to address social determinants of health that are causing negative health outcomes during this pandemic, like food and housing insecurity, joblessness, isolation, and access to ongoing healthcare.

DAP Health's sexual health clinic offers judgment-free STI testing and treatment, Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP), and HIV and HCV testing. DAP Health has earned Charity Navigator’s highest rating for the twelfth consecutive year – landing DAP Health in the top 6% of nonprofits rated. The distinction recognizes that DAP Health exceeds industry standards in terms of financial health, accountability, and transparency.    

Visit www.daphealth.org to learn more.  

Contact: Steven Henke

Director of Brand Marketing, DAP Health

P: 612-310-3047

E: [email protected]

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DAP Health rolls out harm reduction prog …

January 14, 2022January 20, 2022 by Dustin Gruber

DAP Health rolls out harm reduction program to provide care for people living with addiction

Contact: Leighton Ginn                                 
Public Relations Specialist 
(760) 567-2983 

[email protected].  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

Program approved Jan. 10, 2022 by the California Department of Public Health

This Spring, DAP Health will unveil its harm reduction program that will have two components. First, Overdose prevention and secondly a Syringe Services Program (SSP) that will include health services and behavioral health support to combat the rise in preventable overdoses and the increase in new HIV cases.

The multi-layered program will focus on education for the community, HIV and Hepatitis C testing, distribution and collection of syringes and referrals to support folks through their addiction journey.

Additional services to be provided: Naloxone/Narcan to reverse overdose and prevent death, and Fentanyl test strips for testing drugs before use to decrease likelihood of overdose.

In the latest preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 100,000 people in the U.S. died from overdoses during the 12-month period from April 2020 through April 2021. (https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/drug-overdose-data.htm)

In Riverside County, there has been an 800 percent increase in fentanyl-related deaths since 2016, according to Rivco.org. (https://www.rivco.org/news/riverside-county-committee-combat-fentanyl-abuse).

Palm Springs has an overdose death rate 300 percent higher than the state average.

Palm Springs Police Department Chief Andy Mills was able to review the harm reduction program and was impressed with how complete it is.

“It’s important to remember the dynamics that go into a program like this,” Mills says. “That’s what excites me. Not only is DAP Health looking at helping people, but genuinely helping people so they are not destructive to themselves or our community.”

DAP Health is only the second state certified Syringe Services Program (SSP) in Riverside County, which is the 10th most populated county in the United States.

Because of the rising numbers, Secretary of Health and Human Services, Xavier Bacerra says the federal government supports harm reduction, which includes direct support and care to people who actively struggle with substance misuse.

“DAP Health will begin deepening our relationship with people living with addiction by adding a harm reduction approach to our first-aid kit of solutions,” says C.J. Tobe, the Director of Community Health and Sexual Wellness. “We will do this without stigma or judgment because you cannot treat someone who does not trust you. Harm reduction is an important tactic in DAP Health’s ongoing work to end the HIV epidemic.  Work that begins with meeting folks where they are.”

Education 

Overdose prevention 
Safer injecting 
Risk reduction counseling 
Education to community partners

Testing 

Free HIV/HCV testing 
Fentanyl strips for testing drugs before use to decrease likelihood of overdose

Equipment 

Naloxone/Narcan to reverse overdose and prevent death 
Phone number and email to DAP Health for the community to report used syringes that need to be picked up and disposed of, or to request education related to harm reduction strategies at [email protected] or 760 992-0453.
New syringes and intake/dispose of used syringes 
New injecting supplies 
Safer sex kits
Safer smoking kits

Referrals To

Substance use counselors 
Outpatient Drug Free program DAP Health
Local recovery and treatment centers 
DAP Health’s peer support specialist 
Early Intervention Specialist (EIS) for anyone with HIV and/or Hepatitis C for treatment 
Insurance enrollment and connection to health care and other social support services 
DAP Health’s Sexual Wellness Clinic (Orange Clinic) for STI testing and/or Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) 
Food and housing

Harm Reduction Media Resources

About DAP Health

DAP Health is an advocacy-based health center in Palm Springs, Calif., serving more than 10,000 patients, offering medical and mental health care, STI testing and treatment, dentistry, pharmacy, and lab services. A variety of wraparound services enable patients to experience optimal health, including social services, support groups, alternative therapies, and other wellness services. Excellent HIV care is provided by the largest team of specialized clinicians in the area.

DAP Health opened one of California’s first COVID clinics and hotlines to offer screening, testing, and treatment. DAP Health also is working to address the social determinants of health that are causing negative health outcomes during this pandemic, like food and housing insecurity, joblessness, isolation, and access to ongoing healthcare.

DAP Health’s sexual health clinic offers STI testing and treatment, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), and HIV and hepatitis C (HCV) testing. DAP Health has earned Charity Navigator’s highest rating for the twelfth consecutive year — landing DAP in the top 6% of nonprofits rated. The distinction recognizes that DAP Health exceeds industry standards in terms of financial health, accountability, and transparency.

Visit www.daphealth.org to learn more.

Celebrating the Legacy of Ryan White on …

December 3, 2021December 3, 2021 by Steven Henke

Ryan White on His 50th Birthday

Ryan White is not alive to celebrate his 50th birthday, which is December 6. But thousands of people living with HIV crossed the half-century mark recently. They might not realize it, but most of them have been helped in some way by Ryan. It could be from the anti-stigma movement sparked by his short life and untimely passing in 1990. Or maybe it is just the luxury of complaining about middle age. Thanks to the HIV Continuum of Care, people with HIV can go from diagnosis to achieving and maintaining viral suppression quickly, regardless of their insurance or income.

Serving more than half a million people today, the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program honors this teen’s courage and toughness in the face of life-shattering discrimination after his HIV diagnosis. Along with mom Jeanne White-Ginder and HIV activists from across the country, Ryan White achieved the unthinkable. He put a human face on HIV, and it changed the world, starting with the U.S.

Ryan has missed a lot of milestones, in addition to his upcoming birthday. He missed his high school graduation, and he missed seeing the federal Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program named after him signed into law by Congress. He would marvel that people now can live long and fulfilling lives because of effective treatment and that more than half of people with HIV in the U.S. today are over fifty.

“I’m acutely aware of how much better my life is today because of Ryan White,” says Sven, a DAP Health patient who just turned fifty and has lived with HIV since 2001. Getting care and services early in his diagnosis laid a foundation for his own thriving with HIV, he says.

Accessing Health Through Ryan White Today

People with HIV have more opportunities than ever to stay in control of their health, thanks to the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program and DAP Health. The uninsured are never turned away, and low-income or under-insured patients who qualify can access the program for high-quality, comprehensive care.

It is easy for anyone to find out if they qualify for Ryan White programs for ongoing care and a variety of other needs with a short online form or by calling (760) 323-2118. To learn more, visit daphealth.org.

DAP Health has been providing care and services to people living with HIV since 1984, the same year Ryan White was diagnosed with AIDS. At a time before HIV was even acknowledged as an epidemic, DAP Health medical staff, psychologists and social workers created their own road map for helping patients live with HIV, and they kept improving it.

Living with HIV requires ongoing, complex, and intensive management, but many patients do not have the financial resources required for adequate care. DAP Health offers patients and clients access with the following, thanks to Ryan White Program grants:

Early Intervention Services,
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP),
HIV and primary medical care,
Medications,
Help for youth transitioning into adult HIV care,
Rapid Start Antiretroviral Therapy (ART),
Outpatient medical care,
Food vouchers,
Career development assistance,
Medical transportation,
Psychosocial support groups,
and temporary housing assistance.

The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program is the third-largest source of federal funding for HIV-related care, after Medicare and Medicaid. About half of DAP Health clients living with HIV use the program as they stay engaged in medical care and services for viral suppression and a much better quality of life.

“Everyone wants to protect the Ryan White Program because it works so well at helping people live with HIV,” says Carl Baker, DAP Health director of Legal and Legislative Affairs. “Its efficiency has always made it a financial and administrative success.”

More than half of people with HIV in the U.S. received services through Ryan White programs in 2019, and more of them (88.1%) reached viral suppression compared to the national average (64.7%). (HRSA)

High rates of viral suppression mean that more people with HIV are taking their medication as prescribed and reaching and maintaining an undetectable viral load. This means they have no risk of sexually transmitting the virus to an HIV-negative partner.

Living With HIV Isn’t Always Easy

Sven says he was trying to make sense of being a young gay man in Hollywood when he found out about his HIV. In 2001, his hard-partying ways had made adulting a real challenge and he needed special support.

“I had this instinct to survive,” he says, “and I took advantage of the help that was offered to me through Ryan White funded programs.”

These included housing, food, HIV specialty care, medical transportation, and help dealing with addiction. Today, Sven is married to the love of his life George and living a sober and full life. Those difficult days in Hollywood have been in his rearview mirror for years now, and he is grateful for that.

“How do you look at HIV as a disease when it’s given you so much life?” says Sven. “I’ve had access to a lot of help, all because of HIV advocates who decided to honor Ryan White’s legacy.”  

Why Is the Ryan White Program Still Important?

Not all states have expanded access for people living with HIV. Especially in states without Medicaid expansion, people living with HIV/AIDS frequently are poor with unstable living conditions, and they are likely to be uninsured or underinsured. It is also common for them to suffer from numerous comorbidities, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and hepatitis C. Treatment for these is also covered. Designed to fill gaps in the existing HIV care system, the Ryan White Program provides uninsured and underinsured people living with HIV/AIDS with access to HIV-related care and delivers high-quality, comprehensive care.

Learn More About the Ryan White Program

For more about the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program and his personal story, visit https://hab.hrsa.gov/about-ryan-white-hivaids-program/about-ryan-white-hivaids-program

Palm Springs AIDS Memorial Sculpture Tas …

November 22, 2021June 27, 2022 by Dustin Gruber

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Press Contact: The Development Department Inc.

Phone Number: 760-669-3366

[email protected]

Palm Springs AIDS Memorial Sculpture Task Force Launches Capital Campaign During World AIDS Day

November 30, 2021

The Palm Springs AIDS Memorial Sculpture Task Force is excited to announce that the AIDS Memorial Sculpture is one step closer to becoming a reality. The Palm Springs City Council recently unanimously approved the acceptance of the Sculpture to be placed in the new Downtown City Park. The Task Force has also partnered with DAP Health to provide a dedicated link to enable community members to help fund the Palm Springs AIDS Memorial Sculpture, visit https://psaidsmemorial.org to donate and for more information.

“December 1, World AIDS Day was chosen as the launch, as it signifies the remembrance of those we’ve lost to HIV/AIDS and gives renewed hope that one day, the virus will be eradicated. It is our responsibility to remember their lives and to continue to tell their stories, so that they are never forgotten,” said Mike Richey, Co-Chair National AIDS Memorial. “AIDS has affected every community across the world, and it is for this reason that AIDS Memorials should be established to honor & remember those lost.”

The Task Force’s vision is to provide the AIDS Memorial Sculpture as a gift to the City of Palm Springs and people of the Valley. Internationally acclaimed artist based in the Coachella Valley, Phillip K. Smith, III, has been commissioned to design the memorial, which will provide an opportunity for reflection, remembrance and hope once its placed in the new City of Palm Springs Downtown Park.

“The AIDS Memorial Sculpture will be a touchstone for unity, hope, grief, and healing in the Coachella Valley. As a monolithic, singular stone sculpture, the carved surfaces will dance with light, shadow, and reflection. Through rotating grooves cut into the gloss surface as matte marks signifying unity through struggle or the soft curve of undulating forms evoking healing over grief, this is a memorial to be touched, to be felt. It is a timeless, enduring landmark delicately placed on the land. It is heavy, but light -- lifting hope, lifting struggle, and lifting up what is important,” described Phillip K. Smith, III.

The Palm Springs AIDS Memorial Task Force’s mission is to ensure the lives of those lost are never forgotten, and that their stories and lives are remembered into the future. We also envision an opportunity to use this memorial as a means to educate the public about HIV prevention, diagnosis and treatment options available to everyone who seeks information and to help direct individuals to resources available to them throughout the city, and the country.

The goal of the Task Force is to raise the necessary funds to support the creation, installation and ongoing resources to maintain this sculpture for generations to come. Given the impact that HIV/AIDS has had on our community, we believe there will be great support for securing the necessary funds to make this AIDS Memorial Sculpture a reality.

To help facilitate that fundraising goal, the Task Force has enlisted Paul Clowers and Ellen Wolf of The Development Department Inc. to lead the project. The Task Force has also partnered with DAP Health to act as the fiscal processing agent for donations which can be made by visiting daphealth.org/aids-memorial-fund. For addition information or donation assistance please contact The Development Department Inc. at [email protected], call 760-669-3366, or visit https://psaidsmemorial.org.

Call: (760) 323-2118

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