Founders Award

On April 6th, 2000, John F. Cosgrove of Miami-Dade County Days presented Representative Elaine Bloom with the Founders Award. The award was presented to recognize her many years of service to Miami-Dade County.https://ecollections.law.fiu.edu/elaine-bloom-awards/1161/thumbnail.jp

Dade Daze Award

On April 8th, 1999, Representative John F. Cosgrove presented Representative Elaine Bloom with the Dade Daze Award.https://ecollections.law.fiu.edu/elaine-bloom-awards/1165/thumbnail.jp

Why Water Matters?

Welcome by Eugene Flinn, Mayor, Village of Palmetto Bay Introductory remarks by Daniella Levine Cava, Miami-Dade County Commissioner and Eric Eikenberg, CEO, Everglades Foundation Panel 1: Water Matters due to Climate Change Moderator: Daniella Levine Cava Dr. L. Douglas Yoder, Deputy Director, Miami-Dade Water & Sewer Dept. Dr. Virginia Walsh, Hydrogeology Section Chief, Miami-Dade Water & Sewer Dept. Albert Slap, President, Coastal Risk Consulting Irela Bague, CEO, The Bague Group Panel 2 - Water Maters for Everglades Restoration Moderator: Eric Eikenberg Dr. Steve Davis, Wetland Ecologist, Everglades Foundation Lt Col. Jennifer Reynolds, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Senator Anitere Flores, District 37 Josh Weber, Global Healthcare Advisors Edward Redlich, Lead Partner, ComReal, Inc. Taking Action Commissioner Levine Cava and Dr. Robert (Ted) Gutsche, Jr., Assistant Professor, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Florida International Universit

Strategies to Improve HIV Testing in African Americans

Only 17% of Miami-Dade County residents are African American, yet this population accounts for 59% of the county’s HIV-related mortality. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend annual testing for persons at increased risk for HIV, but 40% of African Americans have never been tested. OraQuick(®), the first FDA-approved home-based HIV rapid test (HBHRT), has the potential to increase testing rates; however, there are concerns about HBHRT in vulnerable populations. We conducted focus groups in an underserved Miami neighborhood to obtain community input regarding HBHRT as a potential mechanism to increase HIV testing in African Americans. We queried HIV knowledge, attitudes toward research, and preferred intervention methods. Several HIV misconceptions were identified and participants expressed support for HIV research and introducing HBHRT into the community by culturally appropriate individuals trained to provide support. We concluded that community health workers paired with HBHRT were a promising strategy to increase HIV testing in this population