MidChix: The Women's Lighthouse Project

The Women's Lighthouse Project

December 7, 2009

In June of 1997, Shannon Behning founded The Women’s Lighthouse Project. The WLP is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing a safe space for HIV-positive women to get the information and education they need in order to survive the virus, where they have someone on their side immediately to hold their hand and walk them through the trenches, to help them to understand the virus itself and the medications, and to let them know that there is life after diagnosis.

A quote, which is the cornerstone of the organization’s philosophy, sits on their beautiful website home page:

“I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.” —Louisa May Alcott

Though the only requirement for receiving assistance from the WLP is to be a woman diagnosed with HIV, the typical client lives in poverty or has a mental illness or a substance abuse diagnosis. The assistance these women receive falls in three areas: Educational Support Programs, Client Treatment Advocacy (CTAP), and Women In Corrections (WIC).

Educational Support Programs: The Educational Support Programs include a client-driven 12-week workshop, called the “Sisterhood Series,” a nationally tested model modified to meet local needs. To date, the WLP has graduated twenty classes with an average of 12 participants in each. An annual Statewide Summer Retreat has been held since 1999 to reach the rural communities outside of the Denver-Metro Area. The WLP holds educational forums focused on community updates which cover topics such as domestic violence, substance use, policy and advocacy and how to participate in the Ryan White Funding process. A quarterly series called “Lunch and Learn” features service providers giving talks about new medication, treatment, side effect management and living and thriving with HIV.

Client Treatment Advocacy Program (CTAP): CTAP provides each client with a skilled Client Advocate who will accompany her as she navigates through healthcare, social, and community service systems. The Client Advocate supports each client in various ways such as understanding the disease process; adhering to medical, mental health, and substance abuse treatment plans; finding and keeping safe housing; and serving as a support in working through the legal system if necessary.

Women in Corrections Program (WIC): Working with the Denver Women’s Correctional Facility (DWCF), the WLP provides advocacy for HIV-positive women who are currently incarcerated. The program consists of one-on-one counseling sessions, individualized planning for care and support upon release, and help with transitioning into the CTAP program. The WLP also provides HIV and Hepatitis C prevention education through the DWCF’s Treatment Center within the facility. The DWCF houses 75 women who are either living with HIV and/or Hepatitis C or at higher risk of infection. The WLP provides resources and support for the correctional facility staff as well.

Some WLP statistics for 2009:

WLP has served 200 women living with HIV
WLP has served eight straight HIV-positive men through the “Buoy’s Club”
WLP conducted two state-wide Summer Summits serving 24 women from the Western Slope of Colorado
100% of WLP clients have reported an increase in self-sufficiency
90% of new clients have increased their level of understanding of HIV/AIDS treatment education through ongoing HIV/AIDS treatment education, focusing on the importance of adhering to healthcare and treatment plans
60 women have participated in the Client Treatment Advocacy Project (CTAP)
100% of CTAP clients were engaged in primary care and/or case management services over a 12-month reporting period
70% of active CTAP clients maintained a 90% attendance rate of primary-care related appointments over a 12-month reporting period
60% of clients taking HAART (Highly Active Anti-retroviral Therapy) saw an increase or maintenance of CD4 count and viral load over a 12-month reporting period from a baseline point of enrollment
The WLP provided peer support and education to 36 incarcerated women. Of these women, all reported an increased level of support in managing their HIV.

WLP's Beacon Boutique

The WLP also houses the Beacon Boutique, a thrift store that provides clothing, furniture, and personal items for clients. The Beacon Boutique occupies a 10x20-foot climate-controlled storage unit near the WLP office. It is managed by a client who staffs the boutique once a week and by request. Clients have unlimited access to the Boutique.

Shannon Behning says her dream for the Women’s Lighthouse Project “is to get our own building and a house that women and their families can live in as they transition out of prison, out of domestic violence situations, or out of homelessness.” She also wants to increase its staff to be able to do more to reach more women.

There are many moving success stories, some of which you can read on the Women’s Lighthouse Project’s website. You can support the WLP directly or via donations online. You can also attend a GoodChix event on December 8, 2009, at Wild Flowers Boutique in Denver to support the WLP and meet Shannon Behning in person.

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