Support group changes meeting format

FARMINGTON — The local HIV/AIDS support and education group is changing the format of their meetings to better meet the needs of their members.

“We will still meet every Tuesday but every Tuesday will have a focus,” said Richard Wiskus, director of Mark’s Place.

Beginning in July, each weekly meeting will be dedicated to a particular demographic group and their particular needs concerning HIV/AIDS.

The HIV-positive women’s group will meet the first Tuesday of the month at Mark’s Place, which is located at the corner of A Street and Liberty Street in Farmington. No meeting will be held on July 4 due to the holiday.

The Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) group will meet the second Tuesday of the month at All Saints Episcopal Church on Bray Road in Farmington.

The HIV-positive men’s group will meet the third Tuesday of the month at Mark’s Place.

The caregivers group will meet the fourth Tuesday of the month at Mark’s Place. The meeting is open to anyone who cares for an HIV-positive person including family members and professional health caregivers.

If there is a fifth Tuesday of the month, there will be an inclusive social gathering at Mark’s Place.

Mark’s Place support meetings are confidential and there is no membership fee. Support meetings begin at 7 p.m. and last one hour. The reading/resource room is available before and after each meeting.

Meetings will have a focus topic which will be determined by group participants. For example, the groups may talk about medication side effects or the benefits of case management.

Wiskus said they will review the meeting structure in January. There will be no meetings on major holidays.