Alumni
Christobal J. Jacques, BPS, MSW
Communities of Color HIV Prevention Specialist, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Bureau of HIV AIDS Prevention and Control
Area of work: Manage activities to reduce the spread of HIV and significantly improve control of the epidemic.
Christobal Jacques joined the staff of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene in 1986 where he has held a variety of supervisory and management positions, including coordination of outreach and prevention education to IVDUs, oversight the HIV Anonymous Counseling and Testing Program, Director of Community Relations for the Bureau of HIV/AIDS, Governmental Co-Chair of the NYC PPG and most recently Special Assistant to the Assistant Commissioner for the Bureau of HIV/AIDS. In that capacity he has broad responsibilities for special initiatives and community relations.
Mr. Jacques received his Masters in Social Work from the Hunter College
School of Social Work where he specialized in community organization
and group work.
In 1982 while working for the Addiction Research and Treatment Corporation
(ARTC) he became aware of HIV/AIDS when a client died who was rumored
to be suffering from wasting syndrome and junkies disease. Locally,
the client's death caused a bit of a stir because in addition to being
an IVDU, the client also ran a shooting gallery that very probably brought
him in contact with many other IVDUs.
Mr. Jacques states that his involvement with HIV prevention has been the stimulus for an on-going examination of his professional and personal vision and the role he plays in the lives of his communities. The synthesis of this interaction has given rise to the professionalization of his work by improving his knowledge base, sharpening his skills and refining his vision.
As Special Assistant to the Assistant Commissioner for HIV/AIDS Chris has played an important role in efforts to expand syringe exchange activities to areas of the city in highest need. Those efforts have led to the establishment of the first syringe exchange in Queens and the first new exchange in the city in nine years.
Personal Information:
As a self taught bass guitarist I'm a proud member of that fraternity who maintain careers in other fields while pursuing their creative passion.
What I would like to get out of this program:
Continue the on-going examination of my professional and personal vision and the roles I play in the various communities of which I am a member. My expectation is that such an examination will give rise to the further professionalization of my work by improving my knowledge base, sharpening my skills and refining my vision.