AIDS Institute Calendar:
January - March 2012 courses are now available. Please go to www.hivtraining.org to register for desired course(s).
OASAS: The Department of Health, AIDS Institute is a certified OASAS Education and Training Provider. Many courses are approved by the New York State Office of Alcoholism & Substance Abuse Services for initial credentialing and renewal of CASAC, CPP, CPS, CME, CNE credits.
BASIC TRAINING ON HIV, STDs AND HEPATITIS:
HIV
and Hep C Co Infection (1 day) - CASAC - More than 25% of people living with HIV in the US are co infected with Hepatitis C virus (HCV). Among people who acquired HIV as a result of injection drug use, the rates of HIV/HCV co-infection may be as high as 90%. HCV screening is recommended for persons infected with HIV. Health and human services providers who work with people living with HIV need updated information about HIV/HCV co infection in order to provide effective services to their clients. As a result of this half-day training, participants will be able to:
- Recall basic information about the liver and hepatitis C, including transmission, prevention, course of illness, screening and treatment;
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Counsel their HIV positive clients about the importance of knowing their HCV status;
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Describe how co infection with HIV and HCV affects the progression of each disease;
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Recall current trends and improvements in treatment for people who are co-infected with HCV; and
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List at least three additional service needs of people with HIV who are also co infected with HCV.
Prerequisite: Although there is no prerequisite for this training, it is strongly recommended that participants have previous training in HIV/AIDS.
Audience: All health and human services providers including: nurses, HIV/STD counselors, substance abuse counselors, case managers, case management technicians, prevention specialists and outreach workers.
HIV/AIDS Confidentiality Law (3 hours) - CASAC - This on-line training provides information about New York State's HIV Confidentiality Law (Public Health Law Article 27-F). This training is designed to meet provider requirements for initial HIV confidentiality training for newly hired amployees working with HIV-positive clients.
- Describe the basic components and intent of the law;
- Recall the purpose of the Authorization for Release of Health Information and Confidential HIV Related Information form;
- Discuss penalties and sanctions for violation of the law;
- List information about regulations regarding HIV case reporting and partner notification as it relates to confidentiality issues.
Prerequisite: None.
Audience: All newly hired health and human service providers working with HIV-positive clients.
It's Time: Integrate Viral Hepatitis Into Your Work (2 day) - CASAC - This two-day training will help to increase providers' confidence, knowledge, and skill level in integrating a range of viral hepatitis services into an already compact workday. As a result of this training, participants will be able to:
- Describe basic facts about Hepatitis A, B, and C including epidemiology, transmission, spectrum of illness, prevention strategies, vaccine recommendations and treatment options.
- Practice offering viral hepatitis prevention and harm reduction messages;
- List practical tips, models, and tools for integrating hepatitis screening, counseling, vaccination, treatment, and referrals for car into the current work setting; and
- Recall resources for support in work.
Prerequisite: None
Audience: All health and human service providers.
HIV TESTING:
HIV Testing in NYS (3 hours) - CASAC - This half-day training will provide information about new developments in HIV testing as a result of passage of Chapter 308 of the Laws of 2010. As a result of this training, partipants will be able to:
- List the core elements of the 2010 New York State HIV testing law (S.8227/A.11487 and their importance;
- Recall that HIV testing must be offered to all persons between the ages of 13 and 64 receiving hospital or primary care services with some limited exceptions;
- Describe the simplified process for obtaining patient consent for HIV testing;
- List the elements of HIV pre and post-test counseling with an emphasis on streamlining the process;
- Recall the responsibility of the health care provider to arrange for follow-up medical care for all patients who test HIV positive;
- Describe changes in HIV testing related to occupational exposure; and
- Explain revised disclosure practices.
Prerequisite: Although there is no prerequisite for this training, it is strongly recommended that participants have previous training in basic HIV/AIDS.
Audience: All health or human service providers who offer HIV testing as a part of their job responsibilities and other providers who require clarification on the 2010 HIV testing law.
Additional Training: Participants who would like an opportunity to practice the skills associated with offering HIV testing services may choose to attend the AIDS Institute training, "HIV Testing: Skills Practice Session."
HIV Testing Skills Practice Session (6 hours) - CASAC - This one-day training will provide participants with an opportunity to practice key skills related to offering HIV testing services. As a result of this training, partipants will be able to:
- Recall how to provide streamlined pre-test information;
- Describe how to deliver preliminary positive and confirmed positive HIV rest results;
- Describe how to link newly disgnosed HIV positive patients to health care and support services;
- Provide information to HIV positive patients to promote notification of sexual and needle sharing partners; and
- Conduct the NYS domestic violence screening protocol.
Prerequisite: Knowledge of basic HIV/AIDS information and attendance at the AIDS institute training, "HIV Testing in NYS: 2010 Update" or an equivalent training.
Audience: All health or human service provider who offers HIV testing as part of their job responsibilities.
Integrating Screening for HCV and HIV (1 day) - This one-day training will prepare participants to offer integrated rapid screening for HIV and HCV in a community setting. It will provide basic information about hepatitis C transmission, epidemiology, spectrum of illness, diagnosis and treatment. By participating in the training, participants will learn how to deliver HIV and HCV pre and post test messages in a seamless, integrated fashion and will learn about referrals that are essential for people who test positive for HCV antibodies. By the end of this training, participants will be able to
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Recall basic information about hepatitis C transmission, epidemiology spectrum of illness and treatment;
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Deliver integrated prevention messages for HIV and HCV;
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Explain to clients the values of being tested for HIV and HCV during the same visit;
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Deliver integrated HIV and HCV pre and post test messages to clients;
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Describe to a patient or client the meaning of a positive, negative or indeterminate HCV rapid antibody screening; and
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Refer clients with a positive HCV screening for further medical care including testing to determine if the person has chronic infection with HCV.
Prerequisite: Although there is no prerequisite for this training, it is strongly recommended that participants have previous training in HIV testing.
Audience: Experienced health and human services providers that conduct rapid HIV screening and plan to expand the offer of services to include rapid HCV screening.
CULTURAL COMPETENCY AND CRITICAL SOCIAL ISSUES IN HIV
Building Bridges to Cultural Competency (1 day) - CASAC - This one day training explores the broad definition of culture and its relationship to competent and effective health care and human service delivery. As a result of this training, participants will be able to:
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Discuss invisible privilege and its affect on both receiving and providing services;
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Explore potential obstacles to providing effective services; and
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Describe how these obstacles are created when diverse cultures, Western medicine and human service deliveries collide.
Prerequisite: None
Audience: All health and human service providers
EDUCATION AND OUTREACH
Do You Work with High-Risk Pregnant Women? Your Role in Reducing Mother to Child Transmission of HIV - (1/2 day) - One of the greatest successes in HIV prevention in New York State has been reducing the rate of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV. However, cases of MTCT continue to occur each year. This half-day training is for non-physician health and human services providers who work with pregnant women who may have issues with substance use, mental health, homelessness or incarceration. In many instances these women are known to providers but there are missed opportunities for engaging them in prenatal care, HIV testing and other supportive services. As a result of this training, participants will be able to:
- Describe the epidemiological trends and factors related to mother-to-child transmission of HIV in new York State;
- List factors which have contributed to a decrease in MTCT;
- Describe NYS DOH regulations relating to reducing MTCT;
- Discuss the impact of staff values and attitudes on delivery of services to high risk pregnant women;
- Recall factors that many contribute to continued MTCT and;
- List strategies to promote access to HIV testing for high risk pregnant women, and treatment adherence, access to care and support servicess for HIV-positive pregnant women.
Prerequisite: None
Audience: Non-physician health and human services providers who work with HIV-positive and/or at-risk women of child-bearing age.
Developing Skills for Enhanced Outreach (4 days) This four-day training is designed to provide outreach workers with the skills to increase their effectiveness of conducting outreach to hard-to-reach populations using an enhanced outreach model. This training will provide outreach workers with a wide array of activities that will teach them how to approach clients, gain their trust and help clients access needed services. The training includes opportunities for skills practice regarding health behavior change and reviews concepts of motivational interviewing. as a result of this training, participants will be able to:
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Identify key outreach messages for target populations;
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Summarize the stages of enhanced outreach;
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Describe how multiple encounters is an effective approach to outreach;
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List the stages of change; and
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State at least three concepts of motivational interviewing.
Prerequisite: Although there is no prerequisite for this training, it is strongly recommended that participants have previous training in basic HIV/AIDS.
Audience: All health and human service providers conducting outreach as part of their jobs.
WORKING WITH HIV-POSITIVE CLIENTS:
HIV Disclosure: Deciding Who and When to Tell (3 hours) This half-day training will increase health and human services providers' awareness of the multifaceted issues clients face when contemplating HIV status disclosure to family, friends and service providers. Participants will develop the skills necessary to conduct timely ongoing assessments and discussion of HIV status disclosure as a component of effective service planning. By the end of this training, participants will be able to:
- Describe the benefits of ongoing assessment and discussion around disclosure;
- Outline a format to help clients with effective decision-making about HIV/AIDS status disclosure listing the benefits and limitations;
- Explain the value of supporting a client's decision regarding disclosure; and
- Discuss the steps involved in making the decision to disclose HIV/AIDS status to family, friends and service providers.
Prerequisite: None
Audience: All non-physician health and human services providers who work directly with people living with HIV.
Mental Health Services: Ensuring Appropriate Referrals (2 days) - CASAC - This two-day training is designed to orient HIV providers to basic information about mental illness and to prepare providers to make effective referrals to mental health care services. As a result of this training, participants will be able to:
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Discuss values, bias and stigma of mental illness within different cultures;
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Provide an overview of mental health and HIV/AIDS in NYS;
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List common psychiatric disorders;
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List mental health service delivery system resources and referrals; and
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Explore barriers to mental health care.
Prerequisite: None
Audience: All non-physicisan health and human service providers who work directly with people living with HIV.
Addressing Prevention with HIV Positive Clients
- (1 day) - CASAC - This one-day training will prepare participants to help people living with HIV to avoid sexual and substance use behaviors that can result in transmitting HIV to others and negative health outcomes for themselves. As a result of this training, participants will be able to:
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List psychosocial issues that can make it difficult for people living with HIV to change sexual and substance using behaviors associated with HIV transmission;
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Identify provider values and beliefs about addressing prevention issues with their HIV positive clients;
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Practice skills associated with working one-on-one with HIV positive clients on prevention issues;
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Explore specific strategies for working with special populations; and
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Examine prevention resources and be able to make referrals for prevention services
Prerequisite: It is strongly recommended that participants have previous knowledge on harm reduction and basic HIV/AIDS information.
Audience: All non-physician health and human service providers who work directly with people living with HIV.
Note: Staff who work in case management programs should attend the AIDS Institute training, "Addressing Prevention in HIV Case Management".
Improving Health Outcomes for HIV-Positive Individuals Transitioning from Correctional Settings to the Community - (1 day) - CASAC - This one-day training is for non-clinical providers who work with HIV positive clients who were formerly incarcerated or who are involved in the criminal justice system. The training will inform providers about the culture of corrections as it relates to HIV-infected inmates' needs upon community re-entry. Best practices will be reviewed to assist formerly incarcerated clients living with HIV/AIDS establish and maintain linkages to care, as well as maneuver through the system and access needed services. As a result of this training, participants will be able to:
- Understand the role of community providers in supporting successful community re-entry for incarcerated HIV positive clients;
- Describe the distinction between jail and prison custodial settings and how HIV transitional planning services differ;
- Outline the challenges that HIV-infected inmates face upon release;
- Describe effective engagement techniques for working with inmates who are transitioning into community systems of care;
- Discuss strategies for conducting assessments with former inmates who are living with HIV/AIDS to learn about their needs and to create appropriate linkages and referrals; and
- Identify support services and resources for HIV infected inmates who have left the correctional system
Prerequisite: It is strongly recommended that participants have previous knowledge of basic HIV/AIDS information and harm reduction and corrections.
Audience: All health and human service providers who work directly with formerly incarcerated clients.
Advanced Training on the Needs of Incarcerated PLWHA upon Community Re-entry - (1 day) This one-day training is to increase the awareness and sensitivity of health and human service providers to the challenges of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) involved in community re-entry after release from a correctional facility. These challenges include the overlapping issues of family reunification, mental health, substance use, and need for HIV care. Best practices will be reviewed to support community re-entry and utilization of HIV medical care and other services. As a result of the training, participants will be able to:
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Discuss the specific challenges of family reunification for people living with HIV/AIDS;
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Describe the impact of unresolved past and possible future traumatic events;
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Use supportive inquiry to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the overlapping challenges encouentered by released people living with HIV/AIDS as well as the strengths and resources of their "families" and/or social networks;
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Use strength-based strategies for supporting community re-entry for individuals with co-morbidities of HIV/AIDS, mental health/trauma issues, and/or substance abuse; and
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Facilitate client's access to HIV primary care and support services including drug treatment and overdose prevention to effectively manage challenges.
Prerequisite: It is required that participants take the AIDS Institute training, "Improving Outcomes for HIV-Positive Individuals Transitioning from Correctional Settings to the Community" before attending this training.
Audience: All health and human service providers who work directly with formerly incarcerated clients.
Promoting Primary Care and Treatment Adherence For HIV Positive Individuals - (1 day) - CASAC -
This one-day training is designed to increase awareness of non-physician health and human services providers about HIV primary care guidelines and treatment adherence. Providers who are aware of HIV primary care guidelines and strategies for supporting treatment adherence can play an important role in improving the health outcomes of people living with HIV. As a result of this training, participants will be able to:
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List the components of primary care for patients living with HIV;
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Identify the key elements of the annual comprehensive physical exam for patients living with HIV;
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Identify the routine laboratory screening and assessments used in primary care for people living with HIV, including methods used to assess and measure adherence;
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Recall the different classes of HIV medications and briefly describe how they work;
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Identify common barriers to treatment adherence, including medication side effects;
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List three specific strategies for promoting treatment adherence;
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Identify when referrals to specialty care may be needed;
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Work as a member of the care team to: help patients take advantage of health maintenance services, vaccination, and prophylaxis for opportunistic infectious and conduct client assessments and make referrals for a variety of psycho-social issues including substance use, mental health, domestic violence, smoking cessation, etc.
Prerequisite: It is strongly recommended that participants have previous knowledge or training on basic HIV/AIDS information.
Audience: All non-physician health and human services providers who work directly with people living with HIV including: case managers, counselors, nurses, support services providers and others.
HARM REDUCTION AND BEHAVIORAL COUNSELING
Addressing Sexual Risk With Drug Users and their Partners - (1 day) - CASAC -
This one-day training will build participant knowledge and skills in offering sexual harm reduction options to substance users. Although expanded access to syringes and drug treatment options have helped people greatly reduce their substance use-related risks for HIV, the latest research shows that sexual risk behaviors play a significant role in new cases of HIV among people who use drugs and alcohol.
As a result of this training, participants will be able to:
- Recall the latest research that shows how expanded access to syringes and methadone maintenance programs has greatly reduced the number of new cases of HIV from substance use-related risk;
- Identify and discuss sexual risk behaviors clients engage in when using drugs and alcohol;
- Identify harm reduction strategies for reducing sexual risk among people who use drugs and alcohol; and
- Practice harm reduction messages tailored to sexual behaviors for people who use drugs and alcohol
Prerequisite: It is strongly recommended that participants have attended the AIDS Institute training, "Reducing the Risk and Harm of HIV", or have a working knowledge of harm reduction.
Audience: All health and human services providers.
Sex, Gender and HIV/STDs - (2 days) This two-day training is designed to help health and human services providers promote sexual health among their clients by building their capacity to talk sensitively and non-judgmentally about sexual identity, gender identity and sexual behaviors. Topics to be covered during the training inclulde: sexual and gender identity; strategies for talking with clients about sexual health issues; HIV/STD prevention and harm reduction strategies for sexual behaviors.
As a result of this training, participants will be able to:
- Increase their awareness about the range of sexual and gender identities of their clients;
- Describe how homophobia and other forms of stigma and discrimination can impact a client's sexual behaviors and ability to practice sexual risk reduction;
- Increase their comfort in discussing sexual and gender identity with clients;
- Describe how sexual trauma can impact a client's sexual behaviors and risk for HIV/STDs; and
- Offer clients harm reduction options for sexual behaviors.
Prerequisite: Although there is no prerequisite for this course, it is strongly recommended that participants have previous knowledge or training on basic HIV/AIDS information.
Audience: All health and human service providers.
Reducing the Risk and Harm of HIV (3 days) - CASAC - This three-day training will provide participants with information about what behavioral scientists, HIV/AIDS providers and consumers have found to be helpful in reducing the risk and harm associated with HIV infection. As a result of this training, particpants will be able to:
- Assess client readiness for change;
- Describe behavior change counseling; and
- Identify harm reduction options for sexual and substance use behaviors.
Prerequisite: Although there is no prerequisite for this course, it is strongly recommended that participants have basic knowledge of HIV/AIDS.
Audience: All health and human services providers.
Skills Practice and Implementation of Staged-based Behavioral Counseling (3 days) This three-day course provides additional training and skills practice in staged-based behavioral counseling for HIV/STD risk reduction and adaptation of the stages of change/transtheoretical model of behavior change theory. Implementation and integration of this model into existing services, including risk reduction counseling, HIV pre and post-test counseling and case management will be discussed. As a result of this training, participants will be able to:
- Build upon exisitng knowledge of the stages of change/transtheoretical model of behavior change theory;
- Develop and practice behavioral counseling skills including staging a client in his readiness for behavior change; and
- Discuss the inital steps of implementing this model at the agency level including using behavioral counseling quality assurance and evaluation, documentation of behavioral counseling and common barriers to implementation.
Prerequisite: Previous attendance at the AIDS Institute training, "Reducing the Risk and Harm of HIV."
Audience: All health and human service providers who conduct behavioral counseling.
EVIDENCE BASED INTERVENTION
Group Facilitation Skills for STD/HIV Prevention Interventions (2 days) - CASAC - This two-day training will help to increase providers' confidence, knowledge and skills in facilitating groups, particularly for group level HIV/STD prevention interventions (e.g., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention evidenced-based interventions). As a result of this training participants will be able to:
- Increase their understanding of group process and how it influences behavior change;
- Identify qualities of an effective group facilitator;
- Increase skills in facilitating STD/HIV prevention intervention groups;
- Identify strategies for handling group problems; and
- Learn the importance of training, supporting and evaluating group facilitators.
Prerequisite: None
Audience: all health and human service providers who conduct group level STD/HIV prevention interventions.
VOICES/VOCES Facilitator Training (2 days) This two-day training provides participants with the information and materials needed to implement the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) VOICES/VOCES intervention. As a result of this training, participants will be able to:
- Identify the core elements of VOICES/VOCES intervention;
- Describe how to conduct the single-session, video-based group level intervention;
- Describe ways to improve condom negotiation skills among African-american and Latino adults;
- Practice facilitating gender and ethnic-specific groups of 4-8 participants and encourage discussion about condoms use and barriers; and
- Utilize CDC-approved materials on HIV risk behavior and condom use in both english and spanish.
Prerequisite: It is strongly recommended that a person in a leadership role in the agency make decisions about who should attend this training. This training is only for agencies who are strongly committed to implementing the VOICES/VOCES intervention.
Audience: This training is intended for a team of two to three staff from an agency who will be responsible for delivering this intervention. Staff should have knowledge of HIV/STDs and group facilitation skills.
NOTE: VOICES/VOCES (Video Opportunities for Innovative Condom Education and Safer Sex) is a single-session, video-based HIV/STD intervention that is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Diffusion of Effective Behavioral Interventions (DEBI) project. To learn more about VOICES/VOCES go to www.effectiveinterventions.org.
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