Education Programs

The HIV Clinical Education Initiative

Program Description

The HIV Clinical Education Initiative (CEI) is designed to meet the educational needs of community providers caring for patients with HIV and AIDS. The goal of the initiative is to increase access to quality HIV care in New York State by providing progressive HIV education to clinicians and supporting the networks of care for patients with HIV. CEI collaborates with the New York/New Jersey AIDS Education and Training Center (AETC) and other educational organizations in order to maximize local resources and reach providers throughout New York State.

CEI is in the process of establishing six Centers of Excellence to focus on content areas that have been identified as public health priorities:

Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP), Testing and Diagnosis

The PEP, Testing and Diagnosis Center targets emergency room and urgent care providers to increase screening for HIV, identify unrecognized HIV infection, and implement post-exposure prophylaxis. This center also supports a 24-hour, toll-free provider hotline for consultation on PEP (1-888-448-4911).

Prevention and Substance Use

The Prevention and Substance Use Center offers trainings for HIV primary care providers in addressing prevention for positives and substance use through increased screening, risk assessments, and behavioral counseling.

Mental Health

The Mental Health Center trains primary care providers in the identification and management of mental health issues most commonly encountered by HIV providers.

Clinical Education for Upstate Providers

The Upstate Center provides general HIV clinical education for community providers in upstate New York. The Center also operates the CEI-Line, a 24-hour toll-free consultative support phone line for practitioners to discuss case-based HIV clinical care with an HIV specialist (1-866-637-2342).

Technology

The Technology Center offers on-line HIV clinical education materials, including webcasts, podcasts, self-assessment tools and CME activities at the HIV Clinical Resource website: www.hivguidelines.org.

Resource, Referral and Evaluation Center

The Resource, Referral and Evaluation Center has been designed to be the centralized resource for HIV education and training in New York State and to assist HIV programs to develop educational plans for their staff. This center is planned to conduct the CEI program evaluation and each Center’s educational activities.

Contacts:

Howard Lavigne
Deputy Director, HIV Clinical Education
Office of the Medical Director
(315) 477-8479
hel01@health.state.ny.us

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HIV/AIDS Training Services

Program Description

Non-physician health and human services providers require ongoing training to provide effective HIV prevention, care and support services. HIV/AIDS Training Services, within the AIDS Institute's Office of the Medical Director, implements four distinct training initiatives to meet these needs. Overall, the initiatives offer approximately 500 days of training annually in more than 70 different training courses. These programs reach approximately 10,000 health and human services providers each year. Emphasis is placed on keeping pace with advances in science, policy and program development. The latest HIV/AIDS training calendar is available online.

Specific training initiatives include:

  • Regional Training Centers
  • Centers of Expertise
  • Authorized Training Agencies
  • State Board Training Consortium

Regional Training Centers

Regional Training Centers in each area of the state offer a variety of trainings on HIV/AIDS, including: HIV prevention; HIV counseling and testing; case management; critical social issues related to HIV/AIDS; viral hepatitis; harm reduction; cultural competency, HIV and STDs, and informational updates. Based on regional demand and on-going needs assessments, training centers offer courses from a menu of more than 40 different trainings. Each training center regularly offers job-specific introductory training for staff that serve as outreach workers, HIV prevention specialists, HIV test counselors and case managers. Regional training centers are uniquely poised to provide training about new state regulations that affect HIV/AIDS services. New courses are continually being added to the menu. Some recent course additions include: It’s Time! Integrate Viral Hepatitis Into Your Work; Enhanced Outreach; Improving Health Outcomes for HIV Positive Inmates Transitioning from Correctional Settings to the Community; and, Using Harm Reduction to Address Sexual Risks with Drug Users and their Partners.

2008-2009 Training Program Registration Centers

NYC Region

  • Cicatelli and Associates, Inc. - (212) 594-7741
  • NDRI Inc. - (212) 845-4550
  • AIDS Community Research Initiative of America - (212) 924-3934

Nassau/Suffolk

  • Center for Public Health Education - (516) 444-3245

Lower/Mid-Hudson

  • AIDS Related Community Services - (914) 785-8364

Capital/North Country

  • Professional Development Program - (518) 956-7868

Central New York

  • Reach CNY - (315) 424-0009

Southern Tier

  • Southern Tier AIDS Program - (607) 798-1706

Finger Lakes Region

  • Center for Health and Behavioral Training - (585) 753-5382

Western Region

  • American Red Cross of Greater Buffalo Chapter - (716) 878-2391

Centers of Expertise

In an effort to ensure the availability of advanced, state-of-the-art training in certain specialized topic areas, the AIDS Institute has established the following training Centers of Expertise:

  • HIV/AIDS Case Management;
  • Behavioral Social Science;
  • Harm Reduction;
  • Program Evaluation;
  • HIV/AIDS Training of Trainers Programs;
  • HIV/AIDS and Criminal Justice Settings; and,
  • State Board Training Consortium

Each Center of Expertise is responsible for offering trainings across the state. Centers of Expertise possess significant demonstrated knowledge and experience in a specific topic area. They are charged with translating the latest findings in research and practice into skills-building trainings to further the capacity of health and human services providers to deliver prevention, care and support services to persons living with or at risk for HIV/AIDS.

Centers of Expertise in HIV/AIDS Case Management

  • Cicatelli and Associates, Inc - (212) 594-7741
  • Center for Public Health Education - (631) 444-3245
  • Professional Development Program - (518) 956-7868

The three Centers of Expertise in HIV/AIDS case management provide specialized, advanced training to staff who work in case management programs. These advanced trainings build upon the skills that participants learn during the three core case management trainings that are offered by the regional training centers. More than 10 additional trainings are offered including: Advanced HIV Case Management Service Planning; Interdisciplinary Case Conferencing; Ensuring Success: Navigating the Child Welfare System in HIV Case Management; Psychosocial Issues for Women Living with HIV; and, Substance Use and HIV/AIDS: Improving Outcomes in Case Management.

Center of Expertise in Behavioral Social Science

  • Center for Health and Behavioral Training - (585) 530-4382

The Center for Health and Behavioral Training offers advanced courses in behavioral / social science including training on interventions from the CDC Diffusion of Effective Interventions (DEBI) initiative.

Center of Expertise in Emerging Issues in Substance Use and Harm Reduction

  • Harm Reduction Coalition - (212) 683-2334

The Harm Reduction Center of Expertise provides training on new issues in substance use as well as advanced training in the practice of harm reduction. Trainings have been offered on methamphetamines, opioid overdose prevention, working with people with HIV to reduce alcohol use and other emerging topics in harm reduction.

Center of Expertise in Program Evaluation

  • University of Rochester - (585) 273-2586

The University of Rochester works closely with the AIDS Institute to provide community-based organizations with training in program evaluation. The University offers a series of trainings and technical assistance for program coordinators at AIDS Institute funded community-based organizations.

Center of Expertise HIV/AIDS Training of Trainers Programs

  • Reach CNY - (315) 424-0009

To improve the quality of HIV/AIDS training programs, the Center of Expertise in HIV/AIDS Training of Trainers prepares community-based organizations to offer selected AIDS Institute approved training programs, including "HIV Test Counselor Training," "Overview of HIV and AIDS," and "Community HIV/AIDS Educator" training. Community-based organization staff attends a training of trainers (TOT) program and receive AIDS Institute training materials. In order to be approved to offer trainings, trainees must pass a knowledge test and demonstrate training skills. Upon successful completion of the TOT, these agencies become "Authorized Training Agencies" (ATAs). In addition to providing the initial TOT, Reach CNY also offers periodic HIV/AIDS informational updates and has developed a quality improvement process and related materials for use by all ATAs.

State Board Training Consortium

  • Council of Community Services of New York State - (800) 515-5012

The State Board Training Consortium (SBTC) is a collaborative effort between five state agencies to improve governance of state–funded non-profits by providing a comprehensive series of trainings to board members of these organizations. SBTC trainings are conducted by the Council of Community Services of New York State (CCSNYS). CCSNYS offers 12 different trainings tailored to meet the unique needs of board members. Topics covered include: duties and responsibilities of board members; legal obligations; fiscal accountability; nonprofit accounting basics; human resource issues; quality assurance; board recruitment and retention; strategic planning; and ethics.

Authorized Training Agencies

Authorized Training Agencies (ATAs) are community-based organizations with expertise in HIV/AIDS and willingness to provide HIV/AIDS training to their own staff and/or to providers or the general community in their region. To date there are more than 100 community-based organizations, county health departments, hospitals and other organizations that serve as ATAs. ATAs do not receive specific funding from the AIDS Institute to provide training but they receive training and on-going support. ATAs are prepared to offer one or more of the following AIDS Institute approved courses: "HIV Test Counselor Training," "Overview of HIV and AIDS", and "Community HIV/AIDS Educator." ATAs are able to tailor delivery of these training programs to meet the busy schedules of providers and they are critical to meeting the training needs of the HIV/AIDS work force in New York State.

HIV/AIDS Training Services: Training Data
01/01/2008-12/31/2008

Course Title Times Delivered Number Attending
Addressing Prevention in HIV Case Management 11 168
Addressing Prevention with HIV Positive Clients 9 171
Advanced HIV Case Management Service Planning 10 225
Assessing Sexual Risk Behaviors in HIV Case Management 2 66
ATA Update 3 32
Basic Information about Domestic Violence 18 346
Breaking Down Barriers: Navigating the Child Welfare System in HIV Case Management 2 36
Building a COBRA Case Management Team 1 13
Building Bridges to Cultural Competency 22 447
Building Bridges to Cultural Competency/COE 1 29
Clinical Trials Education Initiative - Training of Trainers 27 250
Community HIV/AIDS Educator Training 2 39
Developing Skills for Enhanced Outreach 12 201
Domestic Violence in Lesbian, Gay, Transgender and Bisexual Communities 14 236
Enhancing the Partnership Between Client and Case Manager 13 260
Ensuring Success: Navigating the Child Welfare System in HIV Case Management 1 9
Establishing Boundaries and Recognizing Counter Transference in Everyday Case Management 1 30
Group Facilitation Skills for STD/HIV Prevention Intervention 1 15
Group Facilitation Skills for STD/HIV Prevention Intervention 1 10
Growing Pains: The 411 on Adolescents and Sexually Transmitted Infections 1 20
Healthy Relationships 1 16
HIV and STDs 20 398
HIV Counseling and Testing for Occupational PEP 10 241
HIV Disclosure: Deciding Who and When to Tell 2 25
HIV Disclosure: Deciding Who and When to Tell 10 216
HIV Family Centered Case Management 2 36
HIV Testing in CBOs Serving High Risk Communities 1 22
HIV Testing in NYS: 2005 Guidance 29 663
HIV Testing in NYS: 2005 Guidance/Tailored 1 6
HIV Testing Skills Practice Session 25 556
HIV Treatment Fraud 1 8
HIV Treatment Integration 1 21
HIV/AIDS Update 3 49
HIV/AIDS Confidentiality Law 38 805
HIV/AIDS Treatment Update 13 313
Improving Documentation Skills for Case Managers 4 113
Improving Health Outcomes for HIV Positive Individuals Transitioning of Correctional Settings 9 125
Integrating Viral Hepatitis for General Audience 3 54
Integrating Viral Hepatitis for General Audience 3 54
Integrating Viral Hepatitis for General Audience - RTC 5 93
Integrating Viral Hepatitis Into Your Work/Tailored Training 1 9
Interdisciplinary Case Conferencing 2 57
Introduction to Case Management 12 230
Mental Health Services: Ensuring Appropriate Referrals for HIV Positive Clients 11 183
Methamphetamines and HIV 3 57
More Choices, Safer Sex 4 44
Overview of HIV Infection and AIDS 36 722
Overview of TB and the TB/HIV Connection 1 19
Post Exposure Prophylaxis 1 13
Practicing the NYS Domestic Violence Screening Protocol 3 57
Promoting Adherence to HIV Treatment 13 278
Psychosocial Issues for Women Living with HIV 4 71
Reducing Perinatal HIV Transmission in the Prenatal, Maternity and Newborn Settings 2 27
Reducing the Risk and Harm of HIV 9 154
Safety County Training of Facilitators 1 17
Selecting Effective Behavioral Interventions 1 20
Serving Families: From Assessments to Service Plans 13 185
Serving Families: From Assessments to Service Plans 1 11
Sexuality and HIV/AIDS/Tailored 3 30
Sisters Informing Sisters About Topics on AIDS 1 9
Skills Practice and Implementation of Stage-Based Behavioral Counseling 7 130
Substance Use and HIV/AIDS: Improving Outcomes in Case Management 7 124
Supervision and Leadership for Case Management Programs 1 27
Tailoring HIV Counseling and Testing to the Unique Needs of Adolescents 6 92
The ABC's of Hepatitis and HIV 1 10
TOT-Train the Trainer HIV Test Counselor 2 18
Using Harm Reduction to Address Sexual Risk With Drug Users and Their Partners 6 99
VOICES/VOCES 7 68
What's New in HIV/AIDS 20 461
Working With At Risk Youth 2 28
Working with Children and Adolescents in HIV Families 1 25
Youth Basis Development 1 14
Grand Total - 71 Different Trainings 513 9,652

Contact:

Richard Cotroneo, MA
Director, HIV Education and Training Programs
Office of the Medical Director
(518) 474-3045
rac09@health.state.ny.us

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The Nicholas A. Rango HIV Clinical Scholars Program

Program Description

The Nicholas A. Rango HIV Clinical Scholars Program is a unique post-graduate education program designed to train clinicians in the management of HIV disease and the public health aspects of the HIV epidemic. The program is devoted to the development of highly qualified, broadly trained physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and dentists who have the commitment and skills needed for leadership in the rapidly evolving field of HIV.

The program, a collaboration between the AIDS Institute and selected academic medical centers, offers several training options. While focused on HIV ambulatory care, the program also offers concentrations in urban health and substance use and may be coupled with a fellowship or the pursuit of a relevant advanced degree.

The program requires a full-time, two-year commitment incorporating intensive academic, clinical, and independent study elements. Clinical preceptors, acknowledged experts in the field of HIV medicine, are assigned to the scholars and supervise their inpatient and outpatient clinical experiences. Clinical rotations, required and elective, are scheduled in both Designated AIDS Center hospitals and community-based settings.

A lecture and seminar series is scheduled at both the AIDS Institute and participating hospitals. Each scholar participates in an academic core curriculum in AIDS care and lecture series on public health and policy. Special topic seminars and conferences are offered at hospital training sites throughout the fellowship. Attendance at professional seminars and State and national conferences is encouraged and supported.

Each scholar completes an independent study/research project under the supervision of a mentor. A final report on the project activity is required to complete the fellowship.

Scholars are selected competitively through the participating medical centers; those recommended are then reviewed by the AIDS Institute. All scholars receive a stipend, full benefits, and depending upon the options offered by the facility, tuition support. To graduate from the program, scholars must complete all required components of the program, i.e., attain a high level of competence in the clinical setting; participate in the core curriculum and didactic clinical lectures; complete an independent study project; and achieve a passing grade on a written clinical competency examination.

Contact:

Kathi Montesano-Ostrander
Director
Nicholas A. Rango HIV Clinical Scholars Program
Office of the Medical Director
(518) 473-8815
km001@health.state.ny.us

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People Living with HIV/AIDS Leadership Training Institute (LTI)

Program Description

The People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) Leadership Training Institute (LTI) provides training, skills-building, motivation, and education to PLWHA to support the development of involved and effective HIV-positive community leaders. First implemented in August 1997, the program was subsequently redesigned in 2007 to provide patient self-management skills development with the goal of improving health outcomes for PLWHAs based on policy changes under the 2006 Ryan White Treatment Modernization Act. The LTI offers individuals living with HIV/AIDS: a safe space to explore individual leadership strengths and goals; a better understanding of leadership opportunities in the AIDS community; experience in problem solving approaches to community issues; a strengthened ability to have a voice in the processes that determine what AIDS services are appropriate and needed; and an increased sense of personal empowerment.

LTI Core:

The LTI Core training program is a three-day introduction to community leadership issues for PLWHA. It includes topics such as: History of PWA Advocacy in New York State, Effective Leadership; and Identity, Diversity and Disclosure. A total of 1,445 individuals throughout New York State have participated in the LTI Core since its inception.

LTI Core Evaluation:

The evaluation of the LTI Core includes pre-intervention and short-term post-intervention assessments. Specific items included in the self-administered questionnaires measure pre-intervention advocacy activities, self-efficacy beliefs on activities relevant to training, general self-efficacy (self-esteem), and dimensions of self-empowerment (internal and external). All measures have been adapted from current behavioral science literature on empowerment and leadership. A comparison of indicators taken before and after the training provides information pertaining to the short-term impact of the LTI training.

Pre-intervention questionnaires were administered and completed by participants at all "Core" training sessions. Fifty-four percent (54%) of participants who completed pre-intervention assessments were African American males, 19% were Caucasian and 19% were Latino/a. Approximately 52% identified themselves as heterosexual, and 29% identified themselves as gay, lesbian or bisexual. About 61% of participants (n=881) completed six-month follow-up evaluation questionnaires and gave high ratings to the LTI Core experience. Ninety percent (90%) reported that they found the training very useful in developing their role(s) as community organizers, 70% reported that they had increased their involvement with HIV/AIDS-related organizations, and 52% became members of community advisory boards.

Many LTI graduates are in strategic leadership positions on local, statewide, national, and international HIV/AIDS planning and decision-making bodies including Ryan White Part A Planning Councils, Part B Consortia, HIV Prevention Planning Groups, and boards of directors of AIDS service organizations. Feedback from participants indicated that many changes have occurred at the personal level, including increased self-confidence and feelings of self-empowerment. Participants stressed that they were able to handle a wide range of situations, were able to articulate concerns, felt more respected, and were better prepared to address personal challenges. Eighty-eight (88%) of respondents reported disclosing their HIV status to people outside of their immediate family and close friends.

Self Management Training:

Due to policy changes under the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act of 2006, the LTI was re-designed in early 2007 to provide training to PLWHAs in the areas of HIV health care education and empowerment. The new training entitled, "Self-management: Becoming Your Own Health Care Advocate," is a three-day introductory workshop on understanding and managing one’s own HIV health care. The principal goal of this workshop is to improve access to, utilization of, and retention in care for PLWHA to improve their health outcomes. The training includes curriculum topics on: the importance of getting into care and considerations for selecting a health care provider; quality of care issues and New York State standards of HIV care; improving communication with clinicians; understanding lab values; HIV medications and adherence; nutrition, substance abuse, and mental health concerns; and living well with HIV/AIDS and other health conditions. On the last day of the training, participants create individual action plans that include identifying goals for improving their HIV health care, and they are matched with a trained PLWHA peer mentor for six months.

A total of 41 peer mentors were trained in August 2007 and July 2008 to work with graduates of the self-management training. Topics delivered during the peer mentor training included: understanding New York State standards of HIV health care; mentor roles and responsibilities; establishing and maintaining appropriate mentor/mentee boundaries; New York State HIV confidentiality law; LTI policies and procedures; helping mentees connect with health care or other service providers; and following up with mentees for evaluation and reporting. Peer mentors coach and work with PLWHA mentees on ways to use their skills and information gained in the self management training to access regional health care services to support their retention in care, build strong relationships with their health care providers, advocate for their own or their families’ HIV health care needs, maintain adherence to treatment regimens, and advocate for others in their communities.

Between October 1, 2007 and July March 31, 2008, 27 peer mentors were assigned to two to three mentees at the conclusion of each of the eight self-management trainings offered. A total of 66 PLWHA participated in trainings that were held in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, White Plains, Long Island and New York City. Mentors are supervised by LTI staff through a combination of in-person meetings, individual phone calls, regional conference calls, and email. Mentor-mentee encounters are tracked and reported using forms developed by LTI staff.

New York City Planning Council Training Series:

Funding from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is used to support trainings on "Working Effectively in Groups," "Community Planning," "Understanding Data," and "Priority Setting and Resource Allocation" for PLWHA members of the New York City Part A HIV Health and Human Services Planning Council and PWA Advisory Group. Sixty-eight individuals from New York City participated in these trainings between July 1, 2007 and June 30, 2008 to strengthen their participation in Ryan White Part A community planning processes.

Contact:

Dan Tietz
Consumer Advocate
HIV Health Care and Policy
(518) 473-7542
(877) 874-0776 (toll-free)
det01@health.state.ny.us