Bettencourt T; National HIV Prevention Conference (2003 : Atlanta, Ga.).
Abstr Book 2003 Natl HIV Prev Conf July 27 30 2003 Hyatt Regency Atlanta Hotel Atlanta Ga Natl HIV Prev Conf 2003 Atlanta Ga. 2003; abstract no. T3-F1102.
JRI Health, Boston, MA
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: JRI Health has developed a system of incorporating consumers and HIV+ peer providers in program development, implementation and service delivery. Our goals are to: 1)provide hope and opportunity to HIV+ children, adolescents and young adults whose physical and/or emotional related struggles requires innovative and specialized support, treatment and care. 2)design and implement state of the art programs that provide the most effective rehabilitative and habilitative approaches.3)train compassionate and effective program staff - our most important resource in fulfilling our mission.METHODS: JRI Health hires and trains HIV+ peers as client advocates, mentors, support group facilitators and outreach staff. We encourage personal and professional growth by providing clinical supervision in addition to administrative support, ethics and boundaries trainings, support group facilitator trainings, progress notes trainings, case management trainings, and ongoing advanced skills trainings throughout an individual's employment with us.RESULTS: Program initiatives are conceptualized and developed by HIV+ peer providers. The number of HIV+ young people we have served has tripled in the last two years. Consumers report a change in self-acceptance and behavior change when program objectives and service are provided by their peers in partnership with well trained, open minded and accountable staff. A fellowship and social network of HIV+ young people has formed lessoning the effects of stigma, rejection and shame mis-placed and felt by HIV+ individuals.CONCLUSIONS: Consumers who become peer providers or community health specialists, as we title them are more likely to become engaged in care, achieve personal and professional growth, and work diligently to keep other consumers in care. Agencies that face programmatic needs, but not necessarily have the staffing or resources, can benefit greatly by incorporating consumers in their program implementation and service delivery.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Adolescent
- Adolescent Health Services
- Adult
- Child
- Counseling
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Health Education
- Humans
- Models, Biological
- Peer Group
- Program Development
- Self-Help Groups
- education
Other ID:
UI: 102262087
From Meeting Abstracts