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February 2005 Monthly Monitor
Advocates for Youth's Youth of Color Initiative
Feature: Peer Education
Promoting healthy behaviors among young people may sometimes be best achieved through peer education. Research suggests that people are more likely to hear and personalize messages, and thus to change their attitudes and behaviors, if they believe the messenger is similar to them and faces the same concerns and pressures. Numerous studies have shown that their peers influence youth's health behaviors-not only in regard to sexuality but also in regard to violence and substance use. Peer education draws on the credibility that young people have with their peers, leverages the power of role modeling, and provides flexibility in meeting the diverse needs of today's youth. Studies show that peer education programs offer a number of benefits to the peer educators themselves by—
- Directly involving them in programs' design and operation;
- Supporting them in developing positive group norms and in making healthy decisions about sex;
- Teaching them important skills, including facilitation and communication;
- Providing them special training in making decisions, clarifying their own values, and acting in accordance with those values; and
- Recognizing them as leaders among their peers and in their community.
Advocates for Youth's Guide to Implementing TAP (Teens for AIDS Prevention): A Peer Education Program to Prevent HIV and STI is a step-by-step guide to implementing an HIV/STI prevention peer education program in your community-based organization. To download the full document, please visit http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/publications/tap.htm
For a list of peer education programs in your state, please visit http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/youth/peered/searchgroups.asp
Many of Advocates for Youth's partners in the Youth of Color Initiative are working to build and strengthen HIV/STI and teen pregnancy prevention peer education programs. To share your story, please contact Nahnahsha Deas @ nahnahsha@advocatesforyouth.org. Selected stories will appear in coming months in the Monthly Monitor.
Capacity Building & Professional Development
The National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC) announces its HIV/AIDS Stigma Initiative training schedule for 2005, including two individualized training programs: HIV/AIDS Stigma and Access to Care and Women of Color: HIV/AIDS Stigma and Health Disparities. A two-day Train-the-Trainer workshop is scheduled for August. A brief description of each appears below.
HIV/AIDS Stigma and Access to Care-This two-day session is designed to educate service providers in communities of color on the dynamics and strategies needed to address stigma regarding HIV and AIDS and to improve individuals' timely diagnosis and entry to treatment. Topics include: the origin of HIV-related and other stigmas and strategies to eliminate stigmatizing behaviors and practices towards women of color and men of color who have sex with men. This training is offered in February and May 2005 and is FREE to the public.
Women of Color: HIV/AIDS Stigma and Health Disparities-This two-day initiative explores how women of color deal with HIV-related stigma, health disparities, and their effects in accessing care. Competing interests-such as child care, transportation, health insurance, coping, and negotiation skills-all affect women's seeking of services and treatment. This training will explore the health disparities facing women of color as a result of HIV and AIDS stigma. The training addresses proposed solutions in reducing the disparities that women encounter as well as comprehensive approaches that service organizations can implement. This FREE training is offered in April and June 2005.
In addition, NMAC's HIV/AIDS Stigma Initiative also offers a two-day Train-the-Trainer workshop. Available to those who have successfully completed the HIV and AIDS Stigma and Access to Care trainings, this workshop teaches them how to deliver the HIV and AIDS Stigma and Access to Care curriculum in their communities. The workshop will be both didactic and interactive in nature. Participants will receive materials and resource manual to assist in their delivery of this educational training program.
For questions or additional information about the HIV and AIDS Stigma Initiative, please contact Joy L. Blackwood, HIV and AIDS Stigma Coordinator (jblackwood@nmac.org), or Federico Gutierrez, HIV/AIDS Stigma Initiative Manager (fgutierrez@nmac.org or 202-483-6622).
2005 HIV and AIDS STIGMA TRAINING SCHEDULE
HIV and AIDS Stigma and Access to Care
Washington, DC: February 28-March 1, 2005
Women of Color: HIV and AIDS Stigma & Health Disparities
New Orleans, LA: April 4-5, 2005
HIV and AIDS Stigma and Access to Care
San Diego, CA: May 9-10, 2005
Women of Color: HIV and AIDS Stigma & Health Disparities
St. Louis, MO: June 13-14, 2005
HIV and AIDS Stigma and Access to Care Train-the-Trainer**
Washington, DC: August 15-16, 2005
**Pre-requisite: In order to attend the train-the trainer workshop, you must first successfully complete HIV and AIDS Stigma and Access to Care.
Funding Opportunities
Circles of Care III: Tribal Infrastructure Grants for Transforming Behavioral Health Service Systems for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) Children and their Families. The Circles of Care program intends to provide tribal and urban Indian communities with tools and resources to design systems of care to support mental health for their children, youth, and families. Circles of Care grants will allow AI/AN communities to build infrastructure to increase the capacity and effectiveness of behavioral health systems serving these communities. The target populations for Circles of Care grants are AI/AN children and youth under the age of 22 years, and their families. Applications are due February 25, 2005. For a full copy of this funding opportunity please visit, http://www.samhsa.gov/grants/2005/nofa/sm05008_circles.aspx
The Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Public Health Service is offering grants for Coordinated HIV Services and Access to Research for Women, Infants, Children, and Youth. The purpose of the Ryan White Title IV funding is to improve access to primary medical care, research, and support services for HIV infected women, infants, children, and youth and to provide support services for their affected family members. Eligible are public or private nonprofit organizations, including both faith- and community-based organizations, that provide or arrange for primary care. The application deadline has been extended until March 11, 2005. For further information or assistance, contact the HRSA Call Center at 877-Go4-HRSA/877-464-4772 or visit: http://www.fedgrants.gov/Applicants/HHS/HRSA/GAC/HRSA-05-045/Modification2.html (no longer available).
Announcements
The Black Church Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS is a national, faith-based week of HIV and AIDS education and awareness highlighting the important role churches can play in addressing the HIV and AIDS crisis. The Balm in Gilead is gearing up for its 16th annual week of national prayers March 6-12th, 2005. The Black Church Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS calls upon black faith communities worldwide to command accessible services and resources for people who are infected with and affected by HIV and AIDS. For more information, please visit http://www.balmingilead.org/programs/weekofprayer2005/
Resources
For additional resources on peer education and youth development, please visit the following Web sites:
Advocates for Youth
http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/peereducation.htm
Youth Peer Education Electronic Resource (Y-PEER)
http://www.youthpeer.org/default.asp?Page=Resources
National 4-H Headquarters
http://www.national4-hheadquarters.gov/comm/4h_ydresearch.htm
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