ACRIA’s menu of workshops, training, education, and technical assistance programs is managed by the HIV Health Literacy Program (HHLP). Promoting health literacy is central to ACRIA’s program philosophy. All of our projects and activities communicate the most up-to-date information about HIV in language that is accessible to both caregivers and people living with HIV. People living with the disease are educated about the available treatment options and empowered to participate actively in their own healthcare, while staff trainings equip providers and a host of other professional caregivers with the tools to support their HIV-positive and at-risk clients.

Initially serving exclusively people living with HIV, HHLP has since its formation conducted treatment education workshops and individualized treatment discussions. All of these workshops are conducted with, and at the service sites of, New York City AIDS organizations. Discussions at the individual level are tailored to the specific needs, circumstances, and interests of each client. The group workshops offer detailed information on a variety of topics related to treatment, HIV healthcare, and negotiating the patient-provider relationship.

In addition, since 2000 we have conducted National Technical Assistance and Local Technical Assistance capacity building programs—four days of intensive, specially tailored training, including both didactic teaching and skills-building exercises, followed by ongoing technical assistance—to staff of public and private agencies serving people with HIV and those at risk, helping them to integrate HIV health literacy and treatment education into their existing service menus.

For more information, please contact Gustavo Otto at treatmented@acria.org or on (212) 924-3934, ext. 129.