ACRIA’s one-of-a-kind technical assistance and capacity-building program is a unique opportunity for community-based organizations that provide services to people with HIV and those at risk in cities large and small all over the U.S.  NTA equips participating agencies to integrate HIV health education and counseling into their existing service menus, offering participating agencies a rare opportunity to exchange ideas and share resources—building lasting networks for care across the community.  

The full training is four days; however, the program can be tailored to meet local needs, and may be presented in two or three days depending on participant priorities and resources.  Based on a thorough needs assessment, and regardless of the format chosen, curriculums can be tailored from ACRIA’s library of more than 25 educational modules.  Available modules include:

• HIV Transmission & Testing
• Introduction to the Immune System
• Overview of HIV & AIDS
• HIV Lifecycle
• Opportunistic Infections
• HIV & Mental Health
• Current Antiretroviral Therapy & Pipeline Medicines
• Adherence Strategies
• HIV & Hepatitis C Co-infection
• Viral Hepatitis
• Managing Drug Side Effects
• Understanding Lab Results
• Getting the Most from Your Healthcare Provider
• Clinical Trials
• Older Adults & HIV
• Treatment Issues for Women
• Pregnancy & HIV
• Drug Interactions: Methadone, Street Drugs & HIV Medications

The training also includes skills-building modules, such as:

• Understanding Your Client Populations
• Presentation Skills: Engaging the Client
• Cultural & Linguistic Competency
• The Importance of Evaluation
• Confidentiality & Boundary Issues
• The Role of the Non-Medical Provider in Health Literacy & Counseling
• Evaluating the Integrity of HIV Health Information Resources

Regardless of its length, every training includes six months of follow-up technical assistance, including one return site visit by ACRIA staff and the opportunity for representatives from some participating agencies to make a site-visit to our offices in New York.  All participants receive the full Training Manual with all modules, and additional modules and other updates as they are released.  The staff from each participating agency takes part in the development of a personalized integration plan and benefits from ongoing phone, fax, and email assistance.

Trainings are open to a variety of staff, caregivers, and providers.  Past participants have included social workers, hospital and clinic caseworkers, alcohol and substance abuse counselors, nurses, community educators, and staff at AIDS service and other community-based organizations.

For more information on ACRIA’s NTA program, please contact Lisa Frederick at LFrederick@acria.org or on (212) 924-3934, ext. 119.