Training and Technical Assistance
ABC has accumulated extensive expertise building the capacity of community-based organizations, community-based healthcare providers, public health departments’ staff; and individual CHWs and CHWs coalitions/networks through the delivery of training technical assistance – including in-person, via email and teleconference consultation services – and trainings for skills development using multiple modalities such as web-based and in-person training.
Training and Technical Assistance
ABC has accumulated extensive expertise building the capacity of community-based organizations, community-based healthcare providers, public health departments’ staff; and individual CHWs and CHWs coalitions/networks through the delivery of training technical assistance – including in-person, via email and teleconference consultation services – and trainings for skills development using multiple modalities such as web-based and in-person training.
Training to bring science and best practices for substance abuse prevention
ABC conducts a myriad of training and technical assistance projects. Among them is the U.S. Counties along the Mexico Border Initiative lead by Behavioral Assessment Inc., to bring science and best practices to substance abuse prevention. The Border Initiative utilizes innovative training practices, such as Webinars in English and Spanish, as well as face to face trainings and Border Conferences to reach audiences nationwide and across borders.
Training to improve health literacy and capacity to use on line services to promote health
ABC with funding from the NIH/National Library of Medicine implements the HIV/AIDS Community Information Outreach Project (entitled PROMOVISION). ABC implemented the project to improve HIV/AIDS health information access for patients and the affected community as well as their caregivers and the general public. ABC Project involved the following information access categories: (1) Information retrieval; (2) Skills development; and (3) Resource Development. For the past three years ABC has been working to close the “digital divide” and HIV health literacy disparities that affects access and use of to health information. ABC has improved information acquisition skill of Navigators, CHWs, promotes and PLWHIV. ABC has increased access to related health information to HIV/AIDS patients, the affected community, their caregivers and the generalpublic, with special emphasis on navigators — as important “extenders” to traditional health care providers. Nearly 200 Navigators have been trained using training curricula available in both, English and Spanish These skills building workshops have been successful since 95.8% of participants stated they had acquired new skills, and 92.3% of participants stated they can use the newly acquired skills. Replication of lessons learned by the navigators resulted in the general public increasing health literacy and knowledge about HIV resources (reports to NIH/MLM 2011, 2012, 2013).
Training to bring science and best practices for substance abuse prevention
ABC conducts a myriad of training and technical assistance projects. Among them is the U.S. Counties along the Mexico Border Initiative lead by Behavioral Assessment Inc., to bring science and best practices to substance abuse prevention. The Border Initiative utilizes innovative training practices, such as Webinars in English and Spanish, as well as face to face trainings and Border Conferences to reach audiences nationwide and across borders.
Training to improve health literacy and capacity to use on line services to promote health
ABC with funding from the NIH/National Library of Medicine implements the HIV/AIDS Community Information Outreach Project (entitled PROMOVISION). ABC implemented the project to improve HIV/AIDS health information access for patients and the affected community as well as their caregivers and the general public. ABC Project involved the following information access categories: (1) Information retrieval; (2) Skills development; and (3) Resource Development. For the past three years ABC has been working to close the “digital divide” and HIV health literacy disparities that affects access and use of to health information. ABC has improved information acquisition skill of Navigators, CHWs, promotes and PLWHIV. ABC has increased access to related health information to HIV/AIDS patients, the affected community, their caregivers and the generalpublic, with special emphasis on navigators — as important “extenders” to traditional health care providers. Nearly 200 Navigators have been trained using training curricula available in both, English and Spanish These skills building workshops have been successful since 95.8% of participants stated they had acquired new skills, and 92.3% of participants stated they can use the newly acquired skills. Replication of lessons learned by the navigators resulted in the general public increasing health literacy and knowledge about HIV resources (reports to NIH/MLM 2011, 2012, 2013).
Training to Improve Access and Utilization of Testing and Prevention Services
PASA LA VOZ an approach developed with CDC funds and tested with support from private foundations and adapted by ABC for several urban contexts and populations including youth, men and women at risk for HIV (Ramos 2009, Ramos 2010). The approach –implemented by CHW, Promotores, outreach workers working with community and social has been shown to significantly increase testing rates and reduce the cost to test and enrollpatients into treatment. The approach has also been shown to improved linkages to services of HIV negative populations (into behavioral interventions likeharm reduction) and HIV positive populations into care. The approach is on the Global AIDS list of effective interventions and is being used by National AIDS programs in Latin America, including in Mexico were over 54 CBOs trained. The skills building workshop has been delivered in community and clinical settings to providers working with various ethnicities including ethnic populations with limited English proficiency The training for this approach is now available in Spanish and English. (Ramos 2009, 2010)
Training to Improve Linkages to Care
The Transcultural Navigator Model funded by US Health Care Finance Administration has been used to link HIV positive men and women into care and to improve retention in care. The model is used to improve the care continuum, La Cascada de Atencion. The approach is currently being updated and reviewed for dissemination by the Pan American Health Organization based on the positive results (Ramos 2006 and Ramos 2007). There is a two-day training on the model that has been delivered to CBOs and Health Care agencies. The implementation by navigators in these agencies improved individual participation in HIV prevention and treatment after an HIV + diagnosis. The training is for Navigators (primarily peer case managers) working with HIV positive clients and wishing to play a significant role inimproving: the quality of life of the patients (increased by the development of social networks among patients) and a sense of self-reliance and empowerment that improves adherence to treatment. (Ramos 2006 and Ramos 2007)
Comprehensive Training and Technical Assistance to Improve CBO capacity to implement evidence based prevention with HIV-negative individuals
ABC has developed training materials (harm reduction) or has worked with CBOs to adapt, implement, andevaluate evidence based interventions (like Popular Opinion Leader for Mexican Youth with high risk alcohol and drug use or the Holistic Approach to work with IDUs in a setting with limited mental health or addiction practitioners. ABC was hired by the National AIDS Council of Mexico to develop the informationcampaign to educate injection of drug user on topics such as; safe injection practices, harm reduction, TB, hepatitis C, safe injection sites and other topics and other risk-reduction services for HIV-positive individuals and their sexual or needle-sharing partners to reduce the likelihood of HIV transmission. The materials developed by ABC have been printed with Global AIDS Fund support and have been distributed to over 100 CBOs. (Fundacion Mexicana para la Salud 2013 and the National AIDS Council of Mexico 2012, 2011)
Training to Improve Access and Utilization of Testing and Prevention Services
PASA LA VOZ an approach developed with CDC funds and tested with support from private foundations and adapted by ABC for several urban contexts and populations including youth, men and women at risk for HIV (Ramos 2009, Ramos 2010). The approach –implemented by CHW, Promotores, outreach workers working with community and social has been shown to significantly increase testing rates and reduce the cost to test and enrollpatients into treatment. The approach has also been shown to improved linkages to services of HIV negative populations (into behavioral interventions likeharm reduction) and HIV positive populations into care. The approach is on the Global AIDS list of effective interventions and is being used by National AIDS programs in Latin America, including in Mexico were over 54 CBOs trained. The skills building workshop has been delivered in community and clinical settings to providers working with various ethnicities including ethnic populations with limited English proficiency The training for this approach is now available in Spanish and English. (Ramos 2009, 2010)
Training to Improve Linkages to Care
The Transcultural Navigator Model funded by US Health Care Finance Administration has been used to link HIV positive men and women into care and to improve retention in care. The model is used to improve the care continuum, La Cascada de Atencion. The approach is currently being updated and reviewed for dissemination by the Pan American Health Organization based on the positive results (Ramos 2006 and Ramos 2007). There is a two-day training on the model that has been delivered to CBOs and Health Care agencies. The implementation by navigators in these agencies improved individual participation in HIV prevention and treatment after an HIV + diagnosis. The training is for Navigators (primarily peer case managers) working with HIV positive clients and wishing to play a significant role inimproving: the quality of life of the patients (increased by the development of social networks among patients) and a sense of self-reliance and empowerment that improves adherence to treatment. (Ramos 2006 and Ramos 2007)
Comprehensive Training and Technical Assistance to Improve CBO capacity to implement evidence based prevention with HIV-negative individuals
ABC has developed training materials (harm reduction) or has worked with CBOs to adapt, implement, andevaluate evidence based interventions (like Popular Opinion Leader for Mexican Youth with high risk alcohol and drug use or the Holistic Approach to work with IDUs in a setting with limited mental health or addiction practitioners. ABC was hired by the National AIDS Council of Mexico to develop the informationcampaign to educate injection of drug user on topics such as; safe injection practices, harm reduction, TB, hepatitis C, safe injection sites and other topics and other risk-reduction services for HIV-positive individuals and their sexual or needle-sharing partners to reduce the likelihood of HIV transmission. The materials developed by ABC have been printed with Global AIDS Fund support and have been distributed to over 100 CBOs. (Fundacion Mexicana para la Salud 2013 and the National AIDS Council of Mexico 2012, 2011)
Training to Improve the Integration of Community Partners in Clinical Setting, including substance abuse and mental health services
ABC has collaborated with academic institutions to develop a cost effective approach to link and refer to services at risk youth that present at the emergency department of county hospitals. In conjunction Boston University, ABC adapted the training program to build the capacity of navigators to implement a SBIRT intervention. In the pilot Navigators Promotores demonstrated the feasibility of the implementation of a SBIRT program for Mexican-origin young adults (age 18-30). ABC conducted the formative evaluation that informed the design of alcohol intervention for young Mexican origin populations based on the SBIRT. The Navigators trained by ABC have identified and recruited over one thousand vulnerable youth and have improved the entry into rehabilitation services, as well as HIV care for those identified to be HIV positive. (Ramos 2013)
Training to Improve Community Coalitions to Improve Social Marketing, Media, and Mobilization Practices
ABC has developed and strengthened nine independent community coalitions along the border from Texas to California.ABC’s technical assistance to the nine coalitions includes CBA around topics such starting and forming coalitions, including community readiness, and the identification and recruitment of members to form a coalition. Other topics include conducting community needs and resource assessment; developing a mission statement and developing and prioritizing goals, objectives, and activities as well as an evaluation plan. The coalition building process developed by ABC is documented in a manual “Coalition Building: From Community Readiness to Action Planning.”. The delivery of training has included multiple modalities such as web-based andin-person training. Coalitions are using technology (e.g., social networking sites, texting, and web applications) to reach the highest-risk populations.
Training to Improve the Integration of Community Partners in Clinical Setting, including substance abuse and mental health services
ABC has collaborated with academic institutions to develop a cost effective approach to link and refer to services at risk youth that present at the emergency department of county hospitals. In conjunction Boston University, ABC adapted the training program to build the capacity of navigators to implement a SBIRT intervention. In the pilot Navigators Promotors demonstrated the feasibility of the implementation of a SBIRT program for Mexican-origin young adults (age 18-30). ABC conducted the formative evaluation that informed the design of alcohol intervention for young Mexican origin populations based on the SBIRT. The Navigators trained by ABC have identified and recruited over one thousand vulnerable youth and have improved the entry into rehabilitation services, as well as HIV care for those identified to be HIV positive. (Ramos 2013)
Training to Improve Community Coalitions to Improve Social Marketing, Media, and Mobilization Practices
ABC has developed and strengthened nine independent community coalitions along the border from Texas to California. ABC’s technical assistance to the nine coalitions includes CBA around topics such starting and forming coalitions, including community readiness, and the identification and recruitment of members to form a coalition. Other topics include conducting community needs and resource assessment; developing a mission statement and developing and prioritizing goals, objectives, and activities as well as an evaluation plan. The coalition building process developed by ABC is documented in a manual “Coalition Building: From Community Readiness to Action Planning.”. The delivery of training has included multiple modalities such as web-based and in-person training. Coalitions are using technology (e.g., social networking sites, texting, and web applications) to reach the highest-risk populations.