Overview
Our Outreach Programs
There are hundreds, possibly thousands, living with HIV/AIDS in the metropolitan Atlanta area who do not know their status. Many more will become HIV infected after putting themselves at risk, often because they do not have access to critical information that can prevent HIV or another sexually transmitted infection. For HIV-positive individuals, this lack of information could have serious health implications for themselves and their partners.
AID Atlanta's Education staff believe that all people, regardless of HIV status, should learn how to safeguard their health and lives, including those of their loved ones. As the leading HIV prevention organization in Atlanta, we are committed to making a lasting impact on the health of our citizens, which can be achieved through awareness, education and behavior change, as well as early diagnosis, access to treatment and ongoing prevention services.
Our largest community education program, the AIDS 101 Awareness and Action Seminar, has provided valuable information to thousands since 1985 and is offered 7 times a year. We provide businesses, congregations, sororities and civic groups with written information or a speaker to talk about HIV prevention, risk reduction, care and community-based services.
Additionally, we have developed programs targeting specific at-risk populations including youth, gay and bisexual men, women, African Americans, Hispanics and others that encourage HIV testing and behavior change. The toll-free Georgia AIDS & STD Infoline (800-551-2728), a collaboration of AID Atlanta and the Georgia Department of Human Resources, offers HIV and STD prevention education to thousands every year.
For more information about our Education programs, visit us at AIDAtlanta.org or call 404-870-7770 or the Georgia AIDS & STD Infoline at 800-551-2728.
General
General Outreach
AIDS 101
The AIDS 101 Awareness and Action Seminar is presented seven times a year throughout the community and addresses a wide range of subjects and concerns related to HIV/AIDS. Presentations at each program may vary, but each seminar offers broad-based insight on the HIV crisis. The program format consists of lectures, special interest sessions, and panel discussions.
AIDS 201
Seminar consisting of specialized topics related to HIV prevention, treatment, advocacy, and volunteerism.
- Staff Development and Training
- Case Management Training
- AIDS In the Workplace
Speakers Bureau
Volunteers present HIV Basics workshops or facilitate discussions at a variety of venues at the request of that organization; Health Fairs; Street Outreach.
Client Education
AID Atlanta, Inc. provides continual education to clients of the agency to assist them in staying up-to-date with information about HIV and the various forms of treatment, local resources available, or other topics important for a person living with HIV. Via e-mail newsletters and updates, classes, or referrals to other agencies, AID Atlanta believes that continuing education is key to the successful management of HIV infection.
RightTRACK
Five session wellness management workshop for clients of AID Atlanta to learn about issues such as financial planning and budgeting, nutrition management, treatment and alternative therapies, exercise and fitness, legal issues, resources, and stress and mental health management.
For more information on the following programs, please contact Timothy Gustavson at 404-870-7742.
Discovery
Discovery is a six-session workshop designed to help those in the discovery process of their Positive HIV status begin to integrate this news into their lives in a healthy and informed way. Once a week for six weeks, participants will be introduced to concepts, ideas, information and resources that have been essential elements in the lives of many who are living happily and successfully with HIV.
For more information, please contact Michael Seabolt at michael.seabolt@aidatlanta.
Gay
Gay Outreach
Gay Outreach
AID Atlanta's Gay Outreach Program consists of community outreach, testing and counseling, and behavioral modification efforts to gay men in metro Atlanta. Volunteers and staff promote prevention programs, recruit program participants, and encourage prevention efforts at community events.
Through the Lifeguard On Duty workshops, staff and volunteers provide education and support to gay and bisexual men related to increasing knowledge about HIV/AIDS/STD's, personal risk assessment, adopting and maintaining safer sexual practices, and much more.
For more information regarding programs and/or volunteer opportunities, please contact the Gay Outreach Program Coordinator at (404) 870-7748 or e-mail lifeguard@aidatlanta.org.
Gay/Bisexual Outreach
Volunteers provide education and support to gay and bisexual men related to increasing knowledge about HIV/AIDS, personal risk assessment, adopting and maintaining safer sexual practices, facilitating workshops, club outreach and special events. Other activities include developing new workshops, creating program schedules and many more.
African American Gay Outreach
AID Atlanta's Deeper Love Project focuses on the extreme disproportion of metro-Atlanta-based African American Men who have Sex with Men (AAMSM) becoming infected with HIV/STD's. Our trained staff members, most of whom are a part of the community they serve, produce culturally appropriate programs effective in reaching AAMSM communities.
Free access to HIV antibody testing and counseling and free HIV education workshops and seminars are held onsite and offsite in most venues including classrooms, churches, book clubs or on-the-job presentations.
For more information about programs and/or volunteer opportunities, please contact the Deeper Love Project Program Coordinator at (404) 870-7746 or e-mail deeperlove@aidatlanta.org.
ethnic
Ethnic Outreach
African American Outreach
Educational and outreach efforts focused on preventing the spread of the pandemic in the African American community. Activities include: street/bar/club outreach; Learn 2 Love 2 Live seminars and HIV Basics presentations In addition, the African American Outreach program offers pre- and post-HIV test counseling, advocates for African Americans living with HIV/AIDS, and connects HIV+ individuals and their families with information, medical care, treatment, social services and public benefits.
Sista Sol
Offers programs designed to reduce behaviors that place African American Women at risk for HIV/STD infection and to reinforce healthy behaviors.
Programs include:
- Sol Series: outreach events through community collaboration, which promotes a holistic concept of 'Saving Our Lives' through safer sex behaviors and the use of prevention messages.
- Sol 2 Sol: Promotes and offers FREE HIV Testing and Counseling through a referral process that encourages and supports HIV Testing.
- Sista Circle: Utilizes the CDC-approved SISTA curriculum to provide an interactive dialogue among women. The workshops are composed of five two-hour group sessions aimed at reducing HIV sexual risk behavior.
For more information regarding programs and/or volunteer opportunities please contact the SISTA SOL Program Coordinator at (404) 870-7743 or e-mail sistasol@aidatlanta.org.
Hispanic Outreach
AID Atlanta’s Hispanic Outreach Program provides HIV/AIDS/STD education and prevention to different segments of the Hispanic population living in the metropolitan Atlanta area through one-on-one, door-to-door interventions, and group presentations at school, religious, social and community settings and via telephone conferences.
The Hispanic Outreach Program trains outreach workers and Spanish speaking volunteers, distributes and mails Spanish AIDS educational materials, offers pre- and post-HIV test counseling, advocates for Hispanics living with HIV/AIDS, and connects HIV+ Hispanics and their families with information, medical care, treatment, social services and public benefits.
Youth
ASK US
ASK US (Adolescents Seeking Knowledge to Understand Safer Sex and Sexually Transmitted Infections) was the first outreach program to target youth at AID Atlanta. The program began in 1994 and has been growing ever since!
ASK US is a peer education program that teaches HIV information, STI information, human anatomy, communication and decision-making skills, and prevention. Teen peer educators participate in a 25-hour training that prepares them to facilitate workshops in schools, churches, community centers, summer camps, youth correctional and detention centers, and other youth programs.
UNITY
The UNITY Project is a collaborative effort between the Council on Alcohol and Drugs and AID Atlanta, and is an interactive program for African-American youth, ages 11-18 and their parents. The goal of the program is to improve substance abuse prevention and HIV/STD prevention skills, and parental involvement is strongly encouraged to increase family communication skills and to decrease miseducation from parents to youth.
AID Atlanta/Rotary AIDS Awareness Program
The AIDS Awareness Program is a collaborative effort of the Georgia Rotary Clubs and AID Atlanta, focused on providing abstinence-based HIV and AIDS information to middle and high school youth in an assembly-style setting in those schools.
Personal experience panelists share their experiences and knowledge with the students, and the students have an opportunity to ask questions of the panelists, to dispel myths and misconceptions about HIV infection and people living with AIDS.
College Outreach
AID Atlanta has provided specialized HIV/AIDS/STD information workshops to colleges and universities around the metro-Atlanta area for the last 20 years, serving thousands of college students statewide. From dorm rooms to classrooms, AID Atlanta educators present on topics ranging from the basics of HIV and STDs, to communication and decision making issues.
Colleges and Universities that we have served include all of the colleges of the Atlanta University Center (Spelman, Morehouse, Clark-Atlanta, Morris Brown, ITC, and Morehouse school of Medicine), GA State, Agnes Scott College, Georgia Perimeter College, Emory University, etc.
For more information on the following programs, please contact Angela Bumphus at (404) 7766 or Shanta Parker at (404) 870-7768.