The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

3145.0: Monday, November 11, 2002 - 1:11 PM

Abstract #51211

Strategies and impact of the "AHEAD INITIATIVE"

Abdul-Ali Muhammad, Project of Intermediate Advocates (PIA), 1900 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20020, 202/582-0699, PIA1847@aol.com

Access to current information on HIV/AIDS represents one of the disparities facing low-income African American men and women in many communities. The Project of Intermediate Advocates (PIA) is a grass roots organization in Washington, DC that is tackling this problem. Working with the National Library of Medicine (NLM), PIA introduced the AHEAD INITIATIVE project to the DC community in 1999. PIA brought community-based health organizations together to address health disparities in underserved communities where the organizations doing the most complex work with HIV/AIDS are challenged with financial limitations and the lack of capacity to prepare awardable proposals.

PIA has organized a campaign that offers community presentations and certificate based hands-on computer workshops to people living with HIV and the people who serve them. Monthly workshops host community residents where trainers teach basic web navigation skills, evaluation strategies for electronic information, and specific web resources on HIV/AIDS and other health issues. Presenters also visit AIDS day treatment centers and community associations to demonstrate health information resources.

This unique project offers one of the missing links in HIV prevention and care. Since its inception, it has impacted the lives of over 150 local DC residents and sparked the interest of organizations in Baltimore and Virginia. The increased interest is evidenced by the attendance rate of the training and the responses from our training evaluations. This presentation will describe the outreach strategy and evaluation results of the health information trainings.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to

Keywords: Outreach Programs, HIV/AIDS

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: National Library of Medicine, PIA
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Funded by NLM; President of PIA

Public Health and the Internet of Public Health Education

The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA