Integrating service-learning to build and sustain engaged community-campus partnership: HIV/AIDS Care and Prevention Initiative for NE Georgia

HIV/AIDS Care and Prevention Initiative for NE Georgia started in 2004, enabled via Ryan White funding, as community-campus partnership among a major public university, an HIV primary care clinic which is also part of the Health District, and local AIDS Service Organizations (ASOs).

The mission of the initiative is to develop engaged partnership to obtain community-based input to meet the needs of the HIV/AIDS communities. This Initiative involves longitudinally comprehensive HIV/AIDS needs assessment conducted every 3 years and annual patient satisfactory surveys. The clinic provides low-cost medical services of HIV primary care to people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in the 10-counties of rural Georgia area and has served over 520 patients since opening in 2002.

One of the key characteristics that help realize and sustain this initiative is the integration of guided service-learning opportunities. Graduate students enrolled in the HIV/AIDS service-learning course conducted the assessments, collecting both quantitative and qualitative data from service providers and PLWHA. Students applied knowledge and skills to a real-life service and research project which has significant impact to the community. The data helped identify access barriers and service gap for continued funding needs. These longitudinal assessments showed trends of improvement on client satisfaction, and provided strong evidence that concerns raised in each assessment cycle were addressed.

The scope of this engaged partnership has continuously expanded and deepened. Lessons learned from community and academic partners on factors important to establish and growing an engaged and sustained partnership will be shared.