Campus health advocates mobilizing prevention strategies (CHAMPS) network consortium for HIV on HBCUs

Issues: HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) continue to ravage our nation's youth, especially young people of color. Since college-aged African Americans are among those disproportionately impacted, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have a unique opportunity to be a catalyst for positive change. Created in 2006, the Campus Health Advocates Mobilizing Prevention Strategies (CHAMPS) Network Consortium is a five-year program that requires comprehensive campus involvement from HBCU administrators, faculty and students on HIV/AIDS/STI prevention strategies. Description: CHAMPS is funded by the Division of Adolescent Health (DASH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and administered by UNCF Special Programs Corporation (UNCFSP). The Consortium brings together UNCFSP, Alabama A&M University, Howard University, Norfolk State University, and Spelman College, to address HIV/AIDS/STI prevention in college-aged youth. The goals of the program are to: 1) increase knowledge about HIV/AIDS prevention among HBCU faculty, staff and 95% of student body, 2) increase HIV/AIDS prevention content by 20% for each institution, 3) disseminate program activities, 4) produce strategies and best practices publication, and 5) evaluate the outcome of programmatic activities implemented. Lessons Learned: Each HBCU campus has: 1) increased HIV prevention activities (i.e. policy, testing) 2) certified over 30 students as HIV/AIDS Peer Educators; 3) designed and implemented new HIV curriculum; and 4) produced/implemented culturally appropriate social marketing campaigns. Recommendations: UNCFSP, CDC, and the CHAMPS HBCUs will highlight and disseminate successful HIV prevention activities, curriculum, and policies that serve as a tool/model for other institutions to replicate in building and sustaining HIV initiatives.