Western North Carolina AIDS Project (WNCAP)

1. Western North Carolina AIDS Project(WNCAP) WNCAP is dedicated to providing HIV-related services to the people of Western North Carolina through prevention education, client support and community outreach and advocacy initiatives, in a collaborative and financially responsible manner The best estimate we have of the number of people living with HIV in Western North Carolina is around 1,250. That includes almost 1,000 documented cases of HIV/AIDS plus 250 others who are presumed to be living with HIV but don’t know it, based on CDC estimation techniques.

2. Agency Profile • WNCAP was established in 1986, marking 25 years of service to the WNC community in 2011 • WNCAP receives funding through Ryan White, the United Way, grants, donations and fundraising • WNCAP is governed by a Volunteer Board of 15 men and women • In addition to Jeff Bachar, the Executive Director, there are 6 Case Managers and a Client Services Supervisor on staff, two Health Educators, a part-time Volunteer Coordinator, part-time Development Director, part-time Advocacy Coordinator and Office Manager. There are approximately 300 volunteers working for the agency in 18 counties of Western North Carolina.

3. Agency Profile (cont.) WNCAP’s central office in Asheville includes a client lounge and laundry facilities as well as a computer designated for client use. We maintain satellite offices in Hendersonville, Sylva and Shelby where individuals living in more rural parts of the region can meet with an HIV Case Manager.

4. WNCAP Client Services • WNCAP provides Case Management services to over 450 individuals annually, in 18 Counties of Western North Carolina. Case Management refers to the coordination of services and supports for clients – medical care, substance abuse services, transportation, housing and/or financial assistance, for example

5. WNCAP Community Outreach WNCAP reaches out to the community through fundraising projects and HIV/AIDS community awareness events. These initiatives provide vital financial resources to the agency and promote on-going community awareness of HIV and AIDS.

6. WNCAP Advocacy & Public Policy WNCAP’s public policy program advances policy initiatives related to HIV prevention and services for people living with HIV.Current priorities include: -Ensuring that individuals living with HIV/AIDS have early and uninterrupted access to HIV medications through the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP)- Decreasing HIV-stigma as stigma is a proven barrier to treatment- Promoting effective implementation of the NC Healthy Youth Act- Supporting evidence based harm reduction strategies WNCAP reaches these goals through legislative advocacy, public education and community outreach, and coalition and partnerships building.

7. The South’s ADAP Challenge Sustained & increased funding of the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) 6,489 individuals in 12 states were on a WAITING LIST to receive ADAP assistance as of November 3, 2011. The majority of states with wait lists are in the Southern United States Alabama(44)Florida(3,260)Georgia(1,415)Virginia(1,091)Louisiana(489) North Carolina (78) South Carolina (60)

8. Prevention- Education and Outreach The prevention department works to provide the community with comprehensive, evidence-based prevention education and interventions • SISTA • ASAP • Bar/Street Outreach • Latino Outreach • VOICES/VOCES • HIV 101

9. Sisters Informing Sisters on Topics About AIDS (SISTA) • A program designed by African American women for African American women, age 18+ years • Five 2 hr sessions designed to empower African American women on healthy sexual decision making • Based on Social Learning theory and the theory of Gender and Power

10. SISTA • Session 1: Ethnic & Gender Pride • What does it mean to be an African American woman in today’s society? • Personal Values • Session 2: HIV/AIDS Education • Session 3: Assertiveness Skills Training • Differentiate between assertive, aggressive, non-assertive (passive) behavior • Link assertive communication to negotiate safer sex behaviors

11. SISTA (cont.) • Session 4: Behavioral Self-Management Training • Negotiating safer sex • Condom demonstration • Session 5: Coping Skills • Relationship between alcohol & drugs with HIV/STIs • Coping with negative responses

12. Evaluation • Participants demonstrated increased consistent condom use, sexual behavior, self-control, sexual communication, and sexual assertiveness skills • Partners of participants were more likely to adopt and support consistent condom use (according to CDC’s pilot study)

13. Designed to meet the needs of middle and high school (grades 6-12) students for healthy reproductive education in an age appropriate manner Six one-hour lessons currently being implemented in after-school settings Addresses: Male & female anatomy Values Stereotypes & Acceptance Healthy Relationships STI/HIV Contraception Adolescent Social Awareness Program (ASAP)

15. Bar/Street Outreach • In 2010, we distributed more than 164,000 male condoms last year to coffee houses, music/video stores, barber shops/salons, community convenience stores, homeless shelters, women’s program agencies, public housing offices, health fairs, and other community events • Consistency is important (community relies on us be there monthly) • Outreach worker maintains confidentiality  and trust from the community

16. Bar/Street Outreach (cont.) • Language usage is important.  It is best to use proper terminology, but being flexible with local or “living” language • Being out after dark is a good time to reach many people who may otherwise be missed during day time hours

17. HIV 101 • HIV 101 includes information about statistics, transmission, HIV/AIDS facts/myths, prevention (including condom demonstration) • WNCAP provides basic HIV 101 education to schools/after school groups (grades 6-12), colleges/universities, jails/prisons, substance abuse treatment centers, etc.

18. VOICES/VOCES "VOICES/VOCES" is a single session video-based HIV/STD prevention workshop designed to encourage condom use and improve condom negotiation skills. Small group session conducted by a gender-matched facilitator in either English or Spanish Provide risk information and corrected misinformation Migrant camp Voices session Hendersnonville

19. VOICES/VOCES (cont.) • Portray positive attitudes about condom use • Model gender- and culturally-specific strategies for encouraging condom use. • Interactive group discussions following the video reinforce the STD and HIV prevention message. • Health Belief Model and Theory of Reasoned Action

20. Evaluation • CDC Pilot Study in Bronx, NY over a 24 month period • The rate of new STI infections was significantly lower among men receiving intervention • Among men with multiple sex partners at the beginning, the intervention groups had a significantly lower rate of new STI infections

21. Latino Outreach Mobile Clinics for Migrant workers. WNCAP in collaboration with the Blue Ridge Community Health Services “I Need U2 Know campaign…” (Spanish) Community outreach

22. Thank you for your time and attention!…Questions?