Department of Education and Outreach Strategies

AIDS Research Alliance (ARA) exists to develop a cure for HIV/AIDS, medical modalities to prevent new infections, and better treatments for those living with HIV.  The purpose of the Department of Community Education & Outreach is to improve understanding of and increase positive attitudes towards HIV/AIDS clinical research, and to improve clinical research participation among underrepresented populations.  

In order to support that goal, the Department of Community Education and Outreach aims to accomplish the following: 

• To increase awareness of AIDS Research Alliance;
• To increase knowledge of HIV/AIDS clinical research;
• To increase positive attitude toward HIV/AIDS clinical research and AIDS Research Alliance; and
• To increase access to HIV/AIDS clinical research among underrepresented populations. 

The Department offers an evolving menu of Community Education and Outreach services that are available to individuals who might be interested in volunteering for a study, as well as for community providers and medical professionals seeking more information on current and upcoming HIV/AIDS clinical research. 

These offerings include: 

Community-wide Events:

ARA participates in a variety of community-oriented events, festivals and fairs.  At the ARA booth, ARA staff and volunteers engage the public, pass out information on the organization and on what clinical research is, as well as current and upcoming HIV/AIDS clinical study volunteer opportunities.  ARA has also provided HIV testing at these events as a way to promote awareness of one’s HIV status, and to promote disease prevention. 

Group Presentations:

The Department of Community Education & Outreach has two types of group presentations that it offers: one is the Community Research & Treatment Program (C-RATE), and the second is the Community Education Forum (CEF).  These are offered free of charge 

C-RATE is a group-level intervention that focuses on HIV/AIDS treatment, and developing HIV prevention technologies (vaccines and microbicides).  This type of presentation is delivered by one of our Community Educators and can be delivered in English or in Spanish.  C-RATE is suitable for AIDS service organizations (ASOs) and community-based organizations (CBOs) staff and clients, college students, and community groups, and content is relevant to both HIV-positive and –negative individuals.  Each C-RATE program runs for approximately one hour, including time for questions and comments.  Recent C-RATE participants include Black Women for Wellness, The Consumer Leadership Council of the Los Angeles Family AIDS Network, and the Los Angeles Unified School District.  If you are interested in scheduling C-RATE presentations for your group or organization, please call the Department of Community Education & Outreach at (310) 358-2423. 

CEFs focus on urgent topics on the HIV/AIDS pandemic and utilize experts in the field to present this vital information in easy-to-understand terms.  These CEFs are open to everyone, regardless of their HIV status.  Previous CEF topics have included peripheral neuropathy, and HIV conference updates. 

Peer Health Education: 

With our Peer Research Education Program, or PREP, ARA is able to offer one-on-one informational sessions with individuals considering volunteering for an HIV/AIDS clinical study.  In these individually tailored sessions, the goal is to assist the individual in building an understanding of some commonly used terms in HIV/AIDS clinical research and to provide a background on the rights and protections for human subjects in research.  This will assist the individual in deciding whether to participate in a study. 

Staff:
Ava Lena Waldman, MHS
Director, Community Education & Outreach
(310) 358-2423 ext. 115
awaldman@aidsresearch.org

Peter Salveson
Clinical & Technical Specialist
(310) 358-2423 ext. 130
psalveson@aidsresearch.org

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