Project Inform believes when a person understands care and treatment options, he or she is better able to make decisions with their medical provider and advocate for the care, treatment and services that he or she needs to live well with HIV.
Through its programs and activities the Outreach and Education Department at Project Inform works to provide people living with HIV, their families, friends and service providers valuable, HIV care, treatment, referrals and access information.
Outreach
Information. Providing our materials to organizations for community programs, events and conferences. If you are would like Project Inform information mailed to your organization, contact the Outreach and Education department.
Resources. We have a listing of National HIV information resources and websites. Also, we have developed a state-by-state HIV care, treatment and service resource list for people living with HIV in the United States. If you would like to suggest an agency or organization that offers services to individuals living with HIV, contact us.
Linking to Project Inform. If you have a website and would like to include a link to Project Inform contact the Outreach and Education Department. We can provide a logo or brief text.
Community Education
National HIV/AIDS Treatment Information Hotline
800-822-7422 (toll-free in the US) or
415-558-9051 (in the San Francisco Bay Area or internationally)
Hotline hours: M, W–F, 9am–4pm and Tuesday, 9am–7pm (Pacific Time)
The Hotline is staffed by volunteers, many of whom are HIV positive themselves. They can answer your questions on HIV treatments and related diseases. Hotline operators undergo an intensive training program and receive ongoing education to maintain their knowledge about care and treatment options.
Operators can also talk with you about treatment issues and mail Project Inform publications on a wide range of topics including PCP prevention, anti-HIV therapy strategies, resistance tests, opportunistic infections, nutrition and immune restoration. They can also send Project Inform’s newsletters, PI Perspective or the women specific newsletter Wise Words.
Town Meetings
— provide an opportunity for people living with HIV to develop an understanding of HIV care and treatment options and to make sense of the latest advances in HIV care and treatment. We work in collaboration with organizations and groups to co-host community meetings throughout the United States.
The community Town Meeting topics range from basic to cutting edge including:
- HIV Care and Treatment Updates
- Learning about Anti-HIV strategies (including understanding your options, adherence, managing drug side effects, making treatment decisions, etc.)
- How HIV causes AIDS (HIV pathogenesis)
- Immune based therapies
- Women and HIV
For information about upcoming community meetings check the Project Inform calendar. If you are interested in learning more or co-hosting a community meeting in your area, contact the Outreach and Education department.
Support Groups and Retreats
— serve as life-lines for people living with HIV, providing opportunities for participants to meet others, share, learn and discuss decisions and options in a supportive environment.
Project Inform staff regularly speaks on different HIV care and treatment topics at support groups, on-going education meetings and retreats. If you have an on-going program or event and would like to learn more about having a Project Inform educator speak, contact the Outreach and Education Department.
Health and HIV service provider education, training and capacity building
— Whatever type of HIV education activities or programs your agency provides—from hosting support groups or educational meetings for people living with HIV to managing HIV peer and/or treatment education programs with multiple staff members—Project Inform can help.
Project Inform staff are available to consult with HIV service organizations establishing or strengthening HIV care and treatment education programs and initiatives.
Activities include:
Education and training workshops
- In-service educational and training workshops for your agency staff on a variety of HIV care and treatment topics/issues.
- California Statewide Treatment Education Program (CSTEP)
If you are an HIV, health or social service provider working in the state of California with people living with HIV/AIDS, you are eligible to participate in CSTEP trainings offered throughout the state. CSTEP is a collaborative education program of Project Inform and the Asian and Pacific Islander Wellness Center. To view the upcoming CSTEP training schedule go the Project Inform calendar.
Capacity Building
- Consulting on HIV care and treatment education program design.
- Assistance with community and provider education and training curriculum design.
- Shipping multiple copies of Project Inform publications for your clients and staff.
If you are interested in any of the above activities or want to learn more about how Project Inform can help strengthen your program, contact the outreach@projectinform.org or 415-558-8669.