Evaluation and Program Support Center: Innovative Programs for
HIV Positive Substance Users
The Evaluation and Program Support Center (EPSC), funded as a Special Project
of National Significance (SPNS) grant through the Health
Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), is based at the Health
and Disability Working Group (HDWG) at the Boston
University School of Public Health. Over a 4 year period, the Center
has conducted a series of activities to identify guiding principles of performance
standards; develop program typologies; and identify innovative and successful
practices in serving HIV-positive substance users. A national Training of
Trainers curriculum was developed and a cross-disciplinary training program
conducted in January, 2003.
Center activities to date and resultant products can be found on this website
include the following:
Guiding Principles for Programs Serving HIV Positive Substance Users,
plus a cover
letter of support from Deborah L. Parham, Ph.D., R.N., Associate Administrator
at the Health Resources and Services Administration. Working with multiple
experts and the national advisory committee and based on the body of knowledge
gained from previous activities, the Center developed a set of guiding principles
for primary HIV care, substance abuse services, outreach services and care
coordination. The principles were developed to assist HRSA and other purchasers
of services to establish standards of care for the delivery of services
to HIV-infected substance users.
A comprehensive literature review and annotated
bibliography of publications that address the epidemiology of substance
use and HIV; the relationship between substance use and HIV treatment delivery
systems; the status of performance standards for the care of people with
HIV who are substance users; barriers to care for demographic groups of
people with HIV who are substance users; and innovative programs and interventions
that have been developed for HIV-infected substance users.
Identification of innovative program models. Based on the
results of the survey work, the Center developed a set of criteria for defining
innovative models of care and identified over 50 program models that met
the criteria. An in-depth telephone survey was developed and conducted with
these programs. Twelve of the programs surveyed were selected as representative
of the range of innovative models. Site visits were conducted with these
sites to further examine interventions used with different populations,
specialized case management systems, and linkages between primary medical
care, substance use treatment and other support services. A summary of common
themes and individual case studies of the findings were written up.
• Cover Page
• Overview
• Brooklyn Hospital Center Path
• Chicago Health Outreach
• Family Services Woodfield
• Health Care for the Homeless
• Health Services Center Inc
* Heartland Cares Inc.
• Mental Health Mental Review of Tarrant County
• Multnomah County HIV Services Center
• Project Bridge
• Special Health Resources of East Texas
• William Ryan
The national training program - A Kaleidoscope of Care: Responding to the
Challenges of HIV and Substance Use - took place from January 12 - 14, 2003
in San Antonio, Texas. Nearly 80 doctors, nurses, psychologists, social
workers, therapists, outreach, counselors and substance abuse addiction
and treatment providers from six different regions of the country attended
the train the trainer program presented by a training team of national experts
and speakers. A comprehensive curriculum comprising specific content areas
related to HIV and substance use served as the core reference for the three
day training conference.
• Replication Summary
During the spring and summer months of 2003, each of the six regions represented
at the national training program convened and replicated a version of content
from the training curriculum to an audience of local professionals involved
in the care of HIV-infected substance users. Feedback and evaluation of
the national training program was tremendous, and participants were very
enthusiastic about applying the content and training techniques they learned
with their local communities in the following months. HDWG participated
in the local training replications as evaluators.
The original curriculum was translated into Spanish and pilot tested at
the replication training in Puerto Rico.
Currently underway, HDWG is preparing a comprehensive evaluation of the
training program - national and local replications - including recommendations
for training initiatives designed to promote and sustain innovation and
support in the care and treatment of HIV positive substance users.
The Center convened a National Advisory Committee to guide the work of the
Center in developing performance standards, developing program typologies,
addressing the barriers to the replication of innovative programs, and addressing
issues related to racial/cultural diversity and competence. The Advisory
Committee consists of HIV and substance abuse researchers, providers, and
policy-makers from across the country. Key Staff for this project include:
Carol Tobias, M.M.H.S., Principal Investigator, Co-Director
Kate Brown, Project Director
Regina Murphy, Program Manager
Serena Rajabiun, Senior Evaluator
Rowland Yancey, Research Assistant
HRSA Page on Training Initiative
National Evaluation and Program Support Center to conduct a multi-site evaluation of outreach activities designed to engage and retain individuals with HIV in medical care. Funded by Health Resources and Services Administration
A national evaluation of peer education training programs for people living with HIV.
A National Center working to advance the Healthy People 2010 objective that all children with special health care needs have access to adequate health insurance and financing for their care.
A cross-disciplinary training curriculum in HIV and substance abuse, designed for health care providers, support service providers and substance abuse treatment providers.