If you need any additional information, please call (914) 785-8278. If you would like to be informed in advance of upcoming training dates as they are scheduled, please send your email address to dmay@arcs.org.

All trainings are free and open to the public.

About the AIDS Institute

Mission

The new York State Department of Health AIDS Institute was established by legislation in 1983. The AIDS Institute promotes, protects and advocates for health through science, HIV prevention and assurance of access to a coordinated system of quality health care and support services for persons with HIV/AIDS.

Vision

Prevention HIV infection and improving the quality of life of those infect and affected by HIV through a collaborative, coordinated approach focusing on individuals, families and communities. In striving to accomplish its mission and vision, the New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute will continue its national leadership role in HIV prevention and care initiatives in this changing health and social services environment. Its leadership will continue to be based on dedication to the public good, commitment to excellence, respect for diversity, and compassion for those infected and affected by the HIV epidemic.

 

Can't wait until April 2012 for a training listed below?

The ARCS Regional Training Center can come to your organization in January or February 2012 to train HIV-related community service providers on your staff. You must guarantee a minimum attendance of 15 training participants and provide a training room at your facility. This offer applies to full-day and half-day trainings only. If you are interested, please contact Deborah May, dmay@arcs.org or (914) 785-8278 for more details.

Course Descriptions

† CASAC/OASAS or ‡ CNE credits may be available.
See Course Description as well as “Educational Credits and Notes” at the bottom of this page.

 

Addressing Prevention with HIV Positive Clients

6.5 OASAS credits (not approved for initial CPS credentialing)
Not offered at ARCS at this time. Please check back in February for April 2012 through September 2012 training dates.

This one-day training will prepare participants to help people living with HIV to avoid sexual and substance use behaviors that can result in transmitting HIV to others and negative health outcomes for themselves.

As a result of this training, participants will be able to:

• List psychosocial issues that can make it difficult for people living with HIV to change sexual and substance using behaviors associated with HIV transmission;
• Identify provider values and beliefs about addressing prevention issues with their HIV positive clients;
• Practice skills associated with working one-on-one with HIV positive clients on prevention issues;
• Explore specific strategies for working with special populations; and
• Examine prevention resources and be able to make referrals for prevention services.

Prerequisite: It is strongly recommended that participants have previous knowledge on harm reduction and basic HIV/AIDS information.
Audience: All non-physician health and human services providers who work directly with people living with HIV
Note: Staff who work in case management programs should attend the AIDS Institute training, "Addressing Prevention in HIV Case Management."

 

Addressing Sexual Risk with Drug Users and their Partners

6.5 OASAS credits (not approved for initial CPS credentialing)
Not offered at ARCS at this time. Please check back in February for April 2012 through September 2012 training dates.

This one-day training will build participant knowledge and skills in offering sexual harm reduction options to substance users. Although expanded access to syringes and drug treatment options have helped people greatly reduce their substance use-related risks for HIV, the latest research shows that sexual risk behaviors play a significant role in new cases of HIV among people who use drugs and alcohol.

As a result of this training, participants will be able to:

• Recall the latest research that shows how expanded access to syringes and methadone maintenance programs has greatly reduced the number of new cases of HIV from substance use-related risk;
• Identify and discuss sexual risk behaviors clients engage in when using drugs and alcohol;
• Identify harm reduction strategies for reducing sexual risk among people who use drugs and alcohol; and
• Practice harm reduction messages tailored to sexual behaviors for people who use drugs and alcohol.

Prerequisite: It is strongly recommended that participants have attended the AIDS Institute training, "Reducing the Risk and Harm of HIV," or have a working knowledge of harm reduction and addiction.
Audience: All health and human services providers.

 

Advanced Training on the Needs of Incarcerated PLWHA Upon Community Re-entry
OASAS accreditation now in application process
Tuesday, March 13, 2012 - 9a-5p - Hawthorne ARCS

This one-day training is to increase the awareness and sensitivity of health and human service providers to the challenges of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) involved in community re-entry after release from a correctional facility. These challenges include the overlapping issues of family reunification, mental health, substance use, and need for HIV care. Best practices will be reviewed to support community re-entry and utilization of HIV medical care and other services.

As a result of this training, participants will be able to:

• Discuss the specific challenges of family reunification for people living with HIV/AIDS;
• Describe the impact of unresolved past and possible future traumatic events;
• Use supportive inquiry to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the overlapping challenges encountered by released people living with HIV/AIDS as well as the strengths and resources of their "families" and/or social networks;
• Use strength-based strategies for supporting community re-entry for individuals with co-morbidities of HIV/AIDS, mental health/trauma issues, and/or substance abuse; and
• Facilitate clients' access to HIV primary care and support services including drug treatment and overdose prevention to effectively manage challenges.

Prerequisite: It is required that participants take the AIDS Institute training, "Improving Outcomes for HIV-Positive Individuals Transitioning from Correctional Settings to the Community" before attending this training.
Audience: All health and human service providers who work directly with formerly incarcerated clients

 

Building Bridges to Cultural Competency
6.5 OASAS credits
Not offered at ARCS at this time. Please check back in February for April 2012 through September 2012 training dates.

This one-day training explores the broad definition of culture and its relationship to competent and effective health care and human service delivery.

As a result of this training, participants will be able to:

• Discuss invisible privilege and its affect on both receiving and providing services;
• Explore potential obstacles to providing effective services; and
• Describe how these obstacles are created when diverse cultures, Western medicine and human service deliveries collide.

Prerequisite: None
Audience: All health and human service providers.

Developing Skills for Enhanced Outreach
6.5 OASAS credits
Not offered at ARCS at this time. Please check back in February for April 2012 through September 2012 training dates.

This four-day training is designed to provide outreach workers with the skills to increase their effectiveness of conducting outreach to hard-to-reach populations using an enhanced outreach model. This training will provide outreach workers with a wide array of activities that will teach them how to approach clients, gain their trust and help clients access needed services. The training includes opportunities for skills practice regarding health behavior change and reviews concepts of motivational interviewing.

As a result of this training, participants will be able to:

• Identify key outreach messages for target populations;
• Summarize the stages of enhanced outreach;
• Describe how multiple encounters is an effective approach to outreach;
• List the stages of change; and
• State at least three concepts of motivational interviewing.

Prerequisite: Although there is no prerequisite for this training, it is strongly recommended that participants have previous training in basic HIV/AIDS.
Audience: All health and human service providers conducting outreach as part of their jobs.

 

Do You Work with High-Risk Pregnant Women? Your Role in Reducing Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV
† 3.0 OASAS credits
Not offered at ARCS at this time. Please check back in February for April 2012 through September 2012 training dates.

One of the greatest successes in HIV prevention in New York State has been reducing the rate of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV. However, cases of MTCT continue to occur each year. This half-day training is for non-physician health and human services providers who work with pregnant women who may have issues with substance use, mental health, homelessness or incarceration. In many instances these women are known to providers but there are missed opportunities for engaging them in prenatal care, HIV testing and other supportive services.

As a result of this training, participants will be able to:

• Describe the epidemiological trends and factors related to mother-to-child transmission of HIV in New York State;
• List factors that have contributed to a decrease in MTCT;
• Describe NYS DOH regulations related to reducing MTCT;
• Discuss the impact of staff values and attitudes on delivery of services to high risk pregnant women;
• Recall factors that may contribute to continued MTCT; and
• List strategies to promote access to HIV testing for high-risk pregnant women and treatment adherence, access to care, and support services for HIV-positive pregnant women.

Prerequisite: None
Audience: Non-physician health and human services providers who work with HIV-positive and/or at-risk women of child-bearing age

 

Group Facilitation Skills for STD/HIV Prevention Interventions
13 OASAS credits (not approved for initial CPS credentialing)
Not offered at ARCS at this time. Please check back in February for April 2012 through September 2012 training dates.

This two-day training will help to increase providers' confidence, knowledge and skills in facilitating groups, particularly for group level HIV/STD prevention interventions (e.g., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention evidenced-based interventions).

As a result of this training participants will be able to:

• Increase their understanding of group process and how it influences behavior change;
• Identify qualities of an effective group facilitator;
• Increase skills in facilitating STD/HIV prevention intervention groups;
• Identify strategies for handling group problems; and
• Learn the importance of training, supporting and evaluating group facilitators.

Prerequisite: None
Audience: All health and human service providers who conduct group level STD/HIV prevention interventions

 

HIV and Hepatitis C Coinfection
3 OASAS credits (not approved for initial CPS credentialing); ‡ 4 CNE hours
Not offered at ARCS at this time. Please check back in February for April 2012 through September 2012 training dates.

This half-day training is for health and human service providers who work with people living with HIV and who need updated information about HIV/HCV coinfection in order to provide effective services to their clients. More than 25% of people living with HIV in the United States are coinfected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Among people who acquired HIV as a result of injection drug use, the rates of HIV/HCV coinfection may be as high as 90%. HCV screening is recommended for all persons living with HIV.

As a result of this training, participants will be able to:

• Recall basic information about the liver and hepatitis C, including transmission, prevention, course of illness, screening and treatment;
• Counsel their HIV positive client about the importance of knowing their HCV status;
• Describe how coinfection with HIV and HCV affects the progression of each disease;
• Recall current trends and improvements in treatment for people who are coinfected with HIV and HCV; and
• List at least three additional service needs of people with HIV who are also coinfected with HCV.

Prerequisite: Although there is no prerequisite for this training, it is strongly recommended that participants have previous training in HIV/AIDS.
Audience: All health and human service providers.

 

HIV Disclosure: Deciding Who & When to Tell
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 - 10a-12p – WEBINAR

This half-day training will increase health and human services providers’ awareness of the multifaceted issues clients face when contemplating HIV status disclosure to family, friends and service providers. Participants will develop the skills necessary to conduct timely ongoing assessments and discussion of HIV status disclosure as a component of effective service planning.

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

• Describe the benefits of ongoing assessment and discussion around disclosure;
• Outline a format to help clients with effective decision-making about HIV/AIDS status disclosure, listing the benefits and limitations;
• Explain the value of supporting a client's decision regarding disclosure; and
• Discuss the steps involved in making the decision to disclose HIV/AIDS status to family, friends and service providers.

Prerequisite: None
Audience: All non-physician health and human services providers who work directly with people living with HIV

 

HIV Testing in NYS
4 OASAS credits (not approved for initial CPS credentialing); 4 CNE hours
Monday, March 26, 2012 – 1p-4p - Hawthorne ARCS

This half-day training will provide information about new developments in HIV testing as a result of passage of Chapter 308 of the Laws of 2010.

As a result of this training, participants will be able to:

• List the core elements of the 2010 New York State HIV Testing law (S.8227/A.11487) and their importance;
• Recall that HIV testing must be offered to all persons between the ages of 13 and 64 receiving hospital or primary care services with some limited exceptions;
• Describe the simplified process for obtaining patient consent for HIV testing;
• List the elements of HIV pre and post-test counseling with an emphasis on streamlining the process;
• Recall the responsibility of the health care provider to arrange for follow-up medical care for all patients who test HIV positive;
• Describe changes in HIV testing related to occupational exposure; and
• Explain revised disclosure practices.

Prerequisite: Although there is no prerequisite for this training, it is strongly recommended that participants have previous training in basic HIV/AIDS.
Audience: All health or human service providers who offer HIV testing as a part of their job responsibilities and other providers who require clarification on the 2010 HIV testing law
Additional Training: Participants who would like an opportunity to practice the skills associated with offering HIV testing services may choose to attend the AIDS Institute training, "HIV Testing: Skills Practice Session."

HIV Testing: Skills Practice Session
6.5 OASAS credits (not approved for initial CPS credentialing); ‡ 6.5 CNE hours
Tuesday, March 27, 2012 – 9a-5p – Hawthorne ARCS

This one-day training will provide participants with an opportunity to practice key skills related to offering HIV testing services.

As a result of this training, participants will be able to:

• Recall how to provide streamlined pre-test information;
• Describe how to deliver preliminary positive and confirmed positive HIV test results;
• Describe how to link newly diagnosed HIV positive patients to health care and support services;
• Provide information to HIV positive patients to promote notification of sexual and needle sharing partners; and
• Conduct the NYS domestic violence screening protocol.

Prerequisite: Knowledge of basic HIV/AIDS information and attendance at the AIDS Institute training, "HIV Testing in NYS: 2010 Update" within the past 12 months
Audience: All health or human services providers who offer HIV testing as part of their job responsibilities.

 

HIV/AIDS Confidentiality Law
No longer offered at ARCS. An announcement will be posted when this training is made available online.

This on-line training provides information about New York State's HIV Confidentiality Law (Public Health Law Article 27-F). This training is designed to meet provider requirements for initial HIV confidentiality training for newly hired employees working with HIV-positive clients.

As a result of this training, participants will be able to:

• Describe the basic components and intent of the law;
• Recall the purpose of the Authorization for Release of Health Information and Confidential HIV Related Information form;
• Discuss penalties and sanctions for violation of the law;
• List information about regulations regarding HIV case reporting and partner notification as it relates to confidentiality issues.

Prerequisite: None
Audience: All newly hired health and human service providers working with HIV-positive clients

 

Improving Health Outcomes for HIV-Positive Individuals Transitioning from Correctional Settings to the Community
6.5 OASAS credits (not approved for initial CPS credentialing)
Wednesday, March 7, 2012 9a-5p – Hawthorne ARCS

This one-day training is for non-clinical providers who work with HIV positive clients who were formerly incarcerated or who are involved in the criminal justice system. The training will inform providers about the culture of corrections as it relates to HIV-infected inmates' needs upon community re-entry. Best practices will be reviewed to assist formerly incarcerated clients living with HIV/AIDS establish and maintain linkages to care, as well as maneuver through the system and access needed services.

As a result of this training, participants will be able to:

• Understand the role of community providers in supporting successful community re-entry for incarcerated HIV positive clients;
• Describe the distinction between jail and prison custodial settings and how HIV transitional planning services differ;
• Outline the challenges that HIV-infected inmates face upon release;
• Describe effective engagement techniques for working with inmates who are transitioning into community systems of care;
• Discuss strategies for conducting assessments with former inmates who are living with HIV/AIDS to learn about their needs and to create appropriate linkages and referrals; and
• Identify support services and resources for HIV infected inmates who have left the correctional system.

Prerequisite: It is strongly recommended that participants have previous knowledge of basic HIV/AIDS information, harm reduction and corrections.
Audience: All health and human service providers who work directly with formerly incarcerated clients

 

Integrating Screening for HCV and HIV
Thursday, March 29, 2012 - 9a-5p – Hawthorne ARCS

This one-day training will prepare participants to offer integrated rapid screening for HIV and HCV in a community setting. It will provide basic information about hepatitis C transmission, epidemiology, spectrum of illness, diagnosis and treatment. By participating in the training, participants will learn how to deliver HIV and HCV pre and post test messages in a seamless, integrated fashion and will learn about referrals that are essential for people who test positive for HCV antibodies.

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

1. Recall basic information about hepatitis C transmission, epidemiology spectrum of illness and treatment;
2. Deliver integrated prevention messages for HIV and HCV;
3. Explain to clients the value of being tested for HIV and HCV during the same visit;
4. Deliver integrated HIV and HCV pre and post test messages to clients;
5. Describe to a patient or client the meaning of a positive, negative or indeterminate HCV rapid antibody screening; and
6. Refer clients with a positive HCV screening for further medical care including testing to determine if the person has chronic infection with HCV

Prerequisite: Although there is no prerequisite for this training, it is strongly recommended that participants have previous training in HIV testing.
Audience: Experienced health and human services providers that conduct rapid HIV screening and plan to expand the offer of services to include rapid HCV screening.

 

It’s Time: Integrate Viral Hepatitis into Your Work
13 OASAS credits (not approved for initial CPS credentialing)
Not offered at ARCS at this time. Please check back in February for April 2012 through September 2012 training dates.

This two-day training will help to increase providers’ confidence, knowledge, and skill level in integrating a range of viral hepatitis services into an already compact workday.

As a result of this training, participants will be able to:

• Describe basic facts about Hepatitis A, B, and C including epidemiology, transmission, spectrum of illness, prevention strategies, vaccine recommendations and treatment options;
• Practice offering viral hepatitis prevention and harm reduction messages;
• List practical tips, models, and tools for integrating hepatitis screening, counseling, vaccination, treatment, and referrals for care into the current work setting; and
• Recall resources for support in work.

Prerequisite: None
Audience: All health and human service providers.

Mental Health Services: Ensuring Appropriate Referrals for HIV Positive Clients
15 OASAS credits (not approved for initial CPS credentialing)
Not offered at ARCS at this time. Please check back in February for April 2012 through September 2012 training dates.

This two-day training is designed to orient HIV providers to basic information about mental illness and to prepare providers to make effective referrals to mental health care services.

As a result of this training, participants will be able to:

• Discuss values, bias, and stigma of mental illness within different cultures;
• Provide an overview of mental health and HIV/AIDS in NYS;
• List common psychiatric disorders;
• List mental health service delivery system resources and referrals; and
• Explore barriers to mental health care.

Prerequisite: None
Audience: All non-physician health and human services providers who work directly with people living with HIV.
Not offered at ARCS at this time. Please check back in February for April 2012 through September 2012 training dates.

 

Partnership for Health
This half-day training provides participants with the information and materials needed to implement the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Partnership for Health intervention.

As a result of this training, participants will be able to:

• Identify the core elements of Partnership for Health;
• Describe ways to facilitate prevention messages into clinic visits so that every patient is counseled at every visit;
• Practice communication techniques and use of consequences-framed messages for patients engaged in high risk sexual behavior;
• Conduct a 3-5 minute discussion on protection, partner protection, and disclosure with patients;
• Provide referrals for more extensive counseling and services; and
• Utilize CDC-approved materials to reinforce prevention messages delivered.

Prerequisite: None.
Audience: Clinical providers who work in clinic-based settings including HIV, STD, and family planning clinics and other primary care practices who see patients with HIV/AIDS. All clinic staff within these settings also are required to attend.
Note: Clinic-based sites will need to request this training from the training center in their region.

 

Promoting Primary Care & Treatment Adherence for HIV Positive Individuals
6.5 OASAS credits (not approved for initial CPS credentialing)
Not offered at ARCS at this time. Please check back in February for April 2012 through September 2012 training dates.

This one-day training is designed to increase awareness of non-physician health and human services providers about HIV primary care guidelines and treatment adherence. Providers who are aware of HIV primary care guidelines and strategies for supporting treatment adherence can play an important role in improving the health outcomes of people living with HIV.

At the end of this training, participants will be able to:

• List the components of primary care for patients living with HIV;
• Identify the key elements of the annual comprehensive physical exam for patients living with HIV;
• Identify the routine laboratory screening and assessments used in primary care for people living with HIV, including methods used to assess and measure adherence;
• Recall the different classes of HIV medications and briefly describe how they work;
• Identify common barriers to treatment adherence, including medication side effects;
• List three specific strategies for promoting treatment adherence;
• Identify when referrals to specialty care may be needed;
• Work as a member of the care team to:
• help patients take advantage of health maintenance services, vaccination, and prophylaxis for opportunistic infections
• conduct client assessments and make referrals for a variety of psycho-social issues including substance use, mental health, domestic violence, smoking cessation, etc.

Prerequisite: It is strongly recommended that participants have previous knowledge or training on basic HIV/AIDS information.
Audience: All non-physician health and human services providers who work directly with people living with HIV including: case managers, counselors, nurses, support services providers and others.

Reducing the Risk and Harm of HIV

Not offered at ARCS at this time. Please check back in February for April 2012 through September 2012 training dates.

This three-day training will provide participants with information about what behavioral scientists, HIV/AIDS providers and consumers have found to be helpful in reducing the risk and harm associated with HIV infection.

As a result of this training, participants will be able to:

• Assess client readiness for change;
• Describe behavior change counseling; and
• Identify harm reduction options for sexual and substance use behaviors.

Prerequisite: Although there is no prerequisite for this course, it is strongly recommended that participants have basic knowledge of HIV/AIDS.
Audience: All health and human services providers.

 

Sex, Gender, and HIV/STDs
March 20 and 21, 2012 - 9a-5p – Hudson Valley LGBTQ Center, Kingston (Ulster County)

This two-day training is designed to help health and human services providers promote sexual health among their clients by building their capacity to talk sensitively and non-judgmentally about sexual identity, gender identity and sexual behaviors. Topics to be covered during the training include: sexual and gender identity; strategies for talking with clients about sexual health issues; HIV/STD prevention and harm reduction strategies for sexual behaviors.

As a result of this training, participants will be able to:

• Increase their awareness about the range of sexual and gender identities of their clients;
• Describe how homophobia and other forms of stigma and discrimination can impact a client's sexual behaviors and ability to practice sexual risk reduction;
• Increase their comfort in discussing sexual and gender identity with clients;
• Describe how sexual trauma can impact a client's sexual behaviors and risk for HIV/STDs; and
• Offer clients harm reduction options for sexual behaviors.

Prerequisite: Although there is no prerequisite for this course, it is strongly recommended that participants have previous knowledge or training on basic HIV/AIDS information.
Audience: All health and human service providers.

Skills Practice and Implementation of Staged-based Behavioral Counseling
Not offered at ARCS at this time. Please check back in February for April 2012 through September 2012 training dates.

This three-day course provides additional training and skills practice in staged-based behavioral counseling for HIV/STD risk reduction and adaptation of the stages of change/transtheoretical model of behavior change theory. Implementation and integration of this model into existing services, including risk reduction counseling, HIV pre and post-test counseling and case management will be discussed.

As a result of this training, participants will be able to:

• Build upon existing knowledge of the stages of change/transtheoretical model of behavior change theory;
• Develop and practice behavioral counseling skills including staging a client in his readiness for behavior change; and
• Discuss the initial steps of implementing this model at the agency level including using behavioral counseling quality assurance and evaluation, documentation of behavioral counseling and common barriers to implementation.

Prerequisite: Previous attendance at the AIDS Institute training, “Reducing the Risk and Harm of HIV.”
Audience: All health and human service providers who conduct behavioral counseling

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Educational Credits and Notes

‡ CNE The New York State Nurses Association’s Council on Continuing Education, which is accredited by the American Nurses’ Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation has approved Educational Design I activity through the School of Public Health, University at Albany for:

HIV Confidentiality Law for 4 hours
(Approval Code 6VSFE-PRV-06-007)
HIV Testing in NYS: 2010 Update for 4 hours
(Approval Code 6VKSFE-PRV-06-078)
HIV Testing: Skills Practice Session for 6.5 hours
(Approval Code 6VKSFE-PRV-06-079)

† CASAC/OASAS The New York Offices of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services, (OASAS) has approved the following courses towards Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) accreditation and/or reaccreditation. OASAS credits for trainings marked with an asterisk * are not approved for initial crediting of CPS.

Addressing Prevention with HIV Positive Clients for 6.5 hours*
Addressing Sexual Risk with Drug Users and Their Partners for 6.5 hours*
Advanced Training of the Needs of Incarcerated PLWHA upon Community Reentry
(OASAS accreditation now in application process)
Building Bridges to Cultural Competency for 6.5 hours
Do You Work with High-Risk Pregnant Women for 3 hours
Group Facilitation Skills for STD/HIV Prevention for 13.5 hours*
HIV and Hepatitis C Co-Infection for 3 hours*
HIV Testing in NYS: 2010 Update for 4 hours*
HIV Testing: Skills Practice Session for 6.5 hours*
Improving Health Outcomes for HIV-Positive Individuals Transitioning from Correctional Settings to the Community for 6.5 hours*
Mental Health Services: Ensuring Appropriate Referrals for HIV-positive Clients for 15 hours*
Promoting Primary Care and Treatment Adherence for HIV Positive Individuals for 6.5 hours*
Reducing the Risk and Harm for HIV for 19.5 hours*
Sex, Gender and HIV/STD for 13 hours*
Skills Practice in HIV Testing for 6.5 hours*

To view the AIDS Institute Statewide Calendar click here