Home › Training of Trainers: Teams from 8 organizations train 81 peers

Training of Trainers: Teams from 8 organizations train 81 peers

In May 2009, the PEER Center and the Peer Education Training Sites (PETS) conducted a National Training of Trainers (TOT) with 8 training teams selected from different organizations across the country. The organizations included

  • Heartland CARES
  • Valley AIDS Council
  • GA Carmichael Family Health Center
  • Jefferson Comprehensive Care System
  • Nashville CARES
  • Christie’s Place
  • NO/AIDS Task Force
  • New Orleans Regional AIDS Planning Council

The TOT introduced comprehensive methods for effectively preparing and organizing a training for HIV- positive peers, based on the Building Blocks to Peer Success toolkit. Participants were able to practice skills such as facilitating a training and creating a safe and comfortable learning environment. They were also able to observe PETS staff model several sections from the toolkit.

Before attending the training, the participants had committed to conducting a replication training in their communities within 3 months of completing the TOT, with the financial assistance of the PEER Center. Each training team was paired with experienced trainers from the PETS and received intensive technical assistance to prepare, organize and conduct their trainings. Several of the teams found this assistance particularly helpful. One training team stated, “The support from the PEER Center, Bill and Damalia [PACT Project PETS Staff] was so helpful in choosing the right modules and activities to cover the information we wanted to cover.”

Each team conducted a training for either 3 or 5 days. Within the three months following the TOT, 81 peers had been trained, of whom 75% were minorities. The training teams utilized the toolkit to cover topics such as HIV life cycle, discussing disclosure with clients, peer roles and responsibilities, HIV medications and adherence. The trainers were very pleased with the outcome of the trainings. One trainer observed, “Overall, the participants felt more confident about the skills they had acquired. The different [modules] gave the peer trainers an educational tool that could be used à la carte and still be relevant to different demographics and orientations.”

The trainings were well received by participants and many walked away with empowerment, knowledge, and tools to be an effective peer. One peer commented, “Even though I work in prevention and education, I feel like I went through grad school for HIV in 5 days. I was so amazed at the toolkit [and] skills that I have to work with. Thank you for opening my eyes, sparking my fire…”

The PETS are also in the process of completing TOT trainings in their local communities. People to People in Missouri conducted a three-day training followed by a capacity-building session in July 2009, and a total of 17 participants, including people working as peers, were trained to conduct peer trainings within their organizations. The Lotus Project in California completed a training in September 2009 with their partner organizations, and the PACT Project in New York is planning a training workshop in Connecticut in November.