Truman Medical Center Infectious Disease Clinic peer program at a glance

Peer program founded: 2000

Program mission: to help adults with HIV link to care and adhere to treatment

Number of peer educators: 4 on staff plus one volunteer

Number of clients peers have served: 123 in the past year

Work Schedule: 8 hours per week in two four-hour shifts

Compensation: Peer educators are paid an hourly rate

Funding source: Initially Ryan White Part A funding, currently Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA) funding provided through Community AIDS Project

Peer educator responsibilities:

• Provide one-on-one social and emotional support to patients
• Help patients navigate the medical center, access needed services
• Coach patients in adherence skills
• Provide feedback to adherence program staff
• Attend/co-facilitate weekly HIV education classes
• Participate in individual supervision sessions

Success measures: Improvement on patient HIV-knowledge tests conducted every three months, engagement in care and adherence to treatment