Evaluation and Program Support Center: Innovative Programs for HIV Positive Substance Users

This project was funded as a Special Project of National Significance (SPNS) grant through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) from 1999 – 2003. The Center conducted a series of research projects that led to the development of guiding principles for care providers, the dissemination of innovative practices in serving HIV-positive substance users and a cross-disciplinary training curriculum on HIV and substance abuse. The Center worked with a National Advisory Committee to develop the performance standards, address the barriers to the replication of innovative programs, and address issues related to racial/cultural diversity and competence. The Advisory Committee consisted of HIV and substance abuse researchers, providers, and policy-makers from across the country.

Center activities and products that are available through this website include the following:

A Literature Review on HIV and Substance Abuse.

Guiding Principles for Programs Serving HIV Positive Substance Users

Key Informant Interview Results

Ryan White Grantee Survey Results

Case studies 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 in serving HIV-infected substance users and identified over 50 program models that met the criteria. In-depth telephone interviews were conducted with these programs. Twelve of the programs 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.

Provider Training Curriculum

The culmination of this initiative was the development of a cross-disciplinary provider training curriculum, A Kaleidoscope of Care: Responding to the challenges of HIV and Substance Use. Eighty physicians, nurses, psychologists, social workers, therapists, outreach workers, counselors and substance abuse treatment providers from six regions of the country and Puerto Rico participated in a Train the Trainer program in early 2003. 

During the spring and summer of 2003, each of the six regional teams that participated in the national training program convened and replicated portions of the training curriculum to an audience of local providers involved in the care of HIV-infected substance users. The Spanish version of the curriculum was pilot tested at the replication training in Puerto Rico. Feedback and evaluation of the national training program was positive, and participants were 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.

A second national Training of Trainers was convened in 2005 using the revised curriculum, and a second round of replication trainings occurred 2006-2007. A description of the curriculum model, development, implementation and evaluation results were published in 2005, Tobias, C., Brown, K., Rajabiun, S., Drainoni, M., & Young, S. (2005). A Kaleidoscope of Care for HIV-infected substance users. Journal of HIV/AIDS and Social Work 4(2): 27-43.

Project Staff: Key Staff for this project included: Carol Tobias, Mari-Lynn Drainoni, Serena Rajabiun Kate Brown, Irene Shui, Jocelyn McCree, Starr Wood, Regina Murphy, Karin Haberlin, Reginalde Gerlus.