Project Overview

HIV/AIDS Spectrum:
Mental Health Training and Education of Social Workers Project

Working in collaboration with NASW chapters, federal and state agencies, national and state associations, universities, and community-based organizations, the HIV/AIDS Spectrum: Mental Health Training and Education of Social Workers Project offers education and training to mental health care providers on the mental health aspects of living with HIV/AIDS. 

The goal of the HIV/AIDS Spectrum Project is to provide the necessary HIV and mental health practice skills for people working in social work, mental health, and substance abuse fields to enhance and promote culturally competent practice with individuals, families, and communities affected by HIV/AIDS.  The target audience includes social workers, allied mental health care providers, and students in schools of social work. Curriculum is presented via knowledge-focused training that addresses mental health and HIV/AIDS within a strengths-based biopsychosocial–spiritual perspective. The HIV/AIDS Spectrum Project offers the following skill-building workshops, each using a lecture, case studies, and small group exercises: 

• Mental health and HIV/AIDS: A framework for social work practice”   This workshop addresses HIV transmission, prevention, and treatment; the psychosocial factors of HIV disease; identification and early intervention with mental health problems and HIV-related neuropsychological problems; and the role of the mental health care provider with people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. 
• “Addressing ethical dilemmas in an era of complex practice  issue:  HIV/AIDS as a case study”   This workshop  explores legal and ethical issues, individual and institutional attitudes that may affect services, opportunities to provide culturally competent services, and a framework for ethical decision making.
• “Substance use, mental health, and HIV/AIDS:  An integrated response”    This workshop addresses common risk factors; assesses professional and personal  issues; the effect of micro and macro issues on services; identifies risk reduction techniques; and demonstrates the application of a comprehensive and integrated practice model.
• “The role of the social work in medication treatment adherence:  HIV/AIDS as a case study”  This workshop reviews factors affecting adherence, the role of the mental health care provider in adherence, the benefits of risk reduction strategies, and stages of behavior change to identify barriers and steps to adherence.  The ADHERE model is presented as a framework for promoting culturally competent practice with individual clients, their family, and within the broader communities affected by HIV/AIDS.   

In addition to curriculum development and training/education programs, the project model includes a training-of-trainers component; televideo presentations; audio-conferencing and Internet-based continuing education via the NASW Web site.   Twenty four expert social workers have been formally trained in the delivery of the curriculum.

The project Advisory Committee, composed of social workers with expertise in HIV/AIDS and mental health social work, guide the work and participate as trainers for the all-day and specialty modules.  Advisory Committee: Lisa Cox, associate professor, The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey (NJ); Dorie Gilbert, associate professor University of Texas (TX); Iris Heavy Runner-PrettyPaint, adjunct professor, University of Montana (MT); Nathan Linsk, professor; Jane Addams College of Social Work, University of Illinois and  Midwest AIDS Training and Education Center (IL); Dimas Moncada, clinician and trainer (CA); Jill Sabatine, social services director, AIDS Care Ocean State (RI); Melissa Sellevaag,  Coordinator Sexually Transmitted Disease Control Program, District of Columbia (DC); and Terry Tauger, Salvation Army-Harbour Lights (MI). Douglas Bruce, PhD, MSW, Project Director, Adolescent Community Health Research Group, DePaul University (IL); serves as the Project Evaluator.
 
Evelyn Tomaszewski, project director, staffs the HIV/AIDS Spectrum:  Mental Health Training and Education of Social Workers Project. 

For more information, contact Evelyn Tomaszewski at 202-336-8390 or 800-638-8799 ext. 390.  NASW HIV/AIDS Spectrum: Mental Health Training and Education of Social Workers Project,  750 First Street, NE, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20002-4241. (Contract # - CMHS 280-04-0120) Or contact NASW at www.socialworkers.org

 For upcoming workshops, click here.