NASW Increases HIV/AIDS Ethics Training through Web-Based Curriculum

April is National Sexually Transmitted Diseases Education and Awareness Month

WASHINGTONAs we near the end of the second decade of the AIDS epidemic in the United States, the mental health professionals ability to make sense of the everchanging terrain of the disease continues to be a challenge, especially as the number of people actually "living" with the disease increases. there are ethical issues as well as psychosocial issues, including depression and anxiety.

The HIV/AIDS Spectrum: Mental Health Training and Education of Social Workers Project in conjunction with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Continuing Education Office has created web-based curriculum to deal with those ethical issues surrounding HIV/AIDS and is available in a pilot program from March 15 through September 15, 2001.

This pilot program, "Ethical Issues, HIV/AIDS, and Social Work Practice, " is designed specifically for those social workers and mental health practitioners who could be faced with a number of ethical issues regarding clients with HIV/AIDS. Issues covered range anywhere from dual relationships and confidentiality to non-disclosure of HIV status to a sexual partner. The course is self-paced to assist those without access to the classroom content.

The course has the ability for on-line discussions about ethical issues through a self-paced discussion board and on-line classroom discussions. The course begins and ends with a set of evaluations and to receive continuing education credit, participants must pass an exam.

The course is available at www.socialworkers.org/ce.htm#cybercourse.

Please email hivethic@naswdc.org with any questions regarding the course.

For journalists wishing for more information regarding the HIV/AIDS Spectrum: Mental Health Training and Education of Social Workers Project, please contact Lahne Mattas-Curry in the NASW Public Affairs Office at 202-336-8228 to schedule an interview with the Project Manager.