Rebekah Israel discusses how the African American HIV University Science and Treatment College helps community-based HIV organisations and Health Departments improve their performance in the treatment cascade.

1. Increasing HIV Science Literacy
in the US: AAHU Model
African American HIV University
Science and Treatment College

2. AAHU
Aimed at strengthening organizational and
individual capacity to address the HIV/AIDS
epidemic in Black communities, the African
American HIV University (AAHU) is a
comprehensive training fellowship and
scholarship program. The program is designed
to decrease stigma and misperception and
increase the engagement of the Black
community in HIV prevention and treatment
services. This is achieved through leadership
development and information transfer among
key stakeholders.

3. AAHU Science and Treatment College
The STC curriculum prepares community-based, and
AIDS service organizations, and Health Departments on
how to improve their performance in the treatment
cascade. (CBOs/ASOs) to serve as liaisons between
people living with HIV/AIDS and the entities that serve
them. STC focuses on HIV and its relationship to human
biology, virology, pharmacokinetics, epidemiology, and
treatment strategies. By the end of AAHU STC,
organizations and their Fellows will be stewards of a
living, breathing Black Treatment Advocates Network
(BTAN).

4. AAHU STC 2013-2014
Cohort
11 US Cities 10 States
Atlanta, GA
Baltimore, MD
Chicago, IL
Jackson, MS
Kingston, Jamaica
Little Rock, AR
Los Angeles, CA
Melbourne, FL
Oakland, CA
Richmond, VA
St. Paul, MN
Washington, DC
Arkansas
California
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Illinois
Maryland
Minnesota
Mississippi
Virginia
16 Fellows representing eleven U.S. Cities, ten States and Jamaica:

5. AAHU STC Trainings
Training 1: Science Academy (30 Days)
 Internship 1
 Training 2: Community Mobilization (7 Days)
 Internship 2
 Training 3: Program Planning, Implementation, &
Evaluation (7 Days)
 Internship 3
Training 4: Advanced Science and Presentation Skills (7
days)
 Internship 4

6. STC Internship Periods
 60-90 day internships allow Fellows to apply the skills and
knowledge gained during trainings.
 Internships allow Fellows to demonstrate proficiency in
executing key components of each training, that establishes a
(or contributes to an existing) Black Treatment Advocates
Network (BTAN).
 Fellows have specific assignments during internships such as
conducting face-to-face meetings with local ASOs, CBOs,
health department staff, research institutions, and other
potential BTAN partners.

7. AAHU STC Training 1
30-day Science Academy

8. HIV Science & Treatment Knowledge
Assessment 30-Day Boot Camp
57%57%
90%90%
*Scores over 100% indicate extra credit awarded

9. Fellows’ Feedback
“Having the
opportunity to get a
firm foundation on
basic sciences and
the HIV lifecycle and
how they both
impact HIV
treatment.”
“Having the actual medical practitioners, researchers and
scientists instructing us was like an experience that can't
be matched by any other training I have ever
experienced.”
“The site visits
gave
tremendous
insight into the
behind the
scenes real-life
action of the
war against
HIV.”

10. Internship 1: From Boot Camp to the
Battlefield
16 STC Fellows trained approximately 500 people in
their local areas.
Chicago Fellows, facilitated three post-boot camp
presentations.
 Approximately 70 participants were trained on the
following topics: The Origin of HIV &Basic HIV Science
 Average pre-test of participants 40.2%
 Average post-test of participants 94.2%

11. The mission of the Black Treatment Advocates
Network (BTAN) is to increase patient access to and
utilization of treatment and care, strengthen local
leadership and advocate for policy change in Black
communities.
BTAN is guided by the premise that when
people understand the science of HIV/AIDS
they are:
 Less likely to participate in stigmatizing
behavior
 More likely to access treatment
 Better able to adhere to their regimens
 Better positioned to influence HIV policy
Internship 2: BTAN Responding to the
Needs of the Community

12. Local BTAN Projects

13. Internship 2: BTAN Responding to the
Needs of the Community
 13 STC Fellows facilitated
trainings on HIV Science and
Treatment. Total reach was
approximately 450 people in
their local areas.
 8 BTAN cities hosted National
Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
reaching 925 people.
 Internship 2 reach: 1,375
people
 Total Fellowship reach: 1,875
people

14. BTAN National Black HIV
Awareness Day PrEP Events
The following BTAN cities hosted
NBHAAD PrEP themed events:
BTAN Little Rock
BTAN Bay Area
BTAN Atlanta
BTAN Los Angeles
BTAN Minneapolis
BTAN Broward
BTAN Jackson
BTAN Louisiana
Reaching 925 individuals

15. Training 3: Program Planning, Implementation, and
Evaluation
 Internship 3
Training 4: Advance Science Skills
 Internship 4

16. Local BTAN Projects

17. Summary of Quantitative and
Qualitative Measures

18. HIV Science & Treatment Retention
57%57% 90%90% 84%84% 87%87% 92%92%

19. HIV Science & Treatment Retention
57%57% 92%92%

20. 7 New BTAN
Chapters
6 Re-launched
BTAN Chapters
1,875 People
Trained
520 People
Tested
350 New BTAN
Members
Community Impact
10 New
Community
Partnerships

21. Black AIDS Institute: Strategic Model

24. THANK YOU!
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT
www.BlackAIDS.org
OR CONTACT ME
Rebekah Israel
Training and Evaluation Coordinator
Black AIDS Institute
rebekahi@BlackAIDS.org