Education Programs
Click on the links below to view the education programs at AID Atlanta:
Evolution
The Evolution Project is a targeted program for African American young men aged between 18 years up to 28 years old. The purpose of this project is to identify, support, and help to build the community of Black Gay Men in Metro Atlanta. In doing so, Evolution project creates opportunities that enhance the lives of its members by cultivating education, investing in the enrichment of lives through community involvement, skills development, recruiting and encouraging Black Gay Men to recognize, address and help solve the issues confronting the community. Evolution is unique in that it houses its own Center where members host social events, parties, community gatherings, spades nights, WII competition, and a host of community building activities. Joining the project is free and fun. If you have ever wanted to make a difference and help “change” the community and did not know where to start, the Evolution Project may be a place to start. Don’t miss the fun!
Look good and feel good, Get healthy with us!
Recall the days when we were younger having to go to the doctor at least once a year for school physicals. As busy adults we may not have the time or resources to do that anymore. Health professional stress that getting regular exams help identify some medical risk before they are serious. Generally, when a disease is caught early, treatment options are greater and more effective. That is the reason why the Evolution Project is offering FREE annual check-ups to individuals who qualify as a registered member (Gay or Bisexual Males 17-27).
Under a special pilot program, we want to offer no-charge medical exams to young men wishing to improve to be screened and learn about their
Health! In addition we offer free, one-on-one, nutrition assessments with a certified Nutritionist. Appointments are available today! Get and stay Healthy with us. Call: Maurice Cobb @ (404)524-5441.
Young Men's Group
The Deeper Love Young Men's support group is for young Black gay men between the ages of 16 and 24. A licensed and trained clinician professionally facilitates the HIV Positive Black Gay Men’s group. This group is a collaboration with Positive Impact (add a brief descriptor – and maybe a link the their website). Evolution Staff provide free access to HIV testing and STD screening. Testing and screening services are provide onsite and at off site locations upon request. For more information regarding programs and/or volunteer opportunities please contact Adolph St. Arromand-Program Coordinator at (404) 524-5441 for more information.
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Deeper Love
AID Atlanta’s African American Gay Outreach (AAGO) programs focus on the extreme disproportion of metro-Atlanta-based African American Men who have Sex with Men (AAMSM) becoming infected with HIV/STD’s. Our trained staff members, many of whom are a part of the community they serve, produce culturally appropriate programs effective in reaching the AAMSM community.
The AAGO program utilizes a group level intervention called Many Men, Many Voices (3MV). Many Men, Many Voices (3MV) is a six- or seven-session, group level STD/HIV prevention intervention for gay men of color. The intervention addresses behavioral influencing factors specific to gay men of color, including cultural/social norms, sexual relationship dynamics, and the social influences of racism and homophobia.
Bridging the Gap
Gay and bi-sexual brothers and heterosexual sisters come together to address the issues that divide us and the commonalities that bind us.
Tongues Untied
Online internet chat group that allows participants to maintain their confidentiality and still engage with AAGO staff to receive STD and HIV general and risk reduction information. www.deeperloveproject.org.
Bar/Club/Street Outreach
Providing prevention information and materials and safer sex kits at Atlanta’s hot spots.
Deeper Love Staff provide free access to HIV testing and counseling and free HIV education workshops and seminars are held onsite and off site in most venues including classrooms, churches, book clubs, or on-the-job presentations. For more information regarding programs and/or volunteer opportunities, please contact the Charles Stephens-Program Coordinator at (404) 870-7746, or email him at charles.stephens@aidatlanta.org
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Sista Sol
SISTA SOL provides educational programs, outreach activities, social support, and appearances at special events designed to reduce behaviors that place African American Women for HIV and other STDs. The goals of SISTA SOL are to minimize new infections among women, and reinforce healthy behaviors, increase the number of women that are knowledgeable for prevention services and increase the number of women accessing HIV testing and counseling services.
Programs include:
- SOL 2 SOL: Getting tested for HIV can be scary for many people. SOL 2 SOL promotes and offers FREE HIV Testing and Counseling to African American women, encouraging them to bring a “SISTA” along to get tested - “Each One, REACH ONE”.
- Sol Series: Empowerment series held in collaboration with community partners, promoting a holistic concept of women’s health.
- SISTA Circle: Fun and interactive groups designed to create dialogue between members around the following topics: self-esteem, cultural and gender-related barriers to risk reduction, communication with partners, condom use and negotiation, and much more. Complete SISTA CIRCLE is comprised of four two-hour group sessions aimed at reducing HIV Sexual Risk Behavior.
For more information regarding programs and/or volunteer opportunities please contact Mica Shaw-Program Coordinator at (404) 870-7745 or email at mica.shaw@aidatlanta.org
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Lifeguard
AID Atlanta's Gay Outreach Program consists of community outreach, testing and counseling, and behavioral modification efforts to Metro Atlanta’s LGBTQ communities. Volunteers and staff promote prevention programs, recruit program participants, and encourage prevention as part of their activities.
Lifeguard Workshop
Lifeguard is a FREE fun and interactive social gathering for gay and bisexual men to talk about issues specific to their lives. This four-week series teaches valuable life skills and highlights the following topics:
- HIV/AIDS Basics and Safer Sex
- Core Beliefs and Values
- Intimacy and Personal War Stories
- Triggers and Negotiation Skills
Lifeguard is a group-level intervention that allows men to explore social and intimacy issues based on personal and community views. Participants are encouraged to listen and share in a non-threatening and confidential atmosphere. This interactive workshop promotes individual growth and knowledge for MSM and gay men by facilitating individual opinions, group exercises and role-plays, which mirror real life experiences. Many who have participated in this in-depth workshop have learned much about themselves and formed lasting friendships as a result!
Prominent Outgoing Opinion Leader (P.O.O.L.)
This community-level intervention involves identifying, enlisting, and training key opinion leaders to encourage safer sexual norms and behaviors within their social networks through risk-reduction conversations. The training program teaches participants characteristics of effective behavior change communication messages targeting risk-related attitudes, norms, intentions, and self-efficacy. In conversations, participants personally endorse the benefits of safer behavior and recommend practical steps needed to implement change. P.O.O.L. Membership Form.
Groups meet together weekly in sessions that use instruction, facilitator modeling, and extensive role play exercises to help individuals refine their skills and gain confidence in delivering effective HIV/STD prevention messages to others. Groups are small enough to provide extensive practice opportunities for all participants to shape their communication skills and create comfort in delivering conversational messages. http://www.myspace.com/poolatlanta
Host A Lifeguard Workshop or P.O.O.L. Group
Contact us if you are interested in hosting a group of at least 5 friends that you know would be interested in gathering at your place to form one of the groups listed above. You bring us the guys and we’ll come to you with our program and bring the food.
Bar/Club/Street OutreachProviding prevention information and materials and safer sex kits at Atlanta’s hot spots. For more information regarding programs and/or volunteer opportunities please contact Stephen Igarashi-Program Coordinator at 404-870-7763.
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Gay/Bisexual Outreach
Volunteers provide education and support to gay and bisexual men related to increasing knowledge about HIV/AIDS, personal risk assessment, adopting and maintaining safer sexual practices, facilitating workshops, club outreach and special events. Other activities include developing new workshops, creating program schedules and many more.
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AIDS 101
The AIDS 101 Awareness and Action Seminar is presented seven times a year throughout the community and addresses a wide range of subjects and concerns related to HIV/AIDS. Presentations at each program may vary, but each seminar offers broad-based insight on the HIV crisis. The program format consists of lectures, special interest sessions, and panel discussions.
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Speakers Bureau
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Client Education
AID Atlanta, Inc. provides continual education to clients of the agency to assist them in staying up-to-date with information about HIV and the various forms of treatment, local resources available, or other topics important for a person living with HIV. Via e-mail newsletters and updates, classes, or referrals to other agencies, AID Atlanta believes that continuing education is key to the successful management of HIV infection and prevention.
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RightTRACK
Five session wellness management workshop for clients of AID Atlanta to learn about issues such as financial planning and budgeting, nutrition management, treatment and alternative therapies, exercise and fitness, legal issues, resources, and stress and mental health management.
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LaHop (Hispanic Outreach)
AID Atlanta's Hispanic Outreach Program provides HIV/AIDS/STD education and prevention to different segments of the Hispanic population living in the metropolitan Atlanta area through one-on-one, door-to-door interventions, and group presentations at school, religious, social and community settings and via telephone conferences.
The Hispanic Outreach Program trains outreach workers and Spanish speaking volunteers, distributes and mails Spanish AIDS educational materials, offers pre- and post-HIV test counseling, advocates for Hispanics living with HIV/AIDS, and connects HIV+ Hispanics and their families with information, medical care, treatment, social services and public benefits. Contact Maria Rivas for more information at (404) 870-7767 or maria.rivas@aidatlanta.org
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R.E.D.I.
AID Atlanta’s Comprehensive Risk Counseling and Services (CRCS) program R.E.D.I. (Reinforcing Education and Developing Independence) is a client centered HIV prevention activity with the fundamental goal of promoting the adoption and maintenance of HIV risk-reduction behaviors by clients with multiple, complex problems and risk reduction needs. Prevention Specialists provide client-centered, multiple session HIV risk reduction counseling to help individuals initiate and maintain behavior change to prevent the transmission of HIV while addressing competing needs which may make HIV prevention a lower priority. This HIV prevention activity addresses the relationship between HIV/STD risk and other issues such as substance abuse, mental health, social and cultural factors, and physical health.
For more information regarding the R.E.D.I. Program, please contact one of our Prevention Specialists at (404) 870-7761or (404) 870-7752
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ASK US Teens
Volunteers prepare and present talks on a variety of topics from personal experience to advanced medical overview. Requests for speakers come from businesses, churches, schools and social groups. Speaker is carefully matched to his/her areas of expertise. The goal is to prevent high risk behavior and reach out to youth. Contact Cicely Richard or Lacy Wilson at (404) 870-7766
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HIV Testing
AID Atlanta offers anonymous or confidential, walk-in OraQuick Advance HIV Anti-body testing. Results from OraQuick Advance are available in 20 minutes. Only the person that is tested may receive results, which are given in the testing office. OraSure Testing is utilized as the confirmatory testing device. HIV Counseling and Testing is also offered through a number of AID Atlanta’s outreach events.
Counseling and Testing Hours of Operation:
- Days: Mon. - Thur.
- Hours: 12 p.m. - 7 p.m.
- (Closed Fri., Sat. & Sun.)
HIV testing will include prevention counseling and referral to appropriate agency and community resources which may include but are not limited to:
- Comprehensive Risk Counseling and Services
- Partner Notification and Counseling Services
- Risk Reduction and HIV Education Workshops
- STD information and referrals for additional screening
- Crystal Meth information and referrals
- Hepatitis A, B, & C information and referrals for additional screening and vaccination
- Case Management for eligible HIV positive clients.
- For more information regarding AID Atlanta’s HIV Counseling and Testing Program or to speak directly to the Counseling and Testing Specialist, please call Michelle Knight at
(404) 870-7797 or call (800) 551-2728 or (404) 870-7775 (Georgia AIDS & STD Infoline).
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Men's STD Clinic
AID Atlanta Men’s STD Clinic offers confidential, walk-in STD screening for syphilis, hepatitis C, chlamydia, and gonorrhea. Free treatment for syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea are also provided. Hepatitis A & B Vaccinations are available to consumers. Results from STD screenings are available in 10 business days. Only the person that is screened may receive results. STD screenings are also offered through a number of AID Atlanta’s community testing events.
Men’s STD ClinicHours of Operation:
- Days: 1st and 3rd Saturday
- Hours: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
STD screening services will include prevention counseling and referrals to appropriate agency and community resources which may include but are not limited to:· Comprehensive Risk Counseling and Services
- Partner Notification and Counseling Services
- Risk Reduction and HIV Education Workshops
- STD information and referrals for additional screening
- Drug treatment information and referrals For more information regarding AID Atlanta’s Men’s STD Clinic please contact the Lamont Scales at(404) 870-7740.
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