SPNS/Fax: An Electronic Report from HRSA/HAB's SPNS Cooperative Agreements:
Volume 3, Issue 19 (September 18, 1998)

This document has been superceded by our Online Knowledge Base on Innovative Models of HIV/AIDS Care. Click here to access the Knowledge Base. Click here to access descriptions of 27 Innovative Models of HIV/AIDS Care and the lessons learned from these projects. SPNS/Fax was written, published, and distributed by fax by The Measurement Group between 1995 and 1998.

Information dissemination from 27 Innovative Models of HIV Care projects funded as Special Projects of National Significance by the HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB) of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

Introduction

Welcome to SPNS/Fax: An Electronic Report from HRSA/HAB's SPNS Cooperative Agreements. In each issue of SPNS/Fax, we will highlight findings from the HRSA Special Projects of National Significance Program Cooperative Agreements. The projects have been funded to develop innovative models of HIV/AIDS care. SPNS/Fax reports are distributed every two weeks by fax machine to all subscribers. All issues of SPNS/Fax are also available at this Web site. Due to slight differences in the media, issues distributed by fax machine may appear slightly different from those posted on this Web site, but the content is identical.

The Second Annual "Fighting for Our Lives" Training Positively Affects Women with HIV/AIDS

"Fighting for Our Lives," which is facilitated by the Center for Women Policy Studies’ Metro DC Collaborative project, is a series of training workshops designed to empower women living with HIV/AIDS to advocate for care and services in the metropolitan area around Washington, D.C. One of the primary goals of these trainings is to provide a safe opportunity for women with HIV/AIDS to get together to talk, gain support, and learn and strengthen their skills to help themselves and others. The trainings also are designed to encourage women to attend policy meetings and forums where critical decisions about AIDS-related programming, services, and funding are made.

This year, the second annual "Fighting for Our Lives" training took place in Washington, D.C. on June 20th (Session 1) and June 27th, 1998 (Session 2). The 58 women who participated were given the opportunity to attend workshops on numerous topics, such as: the Ryan White CARE Act and the Title I Planning Council; Everything You Always Wanted to Know about HIV/AIDS; Disclosing Your Status; Self-Image; Prevention; Substance Abuse/Risk and Realities; Gynecological Care; Housing; Renewing Your Spirit; AIDS Drug Assistance Program; Benefits and Legal Issues; Treatment Choices; and, Returning to Work.

Participant ratings are uniformly high for "Fighting for Our Lives"

After both training sessions, participants completed a self-administered evaluation survey. Almost all of the participants (97.4%) responded that they "definitely" would attend other activities like "Fighting for Our Lives" in the future. Nearly ninety percent (89.5%) stated that after the training, they "probably" or "definitely" intended to participate in an HIV-related policy meeting. Participants gave high ratings for the trainings’ impact on their being more informed about health issues, about support systems for women with HIV/AIDS, and about how to advocate on behalf of their own needs and the needs of other women with HIV/AIDS. Additional findings from the training are available in the full evaluation report of the 1998 "Fighting for Our Lives" training.

Changes in the lives of the women living with HIV/AIDS who participated in "Fighting for Our Lives"

One month after the trainings, 33 participants were interviewed to evaluate the impact of this event. Respondents reported many changes in their lifestyles/behaviors as a result of attending the training.

  • 87.9% sought more information about HIV and issues facing women with HIV;

  • 84.8% tried to improve the way they take care of their health;

  • 78.8% discussed personal issues relevant to their HIV status with other people;

  • 78.8% talked to other women with HIV about what they learned;

  • 75.7% tried to access services that they needed but had never tried to get before the training; and

  • 54.6% attended HIV-related policy, services, and program planning meetings.

Examples of the Training's Impact

  • One woman indicated that since the training, she has set up a hotline that provides information on HIV/AIDS, upcoming activities and on services available in the area.
  • One training participant now conducts a monthly meeting in her home with nine other HIV-positive women in her apartment complex who are not actively involved in any HIV-related activities nor in their own health care.

The results of the follow-up interviews suggest that the training has positively impacted the lives of the women with HIV/AIDS that participated by empowering them to learn more, to participate in HIV-related policy and program planning meetings, to improve their health care, and to access all of the services they need.

For further information contact Leslie Wolfe, Ph.D. at the Center for Women Policy Studies, 1211 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 312, Washington, D.C. 20036, 202.872.1770 (phone), 202.296.8962 (fax).

SPNS/Fax is produced by The Measurement Group–PROTOTYPES Evaluation and Dissemination Center (EDC). Editorial comments should be made to The Measurement Group at 5811A Uplander Way, Culver City, California 90230, 310.216.1051, 310.670.7735 (fax).
 

Back to SPNS/Fax Directory

 

 

Copyright © 1996-2005 by The Measurement Group LLC. All rights reserved. This may not be current and will not be updated.