Prevention

Prevention is comprised of education and HIV testing and counseling. 

     The education program is concerned with raising HIV/AIDS awareness, HIV/AIDS prevention and social concerns. The program maintains and updates a library of HIV related materials, including periodicals, brochures, newsletters, books, and audio and video tapes.   Information relating to HIV infection and transmission, as well as crisis intervention, is also available to the general public Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through our toll free Hotline 574-287-8888 in St. Joseph Co. or 1-800-388-AIDS. Additional activities are also provided through other programs, committees, and coalitions. 

    The HIV counseling and Testing program provides intervention services to persons at risk for HIV.

    Intervention consists of walk-in outreach services at 19 locations in South Bend, Mishawaka, Plymouth and Elkhart, Indiana.

Other Programs:  
    
    Teen Peer Educators
Students recruit peers for this program,  which has attracted interest from every high school in the area. Teen-Peer Educators reflect a broad cultural and racial mix and range in age from 15 to 19. Most students who complete the eight week training course  remain with our teen program for up to three years. The program also draws participants from area universities. Participants of this  program complete community service projects and deliver preventive education in a wide variety of places. 

Purpose -- This program heightens the knowledge and reality among youth to the issues surrounding HIV/AIDS/STDs in our community.  The goal is to educate youth, emphasizing that prevention is our only cure, and to build on the skills and knowledge they possess about themselves. Youth are provided factual information on the biology of the virus. They also build skills regarding the beliefs, attitudes and behaviors that youth have expressed as vital and necessary for a full life. HIV and its related issues are explored through dialogue, group discussions, role-playing and skill building. 

Training Course Content -- Teens meet one night for eight weeks on the following topics: 

• Getting to know ourselves and others  
• HIV/AIDS/STDs and Youth  
• Teen-Age/Human Sexuality  
• Risk Behaviors  
• Societal Issues  
• Dealing with HIV  
• Community Activism  
• Evaluating Ourselves  

Responsibilities -- Once educated and equipped with a strong sense of responsibility for self, family and community, teens will share their knowledge in a variety of settings:  

     UND/SMC Service Learning Program 
    The existence of a Service Learning Coordinator is made possible through a grant from the University of ND Center for Social Concerns. The Service Learning Coordinator meets with professors who are interested in offering their students experiential learning opportunities. 
    Through a combination of community service and regular reflection, students link concepts learned in the classroom to human struggles taking place outside of the university. The Coordinator's main goal is the development of HIV/AIDS educational programs for schools and the university community. 

     Religion Committee 
    The Religion Committee is an ecumenical, interfaith  coalition of religious leaders. The focus of this committee is  to facilitate the religious community's response to the AIDS epidemic through education and non-judgmental  compassionate care. 

    The Religion Committee is responsible for developing and implementing religious services and an annual educational workshop connected with local and global HIV/AIDS observances, i.e. World AIDS Day Memorial Service and  the International Candlelight Memorial Service. The Religion Committee is also involved in providing HIV/AIDS  pastoral care. 

     Women and AIDS Coalition 
    The Women and AIDS Coalition sponsors an annual spring workshop. The planning committee represents organizations and interested members of the community. The Women and AIDS Coalition takes a leadership role in projects involving women and HIV.