 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Carmen J. Head, MPH, HIV/AIDS Orientation and Professional Education Program, United Negro College Fund Special Programs Corporation, 2750 Prosperity Ave., Suite 600, Fairfax, VA 22031, 703-205-7628, carmen.head@uncfsp.org and Darlene R. Saunders, MPH, CHES, HIV/AIDS Orientation and Prevention Education Program, United Negro College Fund Special Programs Corporation, 2750 Prosperity Ave., Suite 600, Fairfax, VA 22031.
Since 1996, the HIV/AIDS Orientation and Professional Education Program (HOPE) has sought to reduce the rate of new HIV infections among African American youth, strengthen prevention programming at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and increase the number of African American graduates entering the health professions. Between 1996 and 2000, HOPE awarded competitive one year grants to nine HBCUs to enhance curricular and co-curricular programs with HIV/AIDS information. Technical assistance was provided from HOPE to launch and sustain projects within the university and surrounding communities at these schools. HOPE developed the document, Images of HOPE: HIV/AIDS Prevention Programs at Nine HBCUs, which profiles HIV prevention programming at these nine institutions. Of the nine HBCU campuses participating in the grants programs: 56 faculty were trained in HIV/AIDS education, 91 courses were revised to contain HIV/AIDS components, and over 1,700 students attended other activities on HIV/AIDS offered on campus. Institutions participating in the grants program reported increases in the number of campus events offered, strengthening of the campus infrastructure through campus advisory panels, collaboration with academic departments, counseling centers, health services, faith and community-based organizations, and local health departments. HBCUs can make important contributions to HIV/AIDS-related fields through campus-based programming, collaboration with community-based resources, faculty research, and student involvement. HOPE is a catalyst for HBCU involvement in health promotion efforts beyond the topic of HIV/AIDS prevention. Faculty are more confident about addressing other related health disparity issues, seeking funding, and developing collaborative relationships as a result of their experience with HOPE.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: College Students, African American
Related Web page: www.uncfsp.org/hope
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.