Project of Intermediate Advocates (PIA) - Washington, DC, United States
The Project of Intermediate Advocates (PIA) is a community health advocacy organisation that works to address health disparities in underserved communities in Washington, DC by encouraging people to learn about their health through the Internet. A central project is the AHEAD initiative, which involves health fair/outreach sessions and computer training in accessing health information, especially in the area of HIV/AIDS prevention, on the Internet.
Communication Strategies
As part of the AHEAD initiative, free monthly training sessions are offered in the Washington, DC area for all local residents, clients, and staff of community health organisations. These sessions focus on accessing information provided online by the National Library of Medicine (NLM), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HIV/AIDS organisations, and community resources in education, housing, jobs, and child and family care. A special emphasis is on translating public health information in order to open avenues for communication about health and disease and to encourage individuals to take charge of their own health through early disease testing and health education. PIA also conducts AHEAD training at its office site specifically for HIV-positive persons, who then may be enrolled in a stipend programme to perform community demonstrations of the AHEAD training.
PIA has organised a campaign that offers community presentations and certificate-based hands-on computer workshops to people living with HIV and the people who serve them. Monthly workshops host community residents where trainers teach basic web navigation skills, evaluation strategies for electronic information, and specific web resources on HIV/AIDS and other health issues. Presenters also visit AIDS day treatment centres and community associations to demonstrate health information resources.
PIA also works in an advocacy and consulting capacity to organise meetings with pharmaceutical companies, churches, and HIV-involved community-based organisations throughout the region in an attempt to foster collaborations. For instance, building on the strength of Afro-American religions, PIA began developing Health Ministries in local churches and identified each participating church as a place for AIDS 101 classes and an HIV (Ora Sure) community test site.
PIA has organised a campaign that offers community presentations and certificate-based hands-on computer workshops to people living with HIV and the people who serve them. Monthly workshops host community residents where trainers teach basic web navigation skills, evaluation strategies for electronic information, and specific web resources on HIV/AIDS and other health issues. Presenters also visit AIDS day treatment centres and community associations to demonstrate health information resources.
PIA also works in an advocacy and consulting capacity to organise meetings with pharmaceutical companies, churches, and HIV-involved community-based organisations throughout the region in an attempt to foster collaborations. For instance, building on the strength of Afro-American religions, PIA began developing Health Ministries in local churches and identified each participating church as a place for AIDS 101 classes and an HIV (Ora Sure) community test site.
Development Issues
Technology, Health, HIV/AIDS.
Key Points
Southeast Washington, DC is a historically low income African-American community. HIV infection rates in Washington, DC have been compared to some of the most devastated countries in Africa. PIA contends that access to health-related information (particularly on HIV/AIDS prevention) is crucial to addressing this problem.
PIA is currently seeking funds for laptop computers to conduct on-site training in the DC area.
PIA is currently seeking funds for laptop computers to conduct on-site training in the DC area.
Partners
PIA, NLM.
Sources
Letter sent from Abdul-ali Muhammad to The Communication Initiative on September 2 2002; American Public Health Association site.
Comments
This is from Abdul-ali Muhammad adding another feature and thanking you for the wonderful work you'll done.
Please add [-PIA enrolls proactive persons living with HIV/AIDS in a stipended program to perform community demonstrations of the AHEAD training.]
also: We are now conducting the AHEAD training (monthly) at our office site, specificly for HIV positive persons
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