Prevention Programs

AIDS Response Effort receives funding to implement evidence based interventions that target populations which are determined to be at high risk for contracting HIV. The goal is to educate and provide tools for behavior change resulting in reduction of risk behaviors that may lead to acquiring or transmitting HIV.

What is Community PROMISE? Community PROMISE (“Peers Reaching Out and Modeling Intervention Strategies”) is a community- level Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) prevention intervention program backed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). AIDS Response Effort (ARE) Community PROMISE team works to educate our community about HIV/AIDS and how to reduce one’s risk of contracting HIV.

To accomplish this, we rely on the help of Peer Advocates—which include anyone from the Men Who Have Sex With Men (MSM) or Transgender communities who have made a positive change in their sexual behavior which reduces their risk of contracting HIV. Ways of reducing risk include things such as increasing condom use and/or reducing the number of sexual partners. By sharing their personal stories, along with distributing Role Model Stories and other prevention tools, our Peer Advocates help to inspire other community members to make safe and positive behavior changes, and reduce the spread of HIV in our community.

Volunteer With Us

Volunteering with Community PROMISE as a Peer Advocate is a great way to give back to your community. Here are some reasons why you should consider becoming a Peer Advocate:

1. Learn about how HIV impacts the community YOU live in
2. Help prevent the people YOU know from contracting HIV
3. Advocate and spread the word about the virus
4. Act as a Role Model to others in the community and inspire them to make safer behavior changes
5. Let others know what they can do to prevent the spread of HIV
6. Let the HIV+ members of your community know how ARE, and agencies like ARE, can help them live a happier and healthier lives!

If you are interested in volunteering with the Community PROMISE Program as a Peer Advocate, or would like to share your Role Model Story, please contact ARE for more information.

Share Your Story

Below are a few of our current community Role Models. Roll your cursor over the picture below to get the story.

Comprehensive Risk Counseling and Services (CRCS)

A client‐centered HIV prevention counseling 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. CRCS provides intensive, ongoing, individualized prevention counseling, support and services. This HIV prevention activity addresses the relationship between HIV risk and other issues, such as substance use disorders, STD treatment, mental health and social and cultural factors.

Healthy Relationships

Healthy Relationships is a DEBI based on the Social Cognitive Theory and incorporates five small‐group sessions for men and women living with HIV/AIDS. This intervention focuses on developing decision‐making and problem‐solving skills, allowing individuals to make informed and safe decisions about disclosure and behavior. Healthy Relationships is highly adaptable for subpopulations of persons living with HIV/AIDS and can be adaptable for various settings, including clinical and community‐based settings. The HCPC recommends Healthy Relationships for people living with HIV/ AIDS.

Health Communication/Public Information

The delivery of planned HIV/AIDS prevention messages through one or more channels to encourage safe behavior, personal risk‐reduction efforts, the use of HIV prevention services and changing community norms. Channels of delivery include: community/health fairs, presentation/lectures, electronic and print media.

Health Education/Risk Reduction

A set of prevention activities provided to individuals or groups to assist clients in making plans for individual behavior change, promote and reinforce safer behaviors and provide interpersonal skills training in negotiating and sustaining appropriate behavior change. Activities range from individual HIV prevention counseling to group interventions to broad, community‐based interventions.