COUNSELING AND TESTING PROGRAM
Free Counseling and Testing - The Regional
HIV/AIDS Consortium provides free and confidential HIV and
syphilis tests at various substance abuse facilities. Currently
testing is being conducted at the McLeod Addictive Disease
Center, Inc. as well as the Chemical Dependency Center in
collaboration with the Mecklenburg County Health Department.
Please call (704) 531-2467 ext. 21 for more information.
P.R.O.T.E.C.T. Yourself! - The Regional
HIV/AIDS Consortium also offers a unique program at McLeod
Addictive Disease Center, Inc.called P.R.O.T.E.C.T. Yourself!
It is an HIV prevention & sexual harm reduction program
designed specifically for individuals in Opioid Treatment.
It provides participants with the knowledge, motivation, and
skills they need to help facilitate their recovery and to
make informed choices in order to reduce harm to themselves
and others. The program consists of twelve 1.5-hour sessions
that provide sexual harm reduction techniques, promote healthy
lifestyle choices, and integrate the participants’ spiritual
needs into recovery. Participants who complete all 12 sessions
will be eligible to participate in a graduation ceremony.
Program Description:
The Regional HIV/AIDS Consortium’s Counseling and Testing
Program is a comprehensive program to provide a continuum
of care from prevention/outreach and HIV/STD counseling and
testing to referral for enrollment in care. A combination
of social marketing efforts, provision of after hours HIV
testing sites, HIV/STD education sessions and client-centered
counseling are utilized to deliver services to our target
population for Program Area Three (HIV/STD Non-traditional
Testing and Referral Sites). These three target populations
are: (1) Men Who Have Sex with Men, (2) Heterosexual Men and
Women (African American and Latino), and (3) Young Adults
specifically receiving treatment in substance abuse facilities.
The implementation of all four interventions will provide
a comprehensive program to stem the tide of new HIV infections,
change high-risk behaviors and provide access to care services.
Science-based Intervention:
Client-centered HIV prevention counseling involves two face-to-face
sessions with a certified provider or counselor. Clients are
physically present at a setting for the HIV test (pre-test
session) and then return for HIV test results (post-test session).
The first session encourages clients to identify and acknowledge
behaviors that put them at risk for acquiring HIV. This session
is designed to allow the counselor to help the client identify
ways to reduce their risk. The second session allows the counselor
to discuss the test results and explore risk reduction steps
attempted since the last visit. Pre-test counseling are done
either in a group setting or individually depended upon the
amount of people who want to be tested and the time allotted
at each facility. Post-test counseling is done individually.
A certified phlebotomist will draw the blood specimens.
Reaching the Clients:
The Regional HIV/AIDS Consortium schedules HIV/syphilis testing
sites within substance abuse facilities during traditional
and non-traditional hours. These services are offered voluntarily
to clients at these facilities. We schedule additional testing
sites as the need and opportunity become apparent. The testing
sites have flyers prior to testing to inform residents of
the free and confidential HIV and syphilis testing. Brochures
and fact sheets are available to all clients during prevention
sessions as well as during counseling and testing sessions.
Condoms will also be provided if the testing site allows them
to be given to their residents.
HIV prevention counseling and testing is offered on a voluntary
basis. All clients requesting HIV counseling and testing are
also offered syphilis counseling and testing. Selected testing
sites offer mandatory HIV/STD sessions to their residents
at the request of the on-site Program Manager. After each
prevention session, voluntary counseling and testing for HIV
and syphilis is offered. Bus passes, food coupons, movie tickets
or other incentive items may be offered at selected locations
for people to be tested and/or for the client’s to return
and receive their test results.
The post-test sessions focus on assisting clients in developing
a behavior change plan that is realistic and incremental to
reduce their risks.
Collaborations and Referrals:
The Regional HIV/AIDS Consortium collaborates with various
organizations during the implementation of these projects,
as means of support, promotion and as referrals for clients.
The testing sites are scheduled in advance with memorandum
of agreement letters. The phlebotomists also receive memorandum
of agreement letters outlining their responsibility to our
organization.
Individuals receive their test results from the facility where
they were tested or they may get them from the Mecklenburg
County Health Department. Test results are usually back in
three weeks. As the need demands, we can arrange an appointment
for a client to receive their test results in person at a
location that is convenient to them. All clients that receive
counseling and testing will receive appropriate referrals
to area organizations in which we have established relationships
for additional services. All newly identified positive clients
will be referred to case management and medical care.
Peyton Savage, BS, RHEd
Senior Prevention Coordinator
(704) 531-2467 ext. 24
PeytonS@regionalconsortium.org
For more information or to inquire about testing events,
please contact:
Shannon Warren
Senior Prevention and Marketing Coordinator
704-531-2467 ext. 11
ShannonW@regionalconsortium.org
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