DEPARTMENTS

Prevention Department

Outreach and Education

The Metro TeenAIDS Outreach Protocol models the CDC approved DEBI called the “Real AIDS Prevention Project” (RAPP). RAPP outreach is based off of the trans-theoretical model in health psychology that assesses an individual’s readiness to act on a new healthier behavior; and provides strategies, or processes of change to guide the individual through the stages of change ultimately resulting in action and maintenance.

By using this model, MTA targets youth 13-24 that are either HIV positive or at risk for contracting HIV. We do this by conducting street outreach, health fairs, HIV informational presentations and reaching out to youth on popular social networking sites (internet outreach); providing them with the tools, the education and the skills to end the HIV epidemic.

Metro TeenAIDS’ Peer Education Program focuses on leadership development and peer education for youth between the ages of 13-24. Peers go through rigorous training on how to talk with their peers about HIV, sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy and much more. The Peer Education Program consists of 6 groups: Street Team, Young Women of Color Leadership Council (YWOC), RealTalk Reps, Visionary Youth Becoming Empowered (VYBE) Peers, and Spreading Truth is Gaining Mass Appeal (S.T.I.G.M.A.) Peers. For many of the young peer educators working at Metro TeenAIDS, this is their introduction to the workforce and all that comes with it – being on time, following through on your word, working as a team. The work they do is truly remarkable

  • Each Peer team is trained on the same scale and they all share common duties such as condom outreach/stage based encounters and HIV/STI presentations but, each team has a different primary focus.

 

MTA’s Outreach Methods:

  • Street Outreach
  • Community Outreach
  • Internet Outreach
  • Business and Community Based Organization Outreach
  • Presentations

For more information about MTA’s Prevention Department, please contact Nicole Styles at [email protected] or 202.543.9355.

Counseling, Testing, & Referrals (CTR) Department

Counseling, Testing & Referral is provided FREE through Metro TeenAIDS. MTA offers OraQuick Advance testing Monday-Friday from 12pm-8pm. The OraQuick Advance HIV test is a 20 minute oral test with more that 99% accuracy. We also offer STI screenings for both Gonorrhea and Chlamydia through urine based screening. Pregnancy testing is also offered to those female clients interested. Mobile Unit Testing is our newest addition to the testing program. MTA purchased a new Winnebago that can provide testing in the community. Our target population is youth (13-24) with emphasis on those who reside in wards 5-8. (But ALL are welcome)

For more information about MTA’s Counseling, Testing, & Referral (CTR) Department, please contact Sharlene Smiles at [email protected] or 202.543.9355

Evaluations Department

Evaluation is a service department that provides the rest of Metro TeenAIDS with the tools necessary to collect and report data. MTA views data not only as a way to demonstrate program impact externally, but also as a means to self assess and adjust our programs internally in the interest of constant improvement. Evaluation provides services that include creation and editing of survey tools, production of internal outcomes reports for staff and Board of Directors, creation of logic models and corresponding narratives, scanning of survey data into electronic format using scantron technology, creation of protocol and training documents and contributions to grant proposals and reports. The Evaluation department ensures that collection of accurate data is a priority for every department at MTA.

For more information about the Evaluations Department, please contact Kevin Jones at [email protected] or 202.543.0094

Public Policy Department

The mission of the Policy/Advocacy Department is to further the goals of Metro TeenaAIDS by adding elements of grassroots advocacy to both the at-risk communities of Washington, DC (particularly Wards 5, 6, 7 &8) and the DC Council. This includes the writing of policy briefs, conducting research as well as engaging youth and several different communities and coalitions within the city.

The Policy/Advocacy Department has four primary goals:

  • Spearhead the fight against HIV/AIDS among District youth. MTA will foster and expand partnerships within the local DC community.
  • Improve integration and engagement of youth in local advocacy efforts.
  • Ensure comprehensive reproductive and sexual health education is embedded within health education curricula and sustainable over time.
  • Serve as an information broker to community stakeholders, government officials and policy makers.

For more information about MTA’s Public Policy Department, please contact Geetha Ananthakrishnan at [email protected] or 202.543.8246.


Capacity Building Assistance (CBA) Department

Capacity Talk

Metro TeenAIDS offers free capacity building assistance (CBA) to youth-serving organizations in Washington, D.C. Capacity building generally refers to a process to increase the skills, infrastructure, and resources of individuals, organizations and communities. Capacity building is a key strategy for the promotion, delivery and sustainability of HIV prevention programs. As a result of capacity building on HIV prevention programs, the programs will (1) operate optimally and (2) increase their capacity to effectively deliver evidence-based interventions and core public health strategies for HIV prevention.

Click here to request training.

CBA is designed to assist in implementing and sustaining science-based and culturally proficient HIV prevention behavioral interventions and HIV prevention strategies through 4 ways.

1. Technology transfer – the process by which innovations are diffused among HIV prevention providers to improve how intervention effectiveness and scientific research is translated into programs and practice.

2. Technical assistance – the provision and/or facilitation of culturally relevant and expert programmatic, scientific, and technical advice (mentoring/coaching) and support. CBA providers assist partner organizations in areas such as organizational infrastructure development, program implementation, adaptation and tailoring of behavioral interventions, and evaluation.

3. Training – curricula development, delivery of curricula and coordination of training activities to increase the knowledge, skills and abilities of trainers, educators and service providers. Training focuses on the delivery of effective HIV prevention interventions and strategies, such as prevention counseling, prevention case management and implementation of HIV testing. Training activities also include facilitation skills, recruitment strategies, adaptation and tailoring guidance that increases knowledge, skills, and abilities required to implement HIV prevention interventions, and programs and services. Trainings are provided directly to service providers for implementation or to educators/trainers in a Train-the-Trainer (TOT) format for further dissemination.

4. Information dissemination – distribution and sharing of relevant and current HIV prevention information (reviewed by peer materials review committees prior to dissemination) through print materials, presentations, websites, and mass media.

For more information about MTA’s Capacity Building Assistance (CBA), please contact Leandrea Gillam at [email protected] or 202.543.0094.

Schools Services Department

Metro TeenAIDS Schools Department dispatches young professionals to facilitate our Making Proud Choices, Becoming A Responsible Teen, and Visionary Youth Becoming Empowered programs to youth in DC Public Schools and Public Charter Schools. All of our programs provide a safe, non-judgmental environment for all students.

For more information about MTA’s Schools Department please contact Barry Brinkley, [email protected] or 202.543.0094.