Regional Training Center Course Descriptions
See a list of upcoming trainings and register on our training calendar.
Health Literacy in HIV, STI, and Viral Hepatitis Care
This two-hour webinar will provide health and human services providers an overview of health literacy and give participants the opportunity to develop skills utilizing health literacy universal precautions to clearly communicate with patients or clients. At completion of this training, participants will be able to apply two health literacy strategies, plain language and teach back method, into their work.
As a result of this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Define health literacy, the health literacy disconnect in healthcare, and how this affects patients and the public
- Learn about two health literacy universal precautions, plain language and teach back method, to improve communication and patient understanding
- Develop plain language and teach back facilitation skills
- Identify common concerns and challenges associated with incorporating plain language and teach back method with all patients
Target Audience
Health and human service providers and peer workers.
HCV Treatment Update for Health and Human Services Providers
This two-hour webinar will describe the role of non-clinical health and human services providers in supporting clients living with chronic hepatitis C as they consider starting hepatitis C treatment. Participants will become familiar with current guidelines regarding treatment, issues relating to treatment access, and patient assistance resources.
As a result of this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Describe the recent progress in treatment options for patients living with hepatitis C (shorter duration, fewer side effects, better health outcomes)
- Describe the importance of engaging in primary care, regardless of the client’s intent to undergo treatment
- Identify strategies to support clients as they prepare for and engage in HCV treatment
- Define sustained virologic response (SVR)
- Discuss strategies to address the risk of reinfection with clients who achieve SVR
Target Audience
All health and human service providers.
Hepatitis C Prevention for LGB and TGNC Individuals and Communities
This two-hour webinar will review the basic information about hepatitis C that health and human service providers should discuss with program participants who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual (LGB) or Transgender/Gender Non-Conforming (TGNC). This webinar will explore the practices that may place LGB and TGNC people at risk for HCV transmission and identify harm reduction strategies to reduce their risk. Screening recommendations and key considerations for HCV care and treatment in LGB and TGNC clients will be addressed.
As a result of this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Review basic information about HCV prevention, transmission, screening, diagnosis, care and treatment
- Explore HCV risk and identify harm reduction options for LGB and TGNC health
- Discuss the benefits of HCV testing and connection to care
- Identify HCV prevention messages using harm reduction to educate LGB and TGNC clients
- Address common concerns that LGB and TGN clients may have regarding HCV care and treatment
Target Audience
All health and human service providers, including peer workers.
Implementing a Sex-positive Approach
This webinar series will prepare non-physician health and human services providers with the knowledge, attitudes, and skills needed to employ a non-judgmental, sex positive approach during all interactions with clients. The course will be delivered in six parts over three days for a total of 13.0 hours of training.
As a result of this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Demonstrate comfort talking about sexual health, sexual behavior, and sexual pleasure
- Demonstrate comfort using either medical terms or slang terms for different sexual behaviors and parts of human genitalia
- Be familiar with the practice of using substances to enhance sexual pleasure
- Discuss the risk of HIV transmission during different sexual behaviors and present a range of harm reduction options
- Share client-centered, culturally appropriate messages about HIV treatment as prevention and U=U
- Explain PrEP as an empowering, sex-positive biomedical intervention for HIV prevention without using scare tactics
- Explain birth control/contraceptive options with clients in a culturally responsive manner
- Use open-ended questions when asking clients about their sexual desires and experiences, and actively listen to responses
- Use affirming language around gender identify, gender expression, sexuality and sexual orientation
Target audience
Non-physician health and human services providers who work with clients/patients at risk for HIV or STIs, including prevention specialists, PrEP specialists, peer workers, case managers, care managers and coordinators, social workers, client services staff.
Introduction to Sexual Health
This 4-hour training (two, 2-hour webinars) will prepare non-physician health and human service providers with the knowledge and skills for providing stigma-free, affirming, sex-positive interactions with all clients.
Participants will learn that sexual health is the ability to embrace and enjoy sexuality throughout one’s life. It is a natural and normal part of overall health and is more than avoiding disease and unwanted pregnancy. This training will introduce participants to the belief that sexual health and sexuality are an important part of one’s emotional and physical health.
As a result of this half-day training, care coordinators and other non-physician health and human service providers will be able to:
- Identify the six principles of sexual health
- Assist clients in recognizing the sexual rights of all beings
- Help clients access sexual health information and services
- Demonstrate a sex-positive approach to interactions with clients by recognizing that sexuality is natural and sexual pleasure, intimacy, and satisfaction are an integral part of overall health
Meeting and Working with Clients Remotely
This two-hour webinar will assist participants in building knowledge and skills to more effectively deliver services to clients remotely.
As a result of this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Describe the benefits and challenges of meeting with clients remotely
- List at least two resources for meeting with clients remotely
- Describe at least three key considerations for meeting with clients remotely
Target Audience
Non-medical human service providers, including peers and peer workers, who meet with and/or work with clients remotely.
Role of Non-Clinicians in Promoting PREP
Pre-exposure prophylaxis is an important addition to the HIV prevention toolbox, especially for individuals at highest risk of acquiring HIV. This two-hour webinar will prepare non-clinical health and human services providers to educate their communities about PrEP, work with clinical providers to expand access to PrEP and provide support to clients who are taking PrEP.
As a result of this training, participants will be able to:
- Deliver culturally relevant educational messages about PrEP to clients who may benefit from this intervention
- Discuss the efficacy of PrEP in terms that clients can understand;
- Refer clients to a host of NYS, NYC, national and local resources regarding PrEP including the PrEP/PEP Voluntary Provider Directory
- Identify resources to assist clients with reimbursement for PrEP medication, medical appointments, HIV/STD testing and other prevention tools such as condoms, sterile syringes, etc.
- Integrate messages about PrEP into HIV/STD testing and other prevention services offered by the organization
- Assist clients on PrEP with behavioral counseling and support daily adherence to the medication
Target Audience
The principal target audience is non-clinical health and human services staff who:
- Are involved in offering HIV testing, harm reduction counseling, prevention services, community outreach or adherence support
- Work with individuals at high risk for HIV who have an opportunity to provide education or support regarding PrEP
- Who work in clinical settings who may have an opportunity to provide education or support around PrEP
- Peer workers who work with people at risk with HIV and STDs
Safe Sex During COVID-19
This two-hour webinar outlines the rationale and best practices for talking to clients about how they can protect themselves and minimize their risk of COVID-19 transmission.
As a result of this training, participants will be able to:
- Recall accurate information about sex and COVID-19
- Recall best practices for talking to clients about COVID-19
- Promote how to minimize the risks of COVID-19 during sexual activities using our trauma-informed skills
- Identify next steps and support
Target Audience
All health and human service providers.
Trauma and Its Impact on Clients with HIV/STIs/HCV
This two-hour webinar will introduce providers to trauma and the impact on clients with HIV/STIs/HCV. This course will review the definition of trauma and trauma informed care.
At the end of this training, participants will be able to:
- Define trauma and list examples of trauma that clients with HIV/STIs/HCV encounter
- Describe the ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) Study and its importance to providers
- Define trauma informed care
- List at least five triggers that may re-traumatize clients with HIV/STIs/HCV
Target Audience
All non-physician health and human service providers who work with people living with HIV/STIs/HCV.
