HIV Interagency Prevention Collaboration

The HIV Interagency Prevention Collaboration (HIV-IPC) was created in 1995 and is funded through SC DHEC under CDC Program Announcement 04012. It provides HIV prevention, intervention, community-based counseling and testing and referral services. The Spartanburg Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission serves as the lead agency for the collaboration. The HIV-IPC serves Spartanburg, Cherokee and Union Counties providing science-and evidence-based prevention programs. This program is the only HIV Prevention Contractor funded by SC DHEC for this area. The programs utilized to provide services are recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as proven and effective programs that work.

Mission
The HIV-IPC develops community capacity to eliminate the spread of HIV infection among priority populations in Spartanburg, Cherokee and Union counties. The HIV-IPC joins together community agencies and individuals to provide effective HIV prevention and intervention services.

SISTA Project Overview
SISTA Project is a peer-mediated program targeting black women between the ages of 18 and 44. Program participants attend five two-hour weekly group sessions. Sessions focus on topics like gender, ethnic pride, knowledge of HIV risk behaviors, prevention strategies, sexual assertiveness, modeling and role playing for correct condom use, norm setting exercises and coping skills, communication skills and practice of these skills. The program also provides follow-up with 2 booster sessions for participants as needed. Individuals successfully completing this intervention have expressed an increase in correct and consistent condom use, as well as attitude changes toward healthy lifestyle choices.

SISTA is outlined in the CDC’s Procedural Guidance for selected strategies and interventions for Community Based Organizations (CBOs).

VOICES/VOCES Overview
Video Opportunities for Innovative Condom Education and Safer Sex is a group-level, single-session video-based intervention designed to increase condom use among heterosexual African-American and Latino men and women. Health educators convene small group sessions (4-8 clients) in a space, which allows privacy for discussion. Groups are gender and ethnic specific, so that participants can develop prevention strategies appropriate for their culture. Information on HIV risk behavior and condom use is delivered by videos, facilitated group discussion and a poster board presenting features of various condom brands. Culturally specific videos are utilized. Skills in condom use and negotiation are modeled in the videos, through role play and practiced by participants during the discussion that follows.

HIV-IPC Member Organizations

• American Red Cross (Piedmont and Cherokee County Chapters)
• DHEC (Appalachia III Health District)
• Cherokee Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission
• DSS
• Family Care Council
• Limestone College
• Piedmont Care Consortium, Inc.
• Safe Homes/Rape Crisis Coalition
• Spartanburg Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission
• Spartanburg Health Planning Commission
• Spartanburg Methodist College
• USC- Upstate
• Wofford College

For more information please call: 888.802.8252 or 864.585.8252.

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