REGION IX

National

THE LOTUS PROJECT
A Women’s HIV Peer Educator Training Project

The Lotus Project is a collaboration between The Center for Health Training (CHT) and Women Organized to Respond to Life Threatening Disease (WORLD) to develop and implement Peer Advocacy Education Trainings around the country. The program targets women and provides an opportunity for a community centered approach to address the disproportionate impact of HIV among this population in the US.

The Lotus Project is a five year national project funded through the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) which seeks to collaborate with local community partners (organizations serving HIV positive women) to implement the peer education training as well as to provide technical assistance to incorporate peer educators into care teams.

Topics:
The Lotus Project Peer Advocacy Training will give you the opportunity to learn:

• What it means to be a peer educator/advocate;
• Understanding key concepts of being a peer advocate including communication skills, countertransference, confidentiality, creating boundaries;
• How to address the challenges of being a peer advocate;
• How to embrace your own power as a woman to help HIV positive women;
• HIV 101 Basics; Up-to-date HIV care and treatment information;
• How to navigate systems of care to serve clients;
• How mental health, substance use and HIV are related; and
• How to develop and sustain working relationships with clients, providers, and supervisors...and much, much more!

Who Is This For?
The Lotus Training is for women interested in helping HIV+ women in their communities and those who would like to learn skills to becoming peer advocates.

For Health Care Providers and AIDS Service Organizations

• Opportunity for collaboration and involvement in a national effort to reach and train HIV positive women
• Technical assistance to incorporate peers into practice
• Technical assistance to ASOs to set up or expand their peer program
• Learn how to manage and sustain a peer advocacy program at your agency

Contact Project Director for collaboration opportunities.

Women’s organizations we have collaborated with:

• WORLD – Oakland, CA – www.womenhiv.org
• Christie’s Place – San Diego, CA – www.christiesplace.org
• Mujeres Unidas Contra el SIDA (Women United Against AIDS) – San Antonio, TX
• Women Rising Project (AIDS Services of Austin) – Austin, TX
• SisterLove, Inc. – Atlanta, GA – www.sisterlove.org
• SMART, Inc. – New York, NY – www.smartuniversity.org
• Babes Network/YWCA – Seattle, WA – www.babesnetwork.org

Helpful Materials for Peer Advocates:

• Peer Educator Code Of Ethics
• When Is It Ok For A Peer To Break Confidentiality
• Sample Peer/Client Confidentiality Agreement
• Countertransference And How To Deal With It
• 10 Things To Enhance Your Emotional Well-Being If You Are HIV Positive
• First Meeting With A Client – A Sample Form For Peers
• Sample Peer/Client Contact Form
• Am I Ready To Be A Peer Advocate? – Worksheet

Helpful Materials for ASOs who work with Peer Advocates: (Click to Download)

• Sample Peer Advocate Job Description
• How To Introduce A Peer To Your Clients – Guide For Health Care Providers

© 2006 Center for Health Training