1. Viviendo valiente AIDS Arms, Inc.
Executive Director, Community & Client Services
Martha A. Guerrero, BA
AIDS Arms, Inc.
Manisha H. Maskay, Ph.D.
Program Director
Principal investigator

2. Viviendo valiente Project overview
Other Latinos = 17%
Importance of Viviendo Valiente
Latinos - 38% of the 2,368,139 Dallas Co. population (Census, 2010)
Mexicans - 83% of Dallas Co. Latino population (Pew Hispanic Center)
Dallas area Latinos were most likely to receive late dx (Ryan White, 2010)
36% - AIDS dx within one year of HIV dx (Ryan White, 2010)
29% - AIDS dx within one month of HIV dx (Ryan White, 2010)
Mexican = 83%
Core Objectives
Identify and recruit HIV positive and at-risk individuals of Mexican descent, 18 years of age or older
Link and engage HIV+ individuals in care/treatment
Remove barriers to testing and care

3. Viviendo valiente Project overview
What makes this project unique and innovative?
Use of a multi-layered approach to promote prevention, HIV testing and linkage to care, address stigma and other key factors to promote engagement:
Family and community orientation
Community engagement using a health/wellness approach
Significant collaboration with community partners within and outside of the HIV continuum of care
Leveraging of opportunities provided by cultural, festive, sports and other events

4. Partners and collaborators
Internal Programs
Intensive linkage to care
Case management
Prevention
Behavioral Health
Peabody Health Ctr.
Trinity Health/Wellness Ctr.
The
Community Partners
Los Barrios Unidos Clinic
LULAC Dallas Rainbow Council
Univision DFW
Trans Pride Initiative
Proyecto Inmigrante
Kaliente (Gay, Latino bar)
Mexican Consulate …
Strengthen Collaborations
Latino Cultural Center
Teatro Dallas
AIDS Interfaith Network
AIDS Education & Training Ctr
Dallas Concilio
Dallas City Council
County Commissioners …

5. Intervention description
Service delivery setting
Dallas County
Priority population
Mexican, 18 or older, positive or at high risk for HIV
Staffing
3 Promotores de Salud (PdS)
Data Management Specialist
Program Director
Principal Investigator

6. Intervention description
Viviendo Valiente services and activities will occur at the community, family , group and individual level and will include–
Community assessment to understand needs, barriers and ‘what matters’ to priority population
Community events planned and implemented in partnership with priority population, the advisory board and community partners
framed by overall health & wellness objectives
set within cultural, festive, health, and family themes
providing HIV education and testing when appropriate
Family level relationship building by PdS to build trust, address stigma, promote healthy behaviors
Group intervention, Eban to be tailored for priority population and provided to participants
Individual guidance and support provided by PdS to promote linkage to care for HIV positive individuals and ensure retention

7. Intervention description
Recruitment strategies –
Engage priority population to clarify needs, barriers to care, preferences
Outreach at community events by volunteers and PdS
Social media
Traditional referrals
Enrollment and linkage to care strategy –
Motivational Interviewing to achieve readiness
Use of the Intensive Linkage to Care strategy based on ARTAS
Strategic use of incentives to promote participation
Retention strategy -
Ongoing engagement with PdS and/or case manager to resolve barriers to care
EBAN intervention to promote empowerment
Engagement with activities sponsored by the HIVE and Viviendo Valiente
Close monitoring of attendance at medical and other appointments and quick follow up when appointments are missed
Client incentives –
Strategically provided to promote participation in study activities, getting tested, attendance at medical appointments and retention

8. Local evaluation Goals and objectives of the local evaluation
To determine whether the key components of the Viviendo Valiente model were developed and implemented as set forth in the plan
To determine whether existing AIDS Arms programs provide culturally congruent services to the priority population
To evaluate the effectiveness of the EBAN intervention for the priority population
To select one critical priority area brought forth by the Community Assessment for further in depth study
IRB: who will prepare protocol and which IRB will you work with?
AIDS Arms Evaluator/PI
Independent IRB - TBD

9. Local evaluation Methods to be used Focus groups Surveys
Key informant and client interviews
Client record review
Desired study participants and their role in the evaluation
As previously described
Data collection instruments and strategies to be employed
TBD

10. Local evaluation Data analysis approaches to be used TBD
Agency’s dissemination of key findings
Workshops offered through local, regional and national forums including conferences
Meetings with partner agencies through the AIDS Arms Network of Affiliated Agencies, Ryan White Planning Council, etc.
White papers
Articles published in journals focusing on practice and services.
Others TBD

11. Project timeline for year 1
Start up activities (months 1-6)
Notify key stakeholders
Hire/train program director and staff
Form local evaluation team/plan
Initiate IRB approval process.
Engage collaborators
Create Advisory Council
Evaluation planning & implementation
Participate in initial meeting with ETAC
Initiation of demonstration project (months 7-12)
Conduct community assessment
Develop marketing materials
Develop protocols
Launch programs and activities
Conduct process monitoring
Modify Eban Model to be Mexican-centric
Key programmatic milestones
Program Director hired
Process of PdS selection started

12. ¡Gracias!
Martha A. Guerrero, BA Program Director | Viviendo Valiente Manisha H. Maskay, Ph.D. Principal Investigator Executive Director, Community and Client Services | AIDS Arms, Inc.