CAI NEWS
May
2010   Vol. 3, No. 1 

Quarterly Newsletter
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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

 

As many of you may know, Rear Admiral Robert L. Davidson, LCSW passed away on April 9, 2010 after a long illness. Robert served as the Regional Health Administrator for US Public Health Service, Region II. During his time in HHS Region II, Robert was a steadfast and devoted public servant, overseeing the public health response to the World Trade Center attack, helping to organize the New York State Suicide Prevention Council, leading the development of a statewide suicide prevention plan, and facilitating the development of a regional network of Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) units that influenced the creation of similar MRC programs in other regions.
 
Earlier in his career, from 1982-1984, Robert was one of the first social workers to work with the rapidly increasing population of people living with AIDS in New York City and he later took this experience to the Pediatric HIV/AIDS Program at the National Cancer Institute. I have always admired Robert's incredible work in the field as he was a true innovator and inspirational leader. I consider myself lucky to have had the opportunity to work with Robert, and to have known him personally. 
 
It is an honor for me to pay tribute to an incredible man, compassionate leader, and dedicated colleague. On behalf of Cicatelli Associates Inc. I would like to send our heartfelt sympathy to Robert's loved ones. Robert leaves behind an incredible legacy. He will be deeply missed. 

Barbara Cicatelli
President

 

NATIONAL NEWS
 

Avon Breast Health Outreach Programs: New Name, Same Mission

CAI has been managing the Avon Foundation Breast Care Fund for the Avon Foundation for Women (AFW) for more than ten years and at the February 21, 2010 Avon Forum in San Francisco, the Foundation announced a new name for the project: Avon Breast Health Outreach Programs (BHOP).
 
This important project will continue with its mission of reaching women most in need of breast health education and screening services. Through the programs, financial support will remain focused in supporting community-based organizations providing education and outreach to medically underserved women, including low-income, older, and minority women. For more information, visit www.avonbhop.org.
 

Tobacco Control Training Project Re-funded for Five More Years

The Tobacco Control Training Project at CAI is pleased to announce that the NYS Tobacco Control Program (NY TCP) has re-funded the project for another five years. A statewide collaboration will build on the population-based prevention training and capacity building CAI has provided since 2005 to more than 150 NY TCP contractors. Training includes skills development in reaching out to decision makers to pass local and state policies, media advocacy, and social marketing. CAI looks forward to growing this cutting edge and important partnership.

 

CAI to Present at 2010 International AIDS Conference in Vienna

CAI submitted seven abstracts for presentation at the XVIII International AIDS Conference, which will take place in Vienna, Austria, from July 18-23, 2010. Three of the seven submissions were accepted for poster presentations and two were selected for inclusion as electronic posters in the Conference proceedings.
 

CAI staff will be attending the conference and presenting on the following topics: "An Assessment of Home Based Care among Regular Service Clients with HIV in Guyana," "Building PWA Capacity in Self Management and Advocacy Skills through Training and Mentoring," and "A Serological and Behavioral Assessment of HIV Infection in the Belize Defense Force."
 

According to the conference website, "The International AIDS Conference is the premier gathering for those working in the field of HIV/AIDS, policy makers, persons living with HIV and other individuals committed to ending the pandemic. It is a chance to assess where we are, evaluate recent scientific developments and lessons learnt, and collectively chart a course forward. Given the 2010 deadline for universal access set by world leaders, IAC 2010 will coincide with a major push for expanded access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support."
 

The theme for IAC 2010 is "Rights Here, Right Now," which focuses on the critical connection between human rights and HIV. In addition to plenaries, workshops, presentations and posters, there are plans for increasing opportunities for discourse and dialogue amongst attendees, with the goal of fostering greater cooperation and collaboration across the globe. For more on the conference, visit www.AIDS2010.org.

 

Preliminary Results From Breast Cancer Screening Evaluation Study Presented at Avon Forum

According to preliminary findings from an evaluation study funded by the Avon Foundation, community-based outreach programs targeting medically underserved women can help increase the proportion of women who have regular mammograms. Among clients aged 40 and over that are attending Avon-funded Breast Health Outreach Programs (BHOP) and report ever having had a mammogram, returning clients appear to be more likely to have been screened within the last one to two years than new clients.
 

The supplemental evaluation was conducted by the CAI Evaluation Team in collaboration with James Bell Associates Inc. and two expert co-authors from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. Kelly Morrison Opdyke, MPH, Senior Program Associate for Special Projects for CAI, presented the findings at the national Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Forum in San Francisco in February 2010. The survey was developed based on qualitative telephone interviews with 20 agencies and administered to all 121 current Avon BHOP grantees in March 2009.
 

CAI is currently working with the evaluation team to finalize a manuscript that will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal for publication.
 

Assessment of Chlamydia Retesting and Positivity Rates Presented at STD Prevention Symposium

On behalf of the Region II Infertility Prevention Project (IPP), CAI organized and presented as part of a symposium with colleagues in Region IX (California) and Region X (Seattle) at the National STD Prevention Conference in Atlanta in March. The symposium addressed methods for measuring rates of chlamydia retesting in relation to CDC guidelines, and interventions for improving rates.

CAI's assessment data found that retesting rates are low (less than 50 percent) and repeat Ct positivity is high (greater than 10 percent) within 3-12 months, and that both retesting and repeat positivity are higher for younger females as well as those retested after 99 days. The CAI team is using facility-level data for STD and FP providers in Region II as part of quality improvement efforts.

 

CAI Atlanta Hosts Technical Assistance Workshop with the Imani Project

CAI Atlanta, the Center for Capacity Development, recently collaborated with the Morehouse School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Imani Project to host a technical assistance workshop on grant writing for local community-based organizations. The Imani Project is an HIV/AIDS/Hepatitis and Substance Abuse prevention project funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Its goal is to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS and to prevent early experimentation with alcohol/tobacco and other drugs among African American and underserved youth ages 13-25 and their families. Approximately 25 community- and faith-based organizations from the metro Atlanta area attended the training delivered by CAI Atlanta Office Center Director, Cassandra Malone.

For more than five years, CAI Atlanta has supported the efforts of the Imani Project to train local organizations on HIV/AIDS related topics. One of the goals of the CAI Atlanta Office is to build the capacity of local providers to address issues contributing to health disparities in their communities. Cicatelli Associates is pleased to support local communities as they provide essential services to vulnerable populations in the metropolitan Atlanta area. To learn more about the CAI Atlanta office, visit www.cicatelli.org/CCD/.

 

Title X Region IV Update

The Regional Training Center (RTC) for Family Planning, CAI Atlanta is committed to supporting Title X providers in offering culturally appropriate services that meet the needs of adolescents. To support this effort the RTC hosted a region-wide webinar for the eight states and ten grantees of Region IV entitled Adolescent Clinical Services: A Shift in the Paradigm. More than 300 attendees from the Southeastern states of Region IV participated in the training.

The overall focus of the distance learning training was to provide information to support clinicians on how and why to administer "Quick Start" hormonal contraceptives in adolescents. The webinar also discussed new clinical practices and protocols for adolescents that included information on rethinking the IUD for adolescents, new protocols on the pelvic exam, and STD screening and treatment. The Region IV RTC's goal was to build clinicians' skills in recognizing the unique environments of adolescents and their decisions regarding contraceptives.

 

CAI Launches Company-Wide Health Initiative

Recognizing the significance of healthy eating and active living for improved health outcomes and reduced morbidity, CAI has started a new internal program for staff called Healthy CAI. Healthy CAI includes the adoption of the NYS Healthy Eating guidelines for our offices as well as CAI trainings. Some changes include removing candy from public spaces and providing smaller portion sizes of healthier foods, such as more fruits and vegetables.

Healthy CAI was initiated and is led by a group of staff committed to health, fitness, and wellness. The team meets monthly to discuss new initiatives and best practices for improving staff awareness and motivation around health and fitness. Some of the healthy eating and active living programs being implemented include an internal e-newsletter to provide helpful information and tips to staff and the availability of fitness classes, wellness workshops, and other programs. For more information on Healthy CAI activities, please contact Banghee Chi at banghee@cicatelli.org.

 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Dominican Republic

CAI's International Division is currently implementing an adherence Early Alert Intervention program in collaboration with DIGECITSS (Dirección General de Control de Infecciones de Transmisión Sexual y SIDA) and five pilot sites in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, with funding from COPRESIDA/Global Fund. The systems-level intervention uses a set of key indicators, or "red flags," to identify clients before they become non-adherent to treatment, in order to help them maintain treatment and keep them in care.

The program consists of the following components: CAI provides training and technical assistance on identifying the Early Alert indicators to multidisciplinary teams composed of physicians, nurses, psychologists, and peer educators. Multidisciplinary team members implement the Early Alert system in their respective clinics, identifying interventions for patients when "red flags" are identified. The implementation of the interventions is monitored through data collection, reporting forms, and a database developed by CAI. Additionally, the five clinics are using an action learning approach to ensure rapid adoption and utilization, whereby they share implementation experiences and lessons learned.

The first training for this pilot was conducted in February of this year with multidisciplinary team members and clinic supervisors. The focus of the training was defining the Early Alert Indicators, introducing data collection forms, and identifying the roles of the various members of the multidisciplinary team needed to implement this system. After the first training, local CAI staff provided technical assistance to each clinic to assist in the implementation of the system as well as the use of the data collection and reporting forms.

A second training was since held during the week of April 12 to discuss implementation successes and challenges, identify knowledge and skills necessary for program implementation, and to practice communication skills and documentation for monitoring and reporting. CAI is currently in the process of applying for a follow-on contract to continue work with DIGECITSS in this program.

 

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