C.H.E.E.R.S Educational Programs

Lunch and Learn conferences provide a forum to educate consumers about the different HIV service providers available in the community and how they can access the important services they provide.

These conferences are also used to provide consumers clinical HIV oriented lectures by the Orange County Health Department clinical and non-clinical staff and by guest speakers invited from the community.

Lunch and Learn conferences are every other Friday.

C.H.E.E.R.S for PEERS Curriculum is a 12 week HIV/AIDS Peer educator development curriculum. The curriculum prepares people living with HIV/AIDS to become Peer Educators. It provides the participant with the basic tools and knowledge to provide effective HIV education, prevention messages and peer support in the community with the goal of improving the adherence of consumers to medical care and to antiretroviral medications. The curriculum is lectured in English and Spanish. The Florida Bureau of HIV recognized the curriculum as a Best Practice.

C.H.E.E.R.S for PEERS Curriculum:

Sample of topics/agenda :

1) HIV and AIDS basic concepts

2) Understanding the labs….

3) Primary care of the HIV+ patient

4. The importance of adherence and how to avoid resistance to the medications

5) The ultimate HAART lecture

6) What I need to know about the opportunistic infections

7) Mental health and substance abuse issues in the HIV+ person

8) Why nutrition is so important

9) Tuberculosis and Sexually Transmitted Diseases

10) Basic concepts about HIV and Hepatitis

11) HIPPA, confidentiality, cultural competence and the Peer Educator

12) Course Review - Take Home

13) Final Exam