CISWH Project Resources

In 2014, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) and Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) launched a project to develop an acuity tool to assess the severity of needs of clients living with HIV. The CAHPP team worked with MDPH and BPHC staff to create an acuity tool that assesses client needs in 13 areas of functioning and four categories of severity. The CAHPP team conducted a pilot test of the tool with medical case management providers in 38 agencies across MA and NH and evaluated the results. A link to the tool and final evaluation report appears below. The report provided MDPH Office of HIV/AIDS with the credibility and information to talk with providers about necessary modifications and finalize the tool for dissemination in HIV CM programs. The MDPH Office of HIV/AIDS has required the use of the acuity tool in funded case management programs. It has also been used to assess the acuity of patients in other organizations throughout the country.

To request an Excel version of the report and sample of the guidance provided by MDPH on the use of the tool, please fill out our contact form with a subject line “Acuity tool and guidance.”

This Webcast will help participants learn to identify strategies for recruiting and hiring peers including what qualifications to look for, how to conduct interviews, how to orient and train peers prior to working with clients, and how to introduce and retain peers as part of the health care team.

This digital story describes how one peer educator supports one client’s efforts to manage his HIV self-care. It does not represent all peers and clients, nor does it portray all the ways peers help clients cope with the daily stresses of living with HIV.

This webcast is the first of a two-part seminar. It is designed as an introduction to approaches for supervising peers. It will describe three distinct areas of supervision which together can help peers to thrive in the workplace. It will include case examples consisting of issues that are common for peers working in the field of supporting clients: boundaries, confidentiality and integrating peers into the health care team.

This webcast is intended for anyone interested in learning about the roles of peers in providing HIV care and treatment. Peers working in clinics and community-based organizations will discuss their work and activities with clients and HIV providers.

Curriculo en español
Purpose of this toolkit: to support the training of HIV-positive peers who work to engage and retain people living with HIV in health care.

Primary audiences: experienced trainers and training organizations who can use this toolkit to design, enhance or refine their own training of peers.

Additional uses: Peer supervisors or program directors can use this toolkit to plan a peer training program for newly hired peers or provide continuing education for existing peers.

For an additional 5-day peer training curriculum from the MAI SPNS project, which builds on this toolkit:
Preparing Peers for Success: Peer Core Competency Training for Engaging Out-of-Care or Newly Diagnosed People Living with HIV in Care and Treatment

Curriculo en español
Purpose of this toolkit: to support the training of HIV-positive peers who work to engage and retain people living with HIV in health care.

Primary audiences: experienced trainers and training organizations who can use this toolkit to design, enhance or refine their own training of peers.

Additional uses: Peer supervisors or program directors can use this toolkit to plan a peer training program for newly hired peers or provide continuing education for existing peers.

For an additional 5-day peer training curriculum from the MAI SPNS project, which builds on this toolkit:
Preparing Peers for Success: Peer Core Competency Training for Engaging Out-of-Care or Newly Diagnosed People Living with HIV in Care and Treatment

Curriculo en español
Purpose of this toolkit: to support the training of HIV-positive peers who work to engage and retain people living with HIV in health care.

Primary audiences: experienced trainers and training organizations who can use this toolkit to design, enhance or refine their own training of peers.

Additional uses: Peer supervisors or program directors can use this toolkit to plan a peer training program for newly hired peers or provide continuing education for existing peers.

For an additional 5-day peer training curriculum from the MAI SPNS project, which builds on this toolkit:
Preparing Peers for Success: Peer Core Competency Training for Engaging Out-of-Care or Newly Diagnosed People Living with HIV in Care and Treatment

Curriculo en español
Purpose of this toolkit: to support the training of HIV-positive peers who work to engage and retain people living with HIV in health care.

Primary audiences: experienced trainers and training organizations who can use this toolkit to design, enhance or refine their own training of peers.

Additional uses: Peer supervisors or program directors can use this toolkit to plan a peer training program for newly hired peers or provide continuing education for existing peers.

For an additional 5-day peer training curriculum from the MAI SPNS project, which builds on this toolkit:
Preparing Peers for Success: Peer Core Competency Training for Engaging Out-of-Care or Newly Diagnosed People Living with HIV in Care and Treatment

Curriculo en español
Purpose of this toolkit: to support the training of HIV-positive peers who work to engage and retain people living with HIV in health care.

Primary audiences: experienced trainers and training organizations who can use this toolkit to design, enhance or refine their own training of peers.

Additional uses: Peer supervisors or program directors can use this toolkit to plan a peer training program for newly hired peers or provide continuing education for existing peers.

For an additional 5-day peer training curriculum from the MAI SPNS project, which builds on this toolkit:
Preparing Peers for Success: Peer Core Competency Training for Engaging Out-of-Care or Newly Diagnosed People Living with HIV in Care and Treatment