Black AIDS Institute Marks National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day By Conducting Town Hall Meetings to Discuss Shocking Findings of HIV Workforce Knowledge Study

Getting tested on National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

On Friday, February 6th, Monday February 9th, and Wednesday, February 11th, the Black AIDS Institute will launch the #KnowBetterDoBetter Tour, a series of town hall meetings to discuss the shocking results of the recent "U.S. HIV Workforce Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs Survey," the largest survey ever conducted of non-medical personnel working in HIV/AIDS in the United States.

The survey found that much of the nation's HIV workforce does not have the science and treatment knowledge needed to achieve an AIDS-free generation. Many are unfamiliar with the biomedical interventions vital to ending the epidemic; others appear to doubt the science behind them.

Overall, HIV/AIDS health care service providers at health departments and AIDS-service and community based organizations answered only 63 percent of questions correctly—essentially earning a D grade in their knowledge of HIV science and treatment. They scored a 56, or an F, on treatment and a 46, also an F, on biomedical interventions. The workforce scored the highest—a 76, or a C—on basic knowledge and terminology.

Conducted by the Black AIDS Institute in partnership with the CDC, the Latino Commission on AIDS, the National Association of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD), Johns Hopkins University and Janssen Therapeutics, the study surveyed 3600 respondents from 44 states.

The public, HIV/AIDS professionals and media are invited to attend the town hall meetings below to speak with members of your local health department and prevention planning group, learn more about the survey findings and discuss their implications for your city's efforts to end the AIDS epidemic.

Please RSVP by visiting www.2105KnowBetterDoBetter.eventbrite.com

Friday, February 6th

Atlanta
1-4 pm
Loudermilk Conference Center
40 Courtland St., N.E.,
Atlanta, GA 30303

Baltimore
12:30-3:30 pm
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
500 N. Calvert St.
Baltimore, MD 21202

Broward County
11 am-1:30 pm
City of Lauderdale
 Lakes
City Hall Multi-Purpose Building
4340 N.W. 36 St.
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33319

Dallas
10 am–12 pm
Dallas County Health and Human Services
2377 N. Stemmons Fwy., Rm. 627
Dallas, TX 75207

Los Angeles
10-2pm
Offices of Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas
700 Exposition Park Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90037

Monday, February 9th

Charlotte
11 am-2 pm
Meckenlberg Government Center
600 E. 4th St., Rm. CH14
Charlotte, NC 28202

Houston
9 am-12 pm
Houston Department of Health and Human Services
Northeast Multi-Service Center
9720 Spaulding St.
Houston, TX 770016

Kansas City
11 am-1 pm
Kansas City Health Department
2400 Troost Ave.
Kansas City, MO 64108

Oakland
6:30-8:30 pm
Lake Chalet
1520 Lakeside Dr.
Oakland, CA 94612

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Chicago
9 am-12 pm
Conference Chicago at University Center Lake Room
525 S. State St.
Chicago, IL 60605