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National Collaborative HIV/AIDS Awareness Project

National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS)

One of the President’s top HIV/AIDS policy priorities is the development and implementation of a National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS). There are three primary goals for the NHAS:
  • Reducing HIV incidence
  • Increasing access to care and optimizing health outcomes
  • Reducing HIV-related health disparities

The National Collaborative HIV/AIDS Awareness Project (NCHAAP)

The National Collaborative HIV/AIDS Awareness Project (NCHAAP) is part of the Indian Health Service’s (IHS) implementation plan to meet the three goals of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy in Indian Country for federally-recognized Tribes and Tribal organizations in the interest of improving Indian health care.

The goal of NCHAPP is to increase the capacity of Native communities to address HIV and AIDS. This will be achieved by creating strategic opportunities for Tribes and Tribal entities to access technical assistance and community-based prevention materials. Educational materials will be developed through comprehensive community input, all under the guidance and advice of the IHS HIV/AIDS Program. HIV epidemiology data (although limited) tells us that higher risk populations are men who have sex with men (MSM), injection drug users (IDU), and women. Community-level input tells us that prevention efforts should include youth, as well. NNAAPC aims to provide assistance to Tribal programs to focus on these 4 groups.

Specific programmatic activities include: 1) conducting a nation-wide assessment of HIV knowledge, attitudes and beliefs, 2) conducting forums with Tribal Leaders, 3) developing and disseminating innovative and targeted social marketing materials, 4) conducting professional level skills-building training events, 5) utilizing distance learning and web-based technologies for information sharing and dissemination of materials and 6) ensuring HIV/AIDS has a presence at national and regional Native conferences and meetings.

The Role of NIHB and our Partner, NNAAPC

The National Native American AIDS Prevention Center (NNAAPC) is the only national, HIV-specific, Native organization in the United States.  Founded in 1987, NNAAPC is recognized as the leading resource for HIV information in Indian Country by community members, federal funders, and other national Native organizations.  NNAAPC has earned this reputation through high quality and culturally appropriate training, technical assistance, materials development, advocacy, and continuity of service. 

As such, NNAAPC was selected by National Indian Health Board as a subcontractor, to operate the National Collaborative HIV/AIDS Awareness Project with funds designated by the Indian Health Service (IHS) HIV/AIDS Program.  NNAAPC and NIHB have a long history of collaboration which is evidenced by an MOU that honors the expertise of NIHB in working for the health of tribal and reservation-based communities and the experience of NNAAPC in advancing the state of HIV/AIDS prevention amongst all Native peoples.  To ensure project success, both organizations will bring to bear their specific resources, expertise, reach, and knowledge.   NIHB has an extensive network and knowledge of tribal health systems and NNAAPC has the ability to assess, develop and implement effective and appropriate HIV prevention, treatment, and awareness programs. 

Links and Fact Sheets

For more information about the Indian Health Service HIV/AIDS Program, please visit:
http://www.ihs.gov/MedicalPrograms/hivaids/

For more information about the National Native American AIDS Prevention Center, please visit:
http://nnaapc.org/

Fact Sheets on HIV/AIDS:

National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Act Sheet (PDF)

National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Fact Sheet (PDF)



4 Upcoming Free Webinars:
Preventing the Spread of HIV in Native Communities.

NNAAPC, in partnership with the National Indian Health Board (NIHB) is pleased to announce 4 upcoming free webinars! The goal of these webinars is to provide participants with dynamic and innovative learning opportunities to prevent the spread of HIV in Native communities.

Providers, patients and community-members are encouraged to attend! Pre-registration is required and can be completed online. For any questions, please contact: Matt Ignacio at (720)382-2244 or mignacio@nnaapc.org

  1. HIV Prevention and Social Media
    April 26th, 2012: 1:00pm – 2:00pm (Mountain Time)
    Pre-Registration required. Register at: https://cc.readytalk.com/r/oqvsfni54n34
  2. Ahalaya Case Management: Creating a Circle of Care for Native Persons Living with HIV/AIDS
    May 22nd, 2012: 1:00pm – 2:00pm (Mountain Time)
    Pre-Registration required. Register at: https://cc.readytalk.com/r/sod8gudlxqh
  3. Incorporating Traditional Medicine into HIV Prevention and Treatment
    June 21st, 2012: 1:00pm – 2:00pm (Mountain Time)
    Pre-Registration required. Register at: https://cc.readytalk.com/r/xwxysfvhzeht
  4. Culturally Appropriate Linkages to Care
    July 11th, 2012: 1:00pm – 2:00pm (Mountain Time)

Pre-Registration required. Register at: https://cc.readytalk.com/r/i6cluq04xvv



Just Released: CDC HIV Surveillance Report

The annual HIV Surveillance Report provides an overview on the current epidemiology of HIV disease in the United States and dependent areas. CDC funds state and territorial health departments to collect surveillance data on persons diagnosed with HIV infection; all personal identifiers are removed from these data before being transmitted to CDC via a secure data network. Data are analyzed by CDC and then displayed by age, race, sex, transmission category, and jurisdiction (where appropriate). Prior to the 2008 reporting year, the report was referred to as the HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report. The report is published annually in late summer or early fall.*

For more information and to review the report, please visit: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/surveillance/resources/reports/2010report/index.htm

* Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2012. Statistics and Surveillance [Online] (2012) Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/surveillance/resources/reports/index.htm [Accessed March 16, 2012].

2010 HIV Surveillance Report & Native Communities
To learn more about the 2010 HIV Surveillance Report and what this report tells us about HIV in American Indian and Alaska Native communities, please click on the following “Native Highlights” summary, provided by NNAAPC.

Native Highlights Summary (PDF)




Public Health Inquiries:

Paul R. Allis, B.S.W, M. Ed
Director of Public Health

National Indian Health Board
926 Pennsylvania Ave, SE
Washington, DC 20003
Phone: 202-507-4085
Email: pallis@nihb.org

Blake Harper, MPH
Public Health Project Coordinator

National Indian Health Board
926 Pennsylvania Ave, SE
Washington, DC 20003
Phone: 202-507-4081
Email: bharper@nihb.org