Learning Collaborative Archive

In our first learning collaborative, representatives throughout the West region of the Gilead HIV Age Positively Initiative share their models of service for people living with HIV over 50. Our learning collaborative members include Cascade AIDS Project, San Francisco AIDS Foundation, Shanti Project, MPact Global Action, Christie’s Place, APLA Health, and the LA LGBT Center.

In our second learning collaborative, Tim Vincent of Brothers of the Desert join us to share his experience of identifying community needs and building an organization for Black gay men and their allies in the Coachella Valley. Learn more about Brothers of the Desert here.

The learning objectives for this session included:

1. Develop systems and protocols to collaborate with community members in order to improve HIV and Aging service provision and partnership priorities.
2. Describe opportunities to engage community members to identify program priorities.
3. Explain the utility of non-traditional partnerships to curate community-specific programming.

Community Engagement Planning Tool

Engaging your target client community and assessing their needs is a vital step in creating client-centered services, This worksheet guides users through the community engagement planning, execution, and evaluation process. It contains different sections including identifying community priorities, determining engagement strategies, establishing data collection and evaluation metrics, and creating action items using community feedback. Use or adapt each section as needed to best address the needs of your clients. 

In our third learning collaborative, Dr. Judy Tan from the UCSF Center for AIDS Prevention Studies shares how the United Voices program uses group singing as social cure for HIV stigma in people living with HIV over 50. More information about United Voices can be found here.

The learning objectives for this session included:

1. Identify signs and symptoms of social isolation.
2. Describe how HIV-related health disparities magnify the effects of social isolation.
3. Summarize lessons learned from the United Voices program.
4. Identify strategies to improve and measure client engagement.

Social Isolation Screening and Outreach Tool

Social isolation is a significant concern for people living with HIV over 50 due to numerous physical, mental, and social barriers. This worksheet provides recommendations and evidence based practices to screen for social isolation and re-engage clients who may be out of care or falling out of care. Use or adapt each section as needed to best address the needs of your clients. 

In our fourth learning collaborative, Kirsten Balano, PharmD AAHIVP, joins us to explain the concepts and importance of deprescribing for people living with HIV over 50. Learn more about deprescribing at https://deprescribing.org/

The learning objectives for this session included:

1. Define polypharmacy and deprescribing.
2. Identify how disparities in stigma, trust, and cost affect deprescribing.
3. Describe the shared decision making process between patients and providers.
4. Identify the roles of and resources available to different types of pharmacists.

Managing Polypharmacy and Deprescribing Tool

Polypharmacy, usually defined as taking five our more medications, is an increasing concern for people living with HIV over 50. Medications and their side effects become harder to manage as comorbidities start to develop. This tool provides a shared decision making framework, medication management resources, and information on medication insurance coverage.

In our fifth learning collaborative, Radhika Sahai and Laura Guzman from the National Harm Reduction Coalition shared how to integrate equitable harm reduction principles in conflict de-escalation.

The learning objectives for this session were:

1. Describe how intersecting experiences and trauma of long-term survivors affect conflict management.
2. Explain different strategies to de-escalate conflict.
3. Identify areas to apply trauma-informed de-escalation and conflict management in your own services.

Access the presentation slides at the links below:

Harm Reduction, Substance Use, and Conflict De-escalation Tools

Substance use and conflict de-escalation in people living with HIV over 50 require special considerations for screening and management. Harm reduction is one strategy to center the patient’s capacity and desire to manage their substance use. The resources below describe what harm reduction is, how to implement the principles in your work, and how to build trauma-informed services.

In this session, we brought together providers from BABES Network Seattle, Los Angeles Family AIDS Network, Christie’s Place, WORLD, and Dynamic Determined Divas. This panel discussed key topics for women living with HIV over 50 including caretaking, trauma-informed care, and creating supportive environments.

The learning objectives for this session included:

1. Describe health disparities that affect women living with HIV over 50.
2. Identify two challenges of engaging and retaining women in HIV and Aging services.
3. Explain one best practice to engage and retain women in HIV and Aging services.

Women’s Health Resource Bank

Women living with HIV over 50 have a wide range of considerations when it comes to their wellbeing. Societal inequities can be addressed through culturally-responsive services that cater to women’s multi-dimensional experiences. The tool below provides a number of physical, mental, and behavioral health resources and references to better serve all women living with HIV over 50.

During this webinar, we brought in Cheryl Johnson from UNLV’s Department of Social Work and Emily Heizen and Stephen Spano from AIDS Legal Referral Panel. We started with an overview of later life planning and a discussion on how experiences affect the planning process for people aging with HIV. We then did a deep dive into the legal aspects of later life planning such as trusts, wills, and provider’s orders for life sustaining treatment.

The Learning Objectives for this session included:

1. Understand the importance of identifying client needs and support strategies.
2. Summarize two considerations of later life planning.
3. Distinguish the similarities and differences of legacy planning documents.

Later Life Planning Resources and Client Assessment

People living with HIV over 50 experience aging differently. They may have more physical health conditions, mental health considerations, experience frailty earlier, and have non-traditional support systems. The tool below includes an overview of resources and service locator tools. It also has a client assessment section to identify needs, strengths, and opportunities to plan for the future. We suggest using this tool electronically to easily modify and access the materials.

For this session we were joined by James Lee, Lesley Steinman, and Bradley Carlos to provide more insight on psychiatry and the community-based depression education and screening PEARLS program. James provided an explanation of what psychiatry is, how we can all provide mental health care, and how aging with HIV affects mental health. Lesley and Bradley then expanded on how the PEARLS program helps people improve their mood through problem solving and building joy through small actions. The learning objectives for this session included:

1. Identify one component of the PEARLS program that can be implemented in your services.
2. Describe two ways aging with HIV impacts mental health.
3. Compare the role of psychiatrists and primary care physicians in mental health care.
4. Explain the goals of the PEARLS community-based depression education and screening program.

Supporting Community Mental Health Resource Guide

As shown in our session, people living with HIV over 50 have diverse mental health needs. As providers it is also our job to modify our mental health support to meet client needs. Use the tool below to open the discussion around mental health, document client needs, create an action plan, and access more resources to develop your skills.

Our final session for 2023 focused on building more intentional, inclusive, and supportive workplaces for people aging with HIV. We brought together Linda Scruggs (Ribbon Organizing Center), Jax Kelly (Let’s Kick ASS – Palm Springs), and Ron Schnese (The Center Las Vegas) to share their expertise on how to create intentional spaces, maintain boundaries, and promote the development of people aging with HIV. This session had the following learning objectives:

1. Summarize one recruitment strategy to include people aging with HIV in the workplace.
2. Understand how to maintain confidentiality and self-disclosure for colleagues living and aging with HIV.
3. Describe how to maintain boundaries and resolve conflict in the workplace. 
4. Explain one method to support professional development of people aging with HIV in the workplace.

Supporting HIV+ Peers and Volunteers Resource Guide

Creating a more intentional, inclusive, supportive environment for people living and aging with HIV requires a change in your organizational practices and ultimately, your organizational culture. This resource guide helps your team assess how ready you are for change. Using our guide, you’ll be able to create your own customized change management plan, no matter where you are in the inclusion process. Click the buttons below to access the resource guide, we suggest using this guide on a computer for ease of organization.

Peer programs are a proven, effective way to provide services for those aging with HIV. We know that peers have a commitment to serving their own communities and have shared experiences, values, and perspectives. For this session, we brought together Lady Diana Feliz Oliva (Casita Feliz), Mazdak Mazarei (San Francisco AIDS Foundation), and Traye Turner (San Francisco AIDS Foundation) to share insights to support peer leaders and staff. Topics included building compassionate collaboration, creating space for organic connection, and developing boundaries for peer support staff. The objectives for this session include:

1. Understand the value of lived experience in direct service provision.
2. Identify practices in the workplace that promote belonging for people with lived
   experience.
3. Describe considerations and support strategies for including people’s lived experience in
   service provision or leadership

Cultivating Culture, Boundaries, and Belonging Toolkit

To support your work as leaders and staff, we created our Cultivating Culture, Boundaries, and Belonging Toolkit, a comprehensive resource designed to empower leaders and teams in fostering healthy workplace dynamics. This toolkit equips teams with the necessary strategies and frameworks to co-create a positive culture, establish clear boundaries, and effectively combat burnout. This tool includes resources to create a culture creation team, align our actions to our values, and share trauma-informed practices. Each component is crafted to promote employee well-being, encourage collaboration, and foster a culture of support and resilience. This toolkit serves as a roadmap for organizations committed to nurturing a thriving work environment where peer staff can flourish professionally and personally.

In this Learning Collaborative session, we brought Sara Tribe-Clark and Zach Trammel from the Eldercare Locator team and Dallas Davis from Neighborhood House Association. Sara and Zach highlighted how the Eldercare Locator and DIAL call centers can connect people and providers to vital senior services at the local level. Dallas shared key insights on how to build comprehensive case management plans for people aging with HIV. The objectives for this session include:

1. Understand the function of the Eldercare Locator, DIAL, and local aging services.
2. Identify the components of a comprehensive HIV and Aging needs assessment.
3. Execute comprehensive, client-centered HIV and Aging care coordination plans.

Navigating Aging Services Tool

Our tool is designed to assist providers in delivering comprehensive, patient-centered care to older adults living with HIV. This tool offers a structured framework for addressing the unique challenges faced by this demographic, including managing comorbidities, monitoring for potential drug interactions, and addressing psychosocial issues such as stigma and isolation. It provides space to understand, identify, and construct comprehensive action plans to serve people aging with HIV. The tool supports the integration of geriatric and HIV care principles to optimize long-term health management.

In our third learning collaborative of 2024, we hear from two collaboration superstars: Erica TeKampe from the Phoenix Area Agency on Aging and Selena Corral from Sunburst Projects in Sacramento, California. Erica is the Director of HIV Care Directions, a hallmark HIV program embedded within an Area Agency on Aging. Her presentation emphasizes the importance of engaging community members to identify service priorities and collaborating with local aging services to create comprehensive service networks. Selena is a Case Manager and created a referral network spanning over 15 counties and growing. She explains how she built this referral network using best practices from her decades of HIV service experience.

The learning objectives for this session included:

1. Understand how partnerships can support comprehensive HIV and Aging service delivery
2. Describe two strategies to engage clients and staff in the partnership development process
3. Construct a tailored partnership development plan

Assessing Partnerships Tool

In today’s ever-changing service environment, effective partnerships and streamlined workflows are essential for success. Our innovative tool simplifies the process of assessing partnerships, identifying service opportunities, and optimizing workflows, ensuring your organization stays ahead. By providing a comprehensive framework for evaluating potential collaborations and seamlessly communicating new partnerships to clients, this tool empowers organizations to make informed decisions and build stronger relationships. Whether you’re exploring new ventures or enhancing existing processes, our user-friendly tool the insights and clarity needed to promote growth and deliver exceptional value to your clients.

In our final learning collaborative of 2024, we are joined by Jack Newby former senior service director at the Joslyn Center in Palm Desert, California. During this session he shares the importance of collaborating with senior centers to achieve their main goal: reduce social isolation, build community, and provide services so all older adults can age with dignity and respect. His experience in both HIV services and Aging services was essential to guide us through collaboration plans. Collaborative work requires shared understanding of the issues affecting older adults, including sexual health and HIV management.

The learning objectives for this session included:

1. Explain how intersecting identities impact HIV stigma, ageism, and AIDS survivor syndrome
2. Identify examples of innovative, community-engaged client and staff programming that promote inclusion
3. Discuss tailored strategies and specific partners to create age-friendly, destigmatizing HIV and Aging services

Building Partnerships Tool

Building successful partnerships is essential for facilitating collaboration, achieving shared goals, and fostering innovation across organizations. This tool is designed to complement our virtual training on by providing practical guidance, best practices, and adaptable frameworks to establish and maintain strong partnerships. Whether you are forming new collaborations or strengthening existing ones, this resource will help you identify mutual objectives, communicate effectively, and build trust—core elements for long-term success. Together with the virtual training, this tool will empower you with the skills, knowledge, and structure to create impactful, sustainable partnerships that deliver results.