Community Education
SAAF’s Community Education Program aims to provide relevant and appropriate health and wellness support and resources to support the community in playing an active role in achieving, protecting, and sustaining their health and wellness.
The Community Education Program provides workshops, information, and distributes harm reduction supplies such as condoms throughout the community. Our program follows Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) best practices on health communication and structural-level condom distribution programs. Our workshops convey scientifically accurate information to a general audience.
Requests to our Community Education Program most often come directly from agencies, schools, and community organizations that are specifically looking for information about about the topics below.
HIV 101 Workshop
The HIV 101 will convey accurate information about how HIV can be transmitted and prevented. The topics covered include the definition of HIV and AIDS, the fluids that transmit HIV, routes of HIV transmission, and conditions for HIV transmission. In addition the presentation will analyze the continuum of risk to determine potential for HIV transmission, describe how to reduce risk of HIV transmission for certain behaviors, and demonstrate proper condom use.
STI 101 Workshop
The STI 101 will convey accurate information about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including transmission and prevention. The presentation topics include the definition of STIs, the connection between STIs and public health issues, prevention of STIs, proper technique for condom use, and STI testing.
Viral Hepatitis 101 Workshop
The Viral Hepatitis 101 will reflect an understanding of how viral hepatitis affects the body, identify ways in which Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C are transmitted, and explain harm reduction strategies for injection drug use. This presentation is most commonly presented to current or former substance users and providers who work with current or former substance users.
Harm Reduction 101 Workshop
The Harm Reduction 101 will convey accurate information about substance misuse and the harm reduction approach to public health. This presentation will define harm reduction, identify the stages of change model, discuss the context of risk and barriers to health and wellness, and analyze alternatives to practicing potentially risky behaviors.
LGBTQ 101 Workshop
The LGBTQ 101 will provide introductory level information about identities and provide best practice and competency suggestions for those working in various settings. The presentation will identify the distinctions between sex, gender, and sexuality, recognize ways assumptions can be made based on gender expression, define the identities indicated by “LGBTQ+”, and describe practical cultural awareness tools for being inclusive and respectful.
Best-Practices for Working with LGBTQ Clients and Patients
This training aims to increase LGBTQ cultural responsiveness of health care and social service providers in Arizona. The presentation also aims to increase understanding of how addressing health disparities such as tobacco use can improve the overall health and wellness of LGBTQ clients and patients. Our LGBTQ Cultural Responsiveness Training identifies terms and definitions related to gender and sexual identities and discusses examples of health disparities and barriers to care that impact these communities. Steps that individuals and organizations can take to ensure services are inclusive to LGBTQ clients and patients are examined and explained. This training is approximately 75-90 minutes and can be delivered throughout the state of Arizona.
How to Address Tobacco Use with LGBTQ patients and clients
This training provides information on tobacco and smoking-related health concerns, as well as possible routes to cessation and/or harm reduction. Smoking rates in LGBTQ communities are reviewed and factors that may contribute to higher rates of tobacco use within these populations are discussed. Information for staff working with LGBTQ patients and clients on how to conduct a brief intervention to assess cessation and/or harm reduction goals will be explained. Evidence-based information for patients and clients who may be interested in quitting tobacco or reducing smoking-related harm is provided. Local and national tobacco cessation and harm reduction related resources will be available. This training is approximately 75-90 minutes and can be delivered throughout the state of Arizona.
Limited Availability: Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and Sexual Violence (SV) 101
Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and Sexual Violence (SV) 101 will provide accurate information about what constitutes as IPV/SV. The presentation topics include the definitions of IPV/SV, information about the connection between IPV/SV and populations at higher risk for experiencing IPV/SV, specifically gender and sexual minorities and intersecting identities, analysis of rape culture and consent culture, and information about domestic violence and sexual violence resources. (Limited availability dependent on trained staff.)
Limited Availability: Question, Persuade, and Refer
QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer — the 3 simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. Just as people trained in CPR help save lives, people trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help. QPR can be learned in our Gatekeeper course in one hour and 30 minutes, and is available to people ages 13+. (Limited availability dependent on trained staff.)
Resource and Information Table
Resource and information tables are provided at health fairs and other community events. Participants of the events are engaged for conversation that will lead to increased knowledge about health risk and risk reduction along with the sharing of information about the agency and other community services. Depending on the type of event and its location, staff and volunteers will distribute literature, condoms, and other safer sex materials.
Below are comments from individuals who attended an HIV 101 presentation from one of SAAF’s Community Education members:
“I enjoyed the explanation about how HIV works in the immune system…I learned the most from this aspect of the presentation.”
“Amazing – really covered the info well – A great spokesperson.”
“Very interesting, learned a lot about HIV and AIDS and how it’s transmitted.”
“It was the best I’d ever attended.”
To schedule a presentation or information table, please fill out the form by following this link. Someone from SAAF will be in touch within 48 business hours to follow up.
HIV, LGBTQ+ individuals, and communities marginalized by society.
Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation (SAAF)
375 South Euclid Avenue, Tucson, Arizona 85719 · PHONE: (520) 628-SAAF (7223) · TOLL FREE: (800)771-9054 · FAX: (520) 628-7222 · TTY: (800) 367-8939
EMAIL: info@saaf.org
HOURS: 8:00am&emdash;5:00pm Monday&emdash;Friday
HIV/AIDS Content Notice: This site contains HIV prevention messages that may not be appropriate for all audiences. Since HIV infection is spread primarily through sexual practices or by sharing needles, prevention messages and programs may address these topics. If you are not seeking such information or may be offended by such materials, please exit this web site.
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