Several interventions designed by SIG researchers were identified as best practices by the CDC, including ConnectHIP. Contact information follows if you are interested in adapting this intervention in your clinic or facility.
Couples-Based Intervention: ConnectHIP
The Social Intervention Group (SIG) spearheaded the use of couples-based interventions in the late 1990s. Since that time, the ConnectHIP intervention has been adapted and used by many organizations.
ConnectHIP (High Impact Prevention) is an innovative, three-session, couple-based intervention tailored to target the intersection of sexual risk behavior and substance use among racial/ethnic and sexual minorities, with the ultimate goal of providing an evidence-based HIV/STI prevention intervention that can be delivered in a variety of settings.
In the absence of a vaccine or cure for HIV infection, behavioral risk reduction and treatment adherence represents the best public health tools for prevention of HIV transmission. ConnectHIP is an innovative, 3-session, couple-based intervention tailored to target the intersection of sexual risk behavior and substance use among racial/ethnic and sexual minorities, with the ultimate goal of providing an evidence-based HIV/STI prevention intervention that can be delivered in a variety of settings.
In partnership with Danya International, Inc., funded by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and housed at the Columbia School of Social Work, SIG adapted and is disseminating ConnectHIP for African American men who have sex with men (MSM), transgender, HIV discordant and substance using couples. Directed by Timothy Hunt, along with Drs. Nabila El-Bassel and Elwin Wu, this project includes the development of ConnectHIP with new content and high definition video models of up-to-date biomedical HIV and other STI prevention options, care linkages and adherence strategies along with cognitive-behavioral skills for couples at highest risk for HIV.
Building on over two decades of couples work of the SIG investigative and research team, together with the CDC diffusion team, ConnectHIP has launched for national implementation with two pilot trainings, a train-the-trainer with national capacity-building providers and summit promoting couples-based HIV/STI prevention.
Hunt stated, “We are so excited at SIG to experience and examine, using an implementation framework, ConnectHIP utilized in real-world settings to engage communities disproportionately affected by HIV. Already implementing organizations include those from FL, NY, NJ, GA, TX, and the Virgin Islands. For the first time African American MSM and trans couples will experience video images that affirmatively reflect their relationships while supporting skills development to negotiate safer behaviors.”
Excerpts of the videos [Forthcoming]
For more information, contact Timothy Hunt at [email protected], 212-851-2110 or request training and materials at effectiveinterventions.cdc.gov.