About

Background
First offered in 2000, the CDC/ASPH Institute for HIV Prevention Leadership is a comprehensive, capacity building educational program designed specifically for personnel who work in community-based organizations (CBOs) and manage HIV prevention programs. The Institute is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), through a cooperative agreement with the Association of Schools of Public Health.

Purpose
The primary goal of the Institute is to enhance organizational capacity and professional development in the areas of: strategic planning and management; prevention program assessment, implementation, and evaluation; applying behavioral and social theories in the design of prevention interventions; principles of health education and promotion; social marketing; organizational behavior; grassroots and media advocacy; grants management; and computer/Internet skills. For more information on specific topical areas offered, click on the Institute Schedule icon on the left of this page.

Curriculum Design and Format
The curriculum design is based on research findings from a national needs assessment of more than 300 HIV prevention program managers and executive directors working in CBOs; focus groups comprised of representatives from the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors, CDC Project Officers, CBO leaders; and, input provided by representatives of the National and Regional Minority Organizations, public health practitioners, the National Minority AIDS Council and other agencies. Three curriculum workshops were conducted with leaders from the agencies named above as well as with faculty from schools of public health and other academic institutions, and CBO personnel, and HIV prevention practitioners. Currently the Institute has a culturally and ethnically diverse faculty of 32 individuals recognized nationally as experts in their fields. For more information on faculty and their areas of instruction, click on the Institute Faculty & Staff icon on the left of this page.

The curriculum is offered over a period of nine months and includes four weeks of on-site instruction provided approximately once a quarter. An Integrative Learning Experience is interwoven throughout the Institute experience that requires participants to apply what they learn in each of the four on-site weeks in their own organizations by working with colleagues and partners. The four on-site weeks of instruction are supplemented by distance learning support via the Internet. To assure all scholars have access to and learn this technology, each one is given a laptop computer to use during participation in the Institute. If the scholar completes the requirements of the Institute, the CBO retains ownership of the computer.

Costs
Expenses related to travel, lodging, and meals to attend the four on-site weeks are paid by the Institute for applicants selected to participate in the program as scholars. To learn more about who is eligible to participate in the Institute and what is expected of scholars, click on the FAQ icon to the left.