Let's Stop HIV Together Partner Newsletter: June 2020
COVID-19 and HIV
Thank you for your response to the needs of your communities and for your continued support of HIV-related activities during this unprecedented coronavirus pandemic.
CDC wants to equip you with up-to-date information related to COVID-19 and HIV. You can visit CDC’s COVID-19 and HIV page to see current information concerning the pandemic. Health care providers can visit our HIV Nexus provider website, a one-stop location for information across the HIV continuum, which now includes additional information on COVID-19 and HIV. Please continue to check these sites for updates on guidance and FAQs.
Together, we can make sure our families, friends, and communities have the information and resources they need to stay healthy and protect themselves from COVID-19 and HIV.
News and Notes
The latest version of the online HIV Risk Reduction Tool (HRRT) is now available. The HRRT is a comprehensive, customizable web-based application to show individuals how to lower their risk for getting or transmitting HIV. Information is tailorable based on gender, HIV status, and gender of sex partners.
Each page delivers content in a collapsible format. Critical information is presented first, with the option to interact with additional material by clicking “more information” icons or embedded hyperlinks to other HRRT pages.
The text sections are feature-rich, employing call outs to accentuate key points, hover-over definitions of unfamiliar terms, and supportive graphical content throughout, such as infographics. HRRT includes hyperlinks to resources outside of the application, including NCHHSTP’s AtlasPlus and national HIV and STD/STI testing resources.
The updated application reflects a mobile-first approach to ensure users have the same experience on all screen sizes.
Looking for fresh social media content? Let’s Stop HIV Together has you covered! Check out our latest Social Media Toolkit with sample posts that you can share about HIV stigma, testing, treatment, and care. It is full of new images and text optimized for Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. We’ve also included posts related to HHS’ new initiative, Ready, Set, PrEPexternal icon. The toolkit is updated every few months, so check back regularly. You might also want to review CDC’s COVID-19 social media toolkit. Additionally, we encourage you to bookmark and follow our other Let’s Stop HIV Together digital resources:
- Let’s Stop HIV Together website, also now available in Spanish, Detengamos Juntos el VIH.
- CDC HIV Facebook page and CDC HIV Twitter account.
- Start Talking. Stop HIV. Facebook page and Instagram account.
- Let’s Stop HIV Together Instagram account.
- Let’s Stop HIV Together YouTube playlist, featuring campaign-produced PSAs, as well as behind-the-scenes videos, including candid interviews with campaign participants.
Partner Spotlight
The national nonprofit HealthHIVexternal icon, based in Washington, D.C., works to ensure that everyone—including underserved communities—can access high-quality health care. HealthHIV works to prevent HIV and hepatitis C, support people who are living with the virus, and protect access to health care. The organization has created a network of health care and service providers, state and local health departments, community-based organizations, and others, which has made HealthHIV a valuable partner for the CDC’s Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention.
HealthHIV uses CDC’s wide range of HIV campaign materials to engage and support the LGBT community and communities of color in its education programs, health services research, and outreach to communities and health care professionals nationwide. “We regularly use Let’s Stop HIV Together materials in our own communication vehicles,” says Brian Hujdich, executive director of HealthHIV. This includes posting memes that promote HIV testing on social media, as well as sharing additional materials, like awareness day content, on the organization’s website and through its email listservs.
HealthHIV also uses CDC campaign resources in its capacity building, technical assistance, training, and leadership training programs. Its HealthHIV ASO/CBO Leadership Training and Certificate Program™ uses CDC materials in its curriculum for training the next generation of HIV-prevention leaders, including young adults entering the field and individuals transitioning out of executive positions who want to guide the next generation. Working with CDC has given HealthHIV opportunities to build more connectivity and extend the reach of its messages to non-traditional partners.
Awareness Day
Each year on June 27th, we observe National HIV Testing Day. On this day, we unite with health departments, community-based organizations, local leaders, and other stakeholders to raise awareness about the importance of HIV testing and options for testing during this period of social distancing and sheltering in place. Please visit the partner toolkit page for more information.
Community Happenings
We understand our current reality has shifted how many of us work and connect with our communities. As we continue to work together to think through innovative ways to share messages during this unprecedented time, consider hosting a virtual event! Social media and online platforms offer great ways to stay connected, share information, grow your social media following and engage new audiences. One option is a public Tweetchat or Twitter chat, a scheduled, organized conversation on Twitter centralized around a specific hashtag that asks questions and provides answers to your targeted community. Go hereexternal icon to learn how to host a Twitter chat. We invite you to think outside the box as we continue to stop HIV together.