Online Programs

Organizational Capacity Assessment for Community Health Centers

Organizational Capacity Assessment for Community Health Centers is a learning module that was developed by MATEC for the Expanded Routine Testing Initiative with the Public Health Institute of Metropolitan Chicago; a project funded by the Illinois Department of Public Health with funds provided though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Funding Opportunity Announcement PS12-1201: Comprehensive Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Prevention Programs for Health Departments. This assessment tool was created for community health centers who offer routine opt-out HIV testing. It includes background and rationale for routine testing, the 2006 CDC recommendations for testing, barriers and strategies, and examples of integrating HIV testing into clinic flow. If you have any questions about this online learning module, please contact Estela Balderas at [email protected] or 312-996-1484.

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HIV Surveillance and Epidemiology modules

Target Audience:
Advanced Practice Nurses, Disease Intervention Specialists, Health Educators, Nurse Practitioners, Nurses, Oral Health Professionals, Pharmacists, Physician Assistants, Physicians, Public Health Professionals

The HIV Surveillance and Epidemiology modules were designed as an introduction for anyone who is unfamiliar with working with HIV patients and subject matter, especially those who are now or will soon work with this population and subject area. These three sessions are for professionals in medicine, nursing, dentistry, public health, research, or other health sciences looking to gain valuable information relevant to HIV AIDS reporting, surveillance, epidemiology, and related overview.

This overview provides both the context in which the HIV epidemic exists, the details of reporting, and other systems related to HIV. Module I (15 minutes) covers HIV surveillance, its purpose, the different types of surveillance systems, and the security and confidentiality of HIV Surveillance information. Module II (28 minutes) includes the basics of epidemiology, HIV diagnosis definition, and an overview of HIV epidemiology. Module III (13 minutes) discusses the HIV treatment as prevention framework, the National HIV AIDS Strategy, the Health Research and Services Administration (HRSA) continuum of engagement, and evaluating change using surveillance data.

Each module can be watched in less than 30 minutes, meaning that one could cover all three in brief sessions or cover them consecutively. The production of the HIV Surveillance and Epidemiology Modules was funded by a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant and made possible through a partnership between the MidAmerica Public Health Training Center (MAPHTC) at the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health and the Midwest AIDS Training + Education Center (MATEC) at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine.

To access the modules, please click the links below. Once you have completed each module, you can follow the link on the last slide to complete an evaluation, which is required in order to receive a Certificate of Completion. If you have any questions about these modules, please contact Estela Balderas at [email protected]
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Module I
Module II
Module III

What's the Law? HIV Testing and Confidentiality in Illinois

This learning module was developed by MATEC in collaboration with Ann Hilton Fisher, Executive Director of the AIDS Legal Council of Chicago. It is designed to provide the most recent information on current law in Illinois regarding HIV Testing and Confidentiality and covers such topics as: consent, confidentiality of test results, duty to warn, and others. When you click on the link, the module will pop up in a new window and will start automatically. You can pause and rewind the presentation at any time. If you close the module window, you can return at any time by clicking the link. If you have any questions about this online learning module, please contact Estela Balderas at [email protected].

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Improving Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy

Target Audience:
Case Managers, Health Educators, Mental Health Providers, Outreach Workers, Public Health Professionals, Social Workers, Substance Abuse Treatment Professionals

This learning module was developed by MATEC with funds from the Illinois Department of Public Health. It is designed to help non-clinicians understand the many challenges posed by life-long adherence to antiretroviral therapy as well as the strategies and techniques providers can use to support good adherence. The following types of providers may benefit from reviewing this module: social workers, case managers, health educators, substance abuse treatment professionals, mental health providers, public health professionals, and outreach workers. IDPH-funded providers are strongly encouraged to complete this module. If you have any questions about this module, please contact Estela Balderas at [email protected]. This version was published in 2013. It is recommended that you view this module in Internet Explorer.

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Biomedical Interventions & HIV Prevention: Can an Emphasis on Testing, Linkage to Care, Retention & Adherence Impact New HIV Diagnoses?

Target Audience:
Advanced Practice Nurses

This was a live presentation delivered by Dr. Mark Thrun on February 2, 2013 at MATEC's Chicago HIV Breakfast Club. The following were the learning objectives for this program:

  • Define the current epidemiology of HIV infection.
  • Understand the likelihood of HIV transmission for various risk behaviors.
  • Explain the role of HIV testing and linkage to care in the prevention of new HIV infections.
  • Describe the efficacy of varied biomedical prevention modalities including treatment as prevention.

A few words about the speaker:

Mark Thrun, MD, is the Medical Director of the Denver Behavioral STD/HIV Prevention Training Center and he also directs HIV Prevention and STD Control for Denver Public Health. He is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. His primary research interests are acute and early HIV infection, the immunology of HIV, and the prevention and diagnosis of HIV infection. He is actively involved in local community planning for HIV services and policy development. Dr. Thrun has recently developed a prevention curriculum for HIV care providers designed to increase the frequency and efficacy of their risk-reduction discussions with patients. He received his MD at the University of Cincinnati and completed an Infectious Diseases fellowship at the University of Colorado. Dr. Thrun has previously served as co-chair of the National Network of STD/HIV Prevention Training Centers and remains active on its Steering Committee.

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Presentation Link

Principles of Antiretroviral Therapy

Target Audience:
Case Managers, Health Educators, Mental Health Providers, Outreach Workers, Public Health Professionals, Substance Abuse Treatment Professionals

This module was developed by MATEC with funds from the Illinois Department of Public Health. It is designed to help non-clinicians understand more about antiretroviral treatment for HIV infection. The following providers may benefit from this module: case managers, health educators, social workers, mental health providers, substance abuse treatment professionals, and outreach workers. IDPH-funded providers are strongly encouraged to complete this module. If you have any questions about this module, please contact Estela Balderas at [email protected]. This version was published in 2013. It is recommended that you view this module in Internet Explorer.

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