Positively Speaking
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HIV Prevention Planning Group
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Program Summary
Purpose
Positively Speaking fosters collaboration between schools and health
agencies to provide well-trained speakers on HIV prevention for Sonoma
County classrooms. The goals of the program are to put a human face
on the AIDS epidemic, promote abstinence and healthy decision making,
to build mutual caring and compassion between young people and persons
affected by HIV/AIDS, and to provide science-based prevention education
and information to students about HIV/AIDS prevention.
Scope
Positively Speaking is coordinated through the Sonoma County Department of Health Services' Prevention and Planning Division. A Positively Speaking presenter is an HIV-positive individual or someone who has been personally affected by the disease. The program is offered to augment or support the teaching of prevention principles related to HIV/AIDS. Positively Speaking presentations are provided free of charge. Due to limited resources, however, the program cannot respond to all requests.
Methods
A Positively Speaking presentation is approximately one hour in length, including a half-hour basic education segment by a Health Educator and a half-hour personal experience segment by a Positive Speaker with time for questions at the end. The educational segment provides basic information about HIV transmission and risk, whereas the personal experience segment allows one of our Positive Speakers to share his or her story about life before HIV, the diagnosis experience, and how life has changed since.
Provision of equipment used in presentations, such as a white or chalkboard, is the responsibility of the requester; however, the presenters will provide written resource materials.
Requests for the program may be made using the "Presentation Request Form ," which can be requested by phone at 707.565.6680
or fax 707.565.6619. Once a request has been made, the Program Coordinator
will select and confirm the availability of an appropriate speaker and
health educator, and will notify the requester with a confirmation packet.
Evaluation
Each presentation includes an evaluation component. Depending on the circumstances, the program requests that students complete either an evaluation form or a reflection journal.
What's New
Calendar: Call 565-6680 for speaker requests.
Information and Resources
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