China AIDS Hotline Subcontract, Regional 2-1-1 Service Awarded to RTP-based American Social Health Association

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC -- The American Social Health Association (ASHA), a national nonprofit headquartered in Research Triangle Park, has recently been awarded two new contracts.

The Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center (ADARC), the largest private HIV/AIDS research center in the world, has retained ASHA to provide technical assistance in the creation of the Chinese National AIDS Hotline. ASHA is working with ADARC and officials from China’s National Institute for Health Education to assist in developing a project plan for the Chinese National AIDS Hotline, a training curriculum for handling calls, key health messages, and quality assurance tools. 

According to UNAIDS, China is experiencing one of the most rapidly expanding HIV epidemics in the world.  Millions of Chinese have never heard of AIDS, and the majority of the population lack basic knowledge and skills for prevention. Most individuals who have HIV/AIDS lack access to basic services and support and are subject to discrimination, fear, and stigma.

“We are extremely pleased to be able to work closely with others to provide factual information and caring services to the people of China through this new program as the risk of HIV infection continues to spread globally,” says James R. Allen, MD, MPH, ASHA president and CEO. “The American Social Health Association has extraordinary experience in providing telephone-based information services to people with questions about sensitive health topics - helping more than 20 million people over the last 25 years.”

ASHA’s second major new project in recent weeks is a regional information and referral service on behalf of the United Way of North Carolina.  ASHA has been selected by the state United Way organization to provide a call center for the 2-1-1 services in the Triangle and Triad areas for a minimum of two years.   

The 2-1-1 hotline offers a single source for information about community services and for referrals to health and human service programs, including physical and mental health resources, support for youth, families, older adults, and persons with disabilities, and employment opportunities. Local residents can call 2-1-1 throughout most of the Triangle (Chatham, Durham, Orange and Wake counties) and Triad (Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Guilford, Randolph, and Rockingham counties) with services for Burke and Catawba counties to be added in the near future. The service is offered in English and Spanish.

“We are a diverse organization that has long experience in communicating about issues in public health and social services,” says David Bergmire-Sweat, MPH, vice president of Strategic Initiatives. “This is a perfect fit for us, and we look forward to helping United Way transition this to a statewide service in the years to come.”

Though a national organization, ASHA has provided specific local services in North Carolina over the past 20 years.  Projects have included a prenatal and family health care service called the First Step Hotline, an outreach project training peer educators among Latino youth, and an educational project on cervical cancer prevention among minority women.

ASHA, a 91-year-old nonprofit organization, operates several call centers dealing with sensitive health topics. It has provided a number of services to both English- and Spanish-speaking callers as well as providing TTY services for the deaf and hard-of-hearing communities.

As a subcontractor to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ASHA operated the CDC National AIDS and STD Hotlines in the United States for 18 years in addition to the CDC National Immunization Hotline and the CDC Public Response Service.  ASHA currently provides call center or referral services for the National Institutes of Health, the CDC’s National Prevention Information Network, universities, and private companies.

About the American Social Health Association

ASHA is a 91-year-old nonprofit organization with offices in Washington, DC, and Research Triangle Park, NC. It is dedicated to improving the health of individuals, families, and communities, with a focus on sexually transmitted infections. ASHA provides important services to consumers and health care professionals through a variety of programs such as: national call centers, providing counseling and referrals; advocacy efforts for STD research and programs; education for patients, providers, policymakers, and the media about STDs; and survey and evaluation research in the area of sexual health. For more information, please go to www.ashastd.org.

About the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center

ADARC was established in 1991 to focus on the basic science of AIDS and HIV in a research environment conducive to the highest level of scientific creativity.  It is the largest private HIV/AIDS research center in the world and a leader in the search for a vaccine and a cure. In 2003, ADARC joined with relevant Chinese and international organizations to form the China AIDS Initiative (CAI). CAI draws attention to the serious threat HIV/AIDS poses to China and applies the Center’s scientific and research expertise to help China strengthen its response to the epidemic.  For more information please go to www.adarc.org.

About United Way of North Carolina

The United Way of North Carolina is a state organization, whose purpose is to provide government relations, technical assistance, training, and a wide range of other services to the 66 local United Way organizations covering 85 counties in North Carolina, and help them increase their capacity to better serve their communities. For more information please go to www.unitedwaync.org.