HIV/AIDS Education and Training of Psychiatrists

Several qualifications are essential for successful completion of this scope of work. The contractor must have knowledge of, and access to, psychiatry faculty at graduate and professional schools and internship programs nationwide and have impeccable credentials for developing and accrediting graduate level education. In addition, a mechanism must exist to identify and contact all practicing psychiatrists in areas selected for training activities. The contractor must be a credible source of information not only to this professional group, as demonstrated by successful training efforts for psychiatrists throughout the country, but to who may be called upon to participate in the HIV/AIDS effort. For the program to be effective, the contractor must be able to gain cooperation and participation from psychiatrists in all areas of the country where HIV/AIDS training for this group has not yet been conducted, and with emerging needs. The contractor also must possess comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of the full spectrum of medical/neuropsychiatric aspects of AIDS and mental health treatment modalities.

APIRE is the only organization uniquely qualified on all of these parameters. APIRE is the sole organization that has credible access to psychiatry faculty at medical school and residency program and is capable of reaching virtually every psychiatrist in the country and enlisting their support and participation for HIV/AIDS training and education. APIRE has also earned a solid reputation for its HIV/AIDS training activities. Supported by a large cadre of trainers and consultants, APIRE has reached over 32,000 psychiatrists and other mental health professionals nationwide since its efforts began in 1987. In addition, APIRE is perceived by other health and mental health professionals as a credible source of information on HIV/AIDS. In particular, APIREs training curricula on the neuropsychiatric dimensions of HIV/AIDS has enjoyed wide distribution and support worldwide. Moreover, the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME)the national independent body that accredits agencies to provide CME for physicianshas certified APIRE to provide CME accreditation for APIREs curricula and courses. APIRE follows the specific requirements and standards set by the ACCME, ensuring overall quality of all training materials and activities.

Relative to the authorizing legislation, this contract will address several of the goals in the Presidents New Freedom Commission on Mental Health report: Provide national education that addresses the misconceptions about mental illness and HIV/AIDS; train mental health providers in the provision of culturally competent HIV related mental health services and reach providers in underserved areas, including rural and geographically remote areas; provide a bridge between research and evidence based practices and services by offering mental health service providers up-to-date state-of-the-science training in service provision; and provide activities to develop the workforce to become more willing and more capable of providing evidence based treatment. Award of a sole source contract to APIRE is necessary because this provider association for the psychiatry field is uniquely qualified to provide this training and support to front-line psychiatry services providers due to their proximity to the field, access to service providers, and ongoing continued focus on training specific to HIV/AIDS and Mental Health as related psychiatry services.