HIV/AIDS Education and Training of Social Workers

Several qualifications are essential for successful completion of this scope of work. The contractor must have knowledge of, and access to, the universe of social workers, nationwide, who represent the full range of practice settings, as well as ongoing and credible access to state and local/regional social worker organizations. A mechanism must be in place to identify and contact all practicing social workers in areas selected for training activities. The contractor must be a credible source of information to this professional group, as demonstrated by prior successful training efforts for social workers throughout the country. Further, the contractor must have the experience and capability to obtain continuing education (CE) accreditation for the curricula being developed. For the program to be effective, the contractor must be able to gain cooperation and participation from social workers in areas of the country where HIV/AIDS training has not been conducted, and with emerging needs. The contractor must also possess comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge regarding: the identification and treatment of psychosocial consequences of HIV infection and AIDS; risk reduction assessment and counseling; prevention strategies for special populations, with an emphasis on socio-cultural issues; counseling pre- and post-HIV antibody testing; and mental health treatment to enhance coping.

The NASW is the sole organization that possesses the above described qualifications and is capable of reaching the greatest number of social workers in the country and enlisting their support and participation for HIV/AIDS training and education. NASW is the largest membership organization of social workers, and that membership represents U.S. citizens living in the United States as well as military-affiliated; NASW has a chapter network of 55 chapters (all 50 states; NY and CA, due to size, have two chapters) and U.S. territories. Further, they have unique access to national, state, and local organizations for easy tracking and the ability to extend a wide-ranging call to action, as well as utilizing regularly scheduled national, regional and state meetings to conduct training and education. As the largest single provider of social work CE in the country, NASW has experience in developing and conducting education programs at the national and state/local levels. It is the lead organization in establishing professional practice standards and practice certification for social workers. NASW sets national standards of practice for social workers (be they members or not), and NASW sets national credentials used by public and private agencies and entities. This is of paramount importance for the successful execution of this contract and the projects long-term goal of continuing education and training among this group of mental health care providers.

In addition, NASWs national HIV/AIDS Spectrum Advisory Committee provides expertise and leadership to its specialized network of state HIV liaison members and keeps the field current with the latest in HIV/AIDS research and practice. NASW has member sections that encompass practice areas that work with persons increasingly affected by HIV/AIDS (School Social Work Section, Section on Aging, Private Practice Section, and Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs Section). Sections allow members to share information, technology, and practice-related issues through newsletters and seminars. NASWs national office and state based Chapter affiliates maintain equity committees that work to ensure culturally competent social work practice with diverse populations including communities of color, LGBT communities and others who are affected by an increased incidence of HIV/AIDS. While outside sources may have the capacity to develop training curricula, there is no other organization with substantive experience in HIV/AIDS education that can access and track the universe of social work practitioners in the field, gain access to national and state/local meetings, conduct CE training and education that is supported by state social worker organizations, and maintain regular liaison with the field to disseminate the latest research findings.

Relative to the authorizing legislation, this contract will address several of the goals in The Presidents New Freedom Commission on Mental Health report: Successfully 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 practices and services by offering mental health service providers up-to-date state-of-the-science training in service provision; and provide activity to develop the workforce to become more willing and more capable of providing evidence based treatment. Award of a sole source contract to the NASW is necessary because this provider association for the social work field is uniquely qualified to provide this training and support to frontline social work 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 to social work services provision.