Behavioral and Social Science Volunteer (BSSV) Program

The BSSV Program is a national HIV prevention technical assistance program directed by the APA Office on AIDS.

Funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the program has established a national network of behavioral and social science volunteers (BSSVs) to assist with HIV prevention efforts in their communities. This national network of psychologists, sociologists, anthropologists, public health experts, social workers and others is organized to offer free and ongoing technical assistance to community-based organizations (CBOs) that want cutting edge science prevention for their communities.

About Us

About Us

Between 1996 and 2010, BSSVs fulfilled over 600 separate requests from various organizations across the country and in the U.S. Territories. Approximately 92 percent of these organizations have rated their experiences with the program as either “very good” or “outstanding.” We pride ourselves on building trust and mutual respect with the communities we work with. Our success is attributed to both the quality and dedication of our experienced staff and BSSVs, as well as the program’s systemic service delivery process, which has been refined for the past 13 years. The BSSV program has been an official CBA provider since September of 2009, and will be funded by the CDC under cooperative agreement until spring 2013.

The BSSV Program Offers Assistance to CBOs in the Following Areas
  • Program evaluation and monitoring
  • Needs assessments
  • Planning and implementing evidence-based interventions (EBIs)
  • Adapting EBIs for new settings and populations
  • Using cognitive and behavioral approaches in HIV prevention
  • Responding to the mental health aspects of HIV prevention and care
The BSSV Program Provides Technical Assistance for These EBIs
  1. CLEAR
  2. Community Promise
  3. Healthy Relationships
  4. SISTA
  5. NIA
  6. Many Men Many Voices (3MV)

Disclaimer: This site contains HIV prevention messages that may not be appropriate for all audiences. If you are not seeking such information or may be offended by such materials, please exit this website.

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Click image to go to HIV Integrated Care webpage at http://www.apa.org/pi/aids/programs/bssv/integration.aspx

Learn more about the comprehensive and integrated approach to HIV care and prevention.

Training in Puerto Rico

Francisco Javier Parga, PhD David Pérez-Jiménez, PhD

Francisco J. Parga, PhD, and David Pérez-Jiménez, PhD, assisted with the delivery of a two-day training for community-based organizations in two Puerto Rico locations, San Juan and Mayagüez, on Cognitive Behavioral Approaches and Theories Used In HIV Prevention Efforts. (PDF, 140KB)

HIV/AIDS Program Evaluation Tools

This website, designed to provide tools for the development and evaluation of HIV prevention programs, is useful for HIV prevention providers and the technical assistance providers who serve them.