Behavioral and Social Science Volunteer (BSSV) Program

For BSSVs

Are you a professional with years of HIV/AIDS experience? Would you like to volunteer your time to assist local HIV prevention organizations build their capacity and improve the services they provide? If so, volunteering with the BSSV program may be just the right experience for you. 

What Is a BSSV?

Behavioral and Social Science Volunteers (BSSVs) are dedicated professionals who are involved in their local community's HIV prevention efforts. Since the inception of the program in 1996, the BSSV Program has recruited, trained and mobilized a network of almost 300 behavioral and social science volunteers (BSSVs) to assist HIV prevention efforts within their communities. BSSVs come from a variety of backgrounds, including anthropology, psychology, sociology, social work and public health. The common theme among all our BSSVs is that they are experienced in working with community based organizations and are willing to offer voluntary assistance to improve local efforts. We currently have BSSVs across the nation, including Guam and Puerto Rico.

Our BSSVs receive high quality, intensive trainings in all the areas for which we are funded by the CDC to provide capacity building assistance (CBA), including:

• Program evaluation and monitoring

• Needs assessment

• Planning and implementing evidence-based interventions (EBIs)

• Adapting EBIs for new settings and populations

• Using cognitive and behavioral approaches in HIV prevention

• Responding to mental health aspects of HIV prevention and care

It is our goal that each BSSV receives enough training and that they are capable of tailoring CBA to the needs and strengths of each community-based organization.

What Is Capacity Building and How do I Offer Assistance?

"Capacity Building" generally refers to a process of increasing the skills, infrastructure and resources of individuals, organizations and communities.  It is a key strategy for the promotion, delivery and sustainability of HIV prevention programs, and therefore the primary objective for BSSVs.

Our BSSVs are matched with local community-based organizations who have requested assistance. Depending on the organizational needs, as well as the skills and expertise areas of our BSSVs, our staff will work hard to match organizations with those BSSVs who can provide optimal CBA. BSSVs volunteer their time to offer assistance and guidance to CBOs throughout the CBA request. During this time, our staff is also available to assist and offer further resources to the BSSVs if necessary.

Why Should I Become a BSSV?

• An opportunity to give back to your community 

• An opportunity to share your expertise 

• Free training (some offering CEUs) 

• Chance to network with other professionals in your field or with similar interests

• Exposure to the latest DEBIs and EBIs

Join us today

How Do I Become a BSSV?

Step 1: Decide if you are willing to commit to offering local community-based organizations free capacity building assistance.

Step 2:  Submit your resume or curriculum vitae via email 

Step 3: We will contact you to set up a brief interview to learn more about you and ensure you have the experience necessary to provide capacity building assistance

Audio Presentations: BSSVs Share Their Stories

• Nancy Brown, PhD — California
  

• Denise Travis, PhD — Indiana

How Can I Learn More About the BSSV Program?

If you would like more information on the BSSV Program, please email or call us at (202) 218-3993.

Access our BSSV E-Newsletters:

• Fall 2011 (PDF, 3.3MB)
• Summer 2011 (PDF, 182KB)
• Winter 2011 (PDF, 684KB)

You can also visit the CDC's Capacity Building Assistance Portal for HIV Prevention website. This site provides CBA and HIV prevention information. This site also answers common questions about capacity building resources.

For CBOs

As our main focus, the BSSV Program is here to serve the CBO community with the highest quality of HIV prevention services possible. We offer free professional consultations and Capacity Building Assistance (CBA). For an added bonus, the BSSV Program offers webinars  and trainings geared towards assisting CBOs in enhancing their HIV prevention services..

What Is Capacity Building and What Is Capacity Building Assistance?

According to the CDC, “Capacity Building” generally refers to a process to increase the skills, infrastructure and resources of individuals, organizations and communities. Capacity building is a key strategy for the promotion, delivery and sustainability of HIV prevention programs.  As a result of capacity building on HIV prevention programs, your program(s) will:

1. operate optimally and

2. increase their capacity to effectively deliver evidence-based interventions and core public health strategies for HIV prevention.

Capacity Building Assistance or “CBA” provision is free (not for a fee) and is made available through a variety of methods including: training, technical assistance (TA) and technology transfer to individuals, organizations and communities. CBA is provided directly to communities, community–based organizations and health departments, CBA providers and CBA consumers are also available. CBA services do not include the direct delivery of HIV prevention services, but may include on-going mentorship.

How Can the BSSV Program Offer CBA to My Organization for Free?

The Behavioral and Social Science Volunteer (BSSV) Program is currently funded by the CDC to provide Capacity Building Assistance (CBA) to community-based organizations across the nation (and in U.S. territories) in order to improve the delivery and effectiveness of HIV prevention services for high-risk and/or racial/ethnic minority populations.

Since the inception of the program in 1996, the BSSV Program has recruited, trained and mobilized a network of almost 300 volunteers around the nation to assist HIV prevention efforts within their communities. Our staff, along with our ever expanding network of volunteer anthropologists, psychologists, sociologists, social workers and public health professionals are ready and eager to get involved and develop long lasting community partnerships with you!

What Kind of CBOs Are Eligible for Free CBA From the BSSV Program?

The BSSV Program is funded to provide CBA to CBOs across the nation (and in U.S. territories) that offer HIV Prevention Services. CBOs eligible to receive CBA must be either receiving funding directly by the CDC, or indirectly (through their local health department).

Why Should I Specifically Request CBA From the BSSV Program?

The BSSV Program’s collaborative approach is inspired by our passion about the impact HIV/AIDS-related programs have on the lives of the communities directly and indirectly affected. Our BSSV staff, along with our volunteers, have experience tailoring our capacity building assistance to the needs and strengths of each community-based organization.

The BSSV Program offers assistance in the following areas:

• Program evaluation and monitoring

• Needs assessments

• Planning and implementing evidenced-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

Which EBIs Does the BSSV Program Currently Provide Technical Assistance With?

The six EBIs the BSSV Program is currently providing technical assistance with are:

• CLEAR

• Community Promise

• Healthy Relationships

• SISTA

• NIA

• Many Men Many Voices (3MV)

Learn more about EBIs.

What Are the Steps I Need to Take to Receive Free CBA?

Step 1: Think about the type of CBA your organization needs.

Step 2:  Submit your request for CBA to the CDC.

Where Can I Go for More Information on the CDC's CBA Program for HIV Prevention?

Visit the Capacity Building Assistance Portal for HIV Prevention website. This site provides CBA and HIV prevention information. Learn about capacity building and how to request technical assistance and training to support your HIV prevention activities. This site also answers common questions about capacity building resources and provides general HIV prevention information.

How Can I Learn More About the BSSV Program?

If you would like to know more about how the BSSV Program, please email or call us at (202) 218-3993.

Access our CBO E-Newsletters:

• September 2011 (PDF, 866KB)

• May 2011 (PDF, 294KB)

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Was the BSSV Program created?

• External reviews of CDC's HIV prevention community planning process recommended greater emphasis on science-based decision making
• Local capacity for HIV prevention is enhanced and continuity of effort is promoted when technical assistance is offered on an ongoing basis by experts who live and work in the community
• Behavioral and social scientists with critical expertise want to become more involved with HIV prevention efforts in their communities

What Exactly Does the BSSV Program Do?

• Recruits qualified behavioral and social science volunteers (BSSVs) 
• Orients BSSVs to work effectively with HIV prevention planners and implementers 
• Links BSSVs to those who desire technical assistance

Who Are the BSSVs?

• Psychologists, sociologists, anthropologists and public health experts who know the science of HIV prevention and how to apply it
• Dedicated professionals who want to be part of their local community's HIV prevention efforts 
• Scientists who are experienced in working with CBOs and Health Departments

What Can BSSVs Offer CBOs?

Assistance with:

• 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

What Do BSSV Program staff Do?

• Clarify the specific needs of the agency requesting assistance 
• Identify one of the 200+ BSSVs in our national network to respond to the technical assistance request 
• Link the BSSV with the requesting agency 
• Provide the BSSV with resources and tools to do the job 
• Network with other national agencies and technical assistance providers 
• Evaluate the usefulness of the linkage from the perspective of the volunteer and the agency

Where Can I Get More Information?

BSSV Program 
American Psychological Association 
750 First St. NE 
Washington, D.C., 20002-4242 
Phone: (202) 218-3993 
Fax: (202) 336-6198
Email BSSV

Resources

• Behavioral & Social Science Volunteer Program: Translating HIV prevention science into culturally relevant practice (PDF, 388KB)
  Information about the BSSV Program, staff and volunteers, program benefits and how we can help.   

• Quick facts about the Behavioral & Social Science Volunteer (BSSV) Program (PDF, 81KB) 
  How BSSVs can help CBOs and the benefits BSSV Program volunteers receive.  

• CDC Capacity Building Site
  The CDC’s capacity building site with a description of what is CBA, who provides CBA, how to request CBA and CBA trainings offered. It also has information about the DEBIs and other resources relevant to HIV prevention.

• AIDS.gov
  This is the federal government’s main HIV/AIDS resource page. It includes information about HIV/AIDS basics, has federal government resources and the most up to date HIV/AIDS information.

• The Research Assistant
  The Research Assistant is a comprehensive source of tips, tools and information to navigate the world of behavioral science research, from formulating your question to getting your proposal funded.

• Project Ideas: Ideas for a healthier community has created a toolkit titled, HIV Prevention Toolkit: Tools to assist your organization to implement and improve HIV prevention programs in your community. This kit was created in order to share information that could benefit your department or organization in implementing and improving HIV prevention services and other programs.

• UNAIDS HIV Prevention Toolkit
  This online HIV Prevention Toolkit was developed for managers at the national and subnational levels who are managing/implementing HIV prevention programs/projects and are in the process of intensifying their HIV prevention efforts.

• The ADAPTT-ITT Model is a Novel Method of Adapting Evidence-Based HIV Interventions offers a framework for adapting HIV-related EBIs. It consists of eight sequential phases that inform HIV prevention providers and researchers of a prescriptive method for adapting EBIs.

  Original research, The ADAPT-ITT Model: A Novel Method of Adapting Evidence-Based HIV Preventions.

• CDC’s Procedural Guidance for Community Based Organizations (2009) (PDF, 2MB) will help you design prevention programs and recruitment strategies to promote counseling and testing, health education and risk reduction, and other prevention services.
• The Capacity Building Branch of the Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention at CDC
• Interventions designed for HIV/AIDS prevention under the DEBI (Diffusion of Effective Behavioral Interventions) project

HIV-Specific Resources

• CDC HIV/AIDS fact sheets

• Kaiser Permanente state health facts

• Center for AIDS Prevention Studies (CAPS)

• National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD)

• National Association of People Living with AIDS (NAPWA)

• The Positive Project: HIV Positive Stories for the Greater Good

• Effective HIV Interventions

Medical Adherence Resources

The BSSV Program has compiled a selection of resources on medical adherence to antiretroviral medication. These resources include literature reviews of published studies, efficacy studies of medical adherence interventions, challenges to adherence as well as case studies on adherence to antiretroviral therapy. All resources are published articles from peer reviewed journals.

• Efficacy Interventions in Improving Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence and HIV-1 RNA Viral Load (PDF, 169KB)

• Antiretroviral Adherence Interventions: Translating Research Findings to the Real World Clinic (PDF, 111KB)

• Challenges in Addressing Depression in HIV Research: Assessment, Cultural Context and Methods (PDF, 196KB)

• Enhancing Antiretroviral Adherence: A Review of Published Reports of Randomized Controlled Trials and On-going NIH-funded Research (PDF, 234KB)

• A Preliminary Randomized Controlled Trial of a Nurse-Delivered Medication Adherence Intervention Among HIV-Positive Outpatients Initiating Antiretroviral Therapy in Beijing, China (PDF, 360KB)

• Strategies for Promoting Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy: A Review of the Literature (PDF, 314KB)

E-Newsletters

• BSSV E-Newsletters
• CBO E-Newsletters

Featured Resources

Integration of mental health care, substance abuse care and HIV/AIDS prevention care
This site provides a resource center for current research, valid and reliable mental health and substance abuse screening instruments, integration best practices and fact sheets regarding the integration of mental health care, substance abuse care and HIV prevention care.

SISTA Resource Guide for Adapting SISTA for Latinas (PDF, 4MB)
This guide was created to provide practical technical assistance and resources to staff of community-based organizations who want to use the Sisters Informing Sisters about Topics on AIDS (SISTA) intervention with Latina populations.

Calendar of Events

Training Events Calendar (TEC) is a web-based registration system for trainings and workshops which allows users to

• Search/view CDC-sponsored trainings and workshops
• Register for CDC-sponsored trainings and workshops
• Submit trainings and workshops for posting (CDC partner agencies only)
• Search/view CDC partner agency trainings and workshops
• Connect to selected partner agency registration sites 

Webinars

• Telling Your Story — Part I: How to Write Your Story
  Date: Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011
  Presenter: Nancy L. Brown, PhD, Palo Alto Medical Foundation; Elena C. Lumby, MPH, George Washington University
  Recording time: 43:28
  

• Telling Your Story — Part II: Making Your Story Stronger with Data
  Date: Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2011
  Presenter: Nancy L. Brown, PhD, Palo Alto Medical Foundation; Elena C. Lumby, MPH, George Washington University
  Recording time: 59:44
  

• BSSV Program evaluation webinar — PEMS overview/requirements
  Date: Sunday, April 5, 2009
  Presenter: Marla Vaughan, MPH, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  Recording time: 1hr. 37min.

• Relationship between formative evaluation and adaptation
  Date: Sunday, April 26, 2009
  Presenter: David Whittier, PhD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  Recording time: 1hr. 28min.

• DEBI evaluation field manuals
  Date: Sunday, May 17, 2009
  Presenter: Aisha Gilliam, PhD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  Recording time: 1hr 23min.

• Recruitment strategies: Best practices and lessons learned
  Date: Tuesday, June 23, 2009
  Presenter: Ted Duncan, PhD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  Recording time: 1hr. 28min.

• Retention: Best practices and common barriers
  Date: Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009
  Presenter: Ted Duncan, PhD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  Recording time: 1hr. 6min.