Peer Advocacy

The Peer Advocate Program is perhaps the oldest program at WORLD.  In WORLD’s early years, HIV+ women and their allies came together informally, not only to help themselves, but to help other women with positive diagnoses.

In 1997, WORLD’s informal peer support process became formalized when Ryan White funds allowed for the first paid peer advocate position at WORLD.  At the time, WORLD’s founder Rebecca Denison was the Executive Director.  She decided to split the position so that eight diverse women could assume the roles of peer advocate!

Today, WORLD has four paid Peer Advocates on staff: Felecia Greenly, Liz Bates, Anna Jackson and Sharon Gambles.

Sylvia Young works specifically with WORLD’s Latina community and serves as Program Manager providing supervision to the Peer Advocates.  While the Peer Advocates usually serve HIV+ women on a one-on-one basis, the program staff works together as a team.  Peer program staff work together to coordinate and facilitate WORLD’s weekly Women’s Support Group.

The Peer Advocate Program is under the umbrella of the Family Care Network (FCN) of Alameda County.  FCN is federally funded to serve women and families infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.  The network is comprised of Children’s Hospital, Summit/Alta Bates East Bay AIDS Center, Alameda County Medical Center, La Clinica De La Raza, Downtown Youth Clinic, East Bay Community Recovery Project, Circle of Care, East Bay Community Law Center, Rubicon of Contra Costa County, and WORLD.  Peer Advocates work closely with these agencies to ensure that women are receiving the services they need.

What does a Peer Advocate do?

Peer Advocates provide a range of services.  The primary focus of the program is to provide emotional and practical support to women living with HIV/AIDS.  Emotional support includes anything from a shoulder to cry on, to a listening ear, to a referral to a support group or therapist.

Peer Advocates have life experience similar to those they are serving and they are trained to provide peer counseling to women.  They serve as role models to women who are learning how to navigate the medical and social services system.  Peer Advocates will provide women with the support they need to make medical appointments by offering a phone call reminder or a ride.  Sometimes women find it helpful to have a Peer Advocate present during a medical appointment to help with asking questions and writing notes.

Peer Advocates stay abreast of treatment trends and provide non-directive information to women.  They provide consumer input to the medical community, specifically the Family Care Network.  Peer Advocates also serve on WORLD’s Speaker’s Bureau. A Peer Advocate can serve as the ally an HIV+ woman needs when things are tough and life feels like too much.

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