HELP: The Implementation Process: Lessons for the Future

1. HELP:The Implementation Process: Lessons for the Future Andrius Lošakevičius

2. Adaptation for the local setting • Trainings of trainers, providing a team of local trainers for further program development; • Curriculum changes accordingly participant responses; • 3 universities involved: • Vilnius university; • Mykolas Romeris university; • Klaipeda university. • All organization levels introduced the program.

3. Future development • Policy level; • Organization level; • Individual level.

4. Participants Evaluation of HOPE program:Beneficiaries • Gain of information • Improved specific knowledge (HIV/AIDS; Case Management, social work etc.); • Ideas of improving everyday work and personal life; • Improvement of skills • Active training methods; • Improved project designing and development skills; • Skills on communicating with client; • Social activity • Meeting with colleagues and making new contacts; • Networking possibilities; • Personal benefit • More self-confidence in discussing HIV/AIDS issues; • Diversity of covered topics and different points of view.

5. Individual level • Different approach to same problems; • Emphasis on attitudes and beliefs; • Widening the scope of professionals; • Client centered approach; • Professional motivation; • Team work inside organization; • Contacting other organizations.

6. Changes of attitudes • Broaden understanding of the complex nature of HIV/AIDS problem; • Stigma and discrimination revealed; • Better understanding of professional stigma; • Emphasis on collaborative relationship; • More confidence talking about risky behavior, especially targeting youth; • Better understanding of the harm reduction concept; • Enhancing motivation.

7. Case management implementation • NGO’s and education institutions highly involved; • Case management approach used working with vulnerable target groups: street sex-workers, drug users, offenders, Roma people; • Creating a team in an organization setting for more comprehensive services; • Organizational networking; • Focusing on clients needs and abilities; • Widening professional abilities.

8. Changes of practice • Improving curriculum in university; • Widening prevention programs for youth; • Creating and developing more effective techniques of needs assessment, service maintaining and program evaluation; • Creating formal and informal networks.

9. Networking • Drug addiction treatment network; • Penitentiary and drug users treatment; • Child protection network; • Mental health network; • Mother-child network; • Youth actions, kids at risk.

10. Project implementation • Over 30 project developed during the course; • 12 projects implemented: • 8 projects focused on youth and school children; • 1 educational project for health care specialists; • 2 complex support projects for drug users, sex workers and human trafficking; • Established a harm reduction program in Kaunas city. • Enhanced motivation for project development; • Problem coverage expands.

11. Trainings and education • Two member of trainers team are Associated professors at Mykolas Romeris university; • HOPE trainers are involved in specific trainings: • VTC for general practitioners; • HIV/TBC co-infection; • Case management approach for harm reduction workers; • P2P program development and involvement in school society; • Family support. • Stigma and discrimination issues emphasized.

12. Conclusions • HIV/AIDS Case Management approach established in Lithuania; • Universities involved; • Awareness raised; • Focus on client centered approach; • Complex approach to different problem areas; • Network development inside and outside the organizations.