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Research component

Research Project Introduction:

What is the California Peer Educator Project (CPEP) study?

The Shanti California Peer Educator Project (CPEP) provides peer educators with training on how to better work with people of color who may have HIV or be at risk for getting HIV. As part of this project, Shanti is working with some researchers from Boston University in Massachusetts and BTW Consultants in California to conduct a study of CPEP.

How will this project help the field of peer education services?

CPEP is not just a program to provide training to peer educators. We want to support each person who is committed to this work and help build the capacity of organizations that want to improve on or begin peer education services. We also want to increase the visibility of these vital services and ensure that future funding is available for them. To this end we are conducting an evaluation of CPEP. The purpose of the study is to learn about the peer educators who are being trained and how the training affects the peer educators and their clients. The lessons that we learn will be combined with the findings from other peer education training projects around the country. Our goal is to highlight the successes, challenges and needs of peers who work in the field to support their communities. Of course, we also want to learn what is working in CPEP and what could be improved.

We will gather information on multiple levels. All peer educators are invited to participate in a series of 3 surveys. The first takes place prior to the Level 1 training, the second approximately 6 months after that and the final questionnaire one year after the first training. The questionnaires focus on peer educator knowledge, skills and attitudes regarding their work, as well as personal benefits gained by peers from participating in the program. All information is kept confidential. Additionally, a select group of Peers will be invited to administer a questionnaire to their clients. The evaluations will allow CPEP to gather, report and disseminate information regarding the types of populations targeted by organizations using peer educators, common services that are provided, the number of contacts peer educators have, and other basic information about organizations and their activities.

All evaluation activities are voluntary and confidential. Organizations and individual peer educators will not be refused services if they choose not to participate in the evaluation.

Frequently Asked Questions:

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CPEP STUDY?

Being in the study means you agree to complete a survey before the CPEP training starts, and then two more surveys - one six months after your first training, and another survey one year after the first training. You can choose to fill out the surveys yourself, or to have someone read the survey to you and fill in your answers for you. All information you provide on these surveys is confidential and none of the answers you give will ever be associated with you personally.

We will ask you to fill out the first survey on the first day of the Shanti CPEP training and the second survey at the end of last CPEP training offered (training level IV). If for some reason you don't attend that training, we will follow up with you by telephone and/or mail you a survey to complete. We will also contact you about one year after your initial training to complete the last survey.

ARE THERE ANY RISKS TO BEING IN THE STUDY?

Some of the questions asked in the surveys are about your sexual behavior and HIV risk and can be very personal. You may feel uncomfortable answering some of these questions. If so, you can chose to skip over any question you do not wish to answer.

ARE THERE ANY BENEFITS TO BEING IN THE STUDY?

Our hope is that knowledge gained from this study will help improve training for peer educators and also improve programs geared at HIV-prevention and care in the future. While there are no personal benefits to you for participating in this study, we hope that a benefit you do gain is the joy of knowing that you have helped with highlighting the successes, challenges and needs of peer educators who work in the field to support their communities.

WHO IS PAYING FOR THIS STUDY?

CPEP is a cooperative agreement funded by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services/Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). This cooperative agreement is a part of the emergency funds allocated to the Minority AIDS Initiative (MAI). The MAI focuses special attention on the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic in communities of color, and on developing and improving the capacity of minority, community based organizations (CBOs) to more effectively serve their communities.

WHAT IF I DON'T AGREE TO BE IN THE STUDY?

This study is voluntary so it is up to you whether or not to participate. If you decide not to participate, it won't affect any aspect of your training or participation in the CPEP program.

QUESTIONS

If you have any questions about anything involving this study, you can ask Kevin Burns, Executive Director at Shanti. Call him at 415-674-4756, email him at kburns@shanti.org or write to him at Shanti, 730 Polk Street, San Francisco CA 94109.

If you have any questions about your rights as a participant in this study or any complaints that you do not feel comfortable taking to Shanti, you may contact the organization that approved this study: Independent Review Consulting at 1-800-472-3241, info@irb-irc.com or write to them at P.O. Box 170, San Anselmo, CA 94979.

YOUR RIGHTS

You have the right to refuse to participate in this study. If you refuse, you will still receive the same training and technical assistance from CPEP as other peer educators in the program. If you agree to participate, you can decide not to continue in the study at any time.