HIV Early Intervention Services
A program of
Georgia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities / Office of Addictive Diseases
Rev 5/27/16
What do HIV / EIS Counselors do?
As a new HIV Early Intervention Services (EIS) nurse or counselor, you may be the only HIV professional in your facility or you may be a member of an EIS team. Based in substance abuse and medication assisted treatment facilities throughout Georgia, EIS workers offer the following services to consumers free of charge:
§ HIV prevention education
§ HIV prevention counseling
§ HIV pre-test counseling, rapid HIV testing, and HIV post-test counseling
§ Linkage to medical care - both newly & previously diagnosed HIV+ clients
Note: EIS nurses and counselors are not authorized to conduct HIV tests for co-workers, friends, or family members.
EIS counselors and nurses build support for their program within their own agency, form a collaborative relationship with their local public health agency, and establish ties with the community at large. Recognizing the need to mobilize our communities in order to end the discrimination and secrecy that encourages the spread of HIV, EIS workers also participate in health fairs; speak at schools, churches, and community gatherings; and collaborate with other agencies during events like National HIV Testing Day.
Support available to EIS nurses & counselors
Imagine Hope, Inc. manages Georgia’s HIV EIS program on behalf of the Office of Addictive Diseases, providing HIV EIS workers with:
· Annual training events
· Quarterly Report on HIV / EIS activities statewide
· Technical assistance by phone & email
· Website www.hiveis.com
The website includes a page on FORMS, back issues of the newsletter HIV Risk Reduction, and contact info for an HIV EIS nurse or counselor at each participating agency throughout Georgia.
We welcome you and look forward to working with you!
If you have questions or concerns, please contact us.
Yours truly,
Marie Sutton, President
Imagine Hope, Inc.
404.606.1728 c
Winona Holloway, VP / Communication
Imagine Hope, Inc.
404.805.0369 c