HIV and AIDS Awareness

Sandra Seymour, Ph.D., A.R.N.P., Associate Professor, College of Nursing

Because HIV and AIDS awareness helps all of us be more effective university employees and members of our local communities, the University of Florida Committee on Campus HIV Education and Policy is pleased to provide the following information:

• Learn more about HIV/AIDS: Attend “What You Need to Know About HIV/AIDS in the Workplace”

Held in conjunction with the University of Florida’s People Awareness Week, “What You Need to Know About HIV/AIDS in the Workplace” is a free class that dispels common HIV/AIDS myths; provides prevention information; and conveys other details related to HIV/AIDS, including information about HIV/AIDS in the workplace. Provided by the North Central Florida AIDS Network and sponsored on campus by the UF Committee on Campus HIV Education and Policy, this three-hour class provides the AIDS certification necessary for many Florida licenses and is patterned after AIDS 104 — the first step in becoming an educator or other volunteer for the North Central Florida AIDS Network.

“What You Need to Know About HIV/AIDS in the Workplace” stands as an excellent opportunity for university employees to become better informed about HIV and AIDS. This workshop also is being counted as an elective in University Personnel Services’ supervisory challenge series.

     When?      October 10 from 9 am. to 12 noon

Where? Room 316 of the Stadium University Personnel Services’ Training Room

Please call Employee Development, University Personnel Services, at 392-4626 to make reservations. All interested employees, including university administrators and/or their representatives, are invited and encouraged to attend this workshop!

• HIV/AIDS crisis response team is available to help

A crisis response team, composed of counselors, physicians, health educators, and other appropriate members from the university community, is available to employees with HIV or AIDS — or their coworkers. Its mission is to provide counseling, information, benefits coordination, and other services for these employeees.

Designated contact points for the crisis response team are in place to make the process of finding resources or services an easier prospect for UF employees. Employees who are interested in the services available from the crisis response team first should call the appropriate contact person designated from University Personnel Services, as listed below.

HIV/AIDS Crisis Response Team Contact Points:

     Jodi Gentry, Employee Development                392-4626
     Grant Cochrane, IFAS Personnel                   392-4777
     Jan Eller, Health Science Center Personnel       392-3786
     Denise Bogart-Caballero, PPD, E&G, Auxiliaries   392-2333

• The University of Florida’s AIDS Policy provides guidance

The policy of the University of Florida is to treat cases of HIV infection on a case-by-case basis. When a case of HIV infection or full-blown AIDS comes to the attention of the university — whether student, faculty, or staff member — the director of the Student Health Care Center, with the permission of the affected individual, will review the case, advise the university, and assist in the coordination of resources and services.

The confidentiality of the individual as well as the individual’s welfare will be respected. Breach of confidentiality of information obtained by a university employee in an official university capacity may result in disciplinary action. Based on current medical information concerning risk of infection, the university does not isolate persons with AIDS or HIV infection from other individuuals in the educational or work setting. Further, it is the policy of the university to provide education which seeks to prevent the spread of HIV infection and to strongly encourage those who are infected or who wish to know whether they are infected to seek early diagnosis and intervention, which are crucial. The University of Florida considers AIDS to be a disability — thus, existing support services may be used by students or employees who are disabled by AIDS or HIV infection.

• Community resoures also can help

The Gainesville-area community has many resources available that can provide information, assistance, and HIV testing. Please see the attached listing for information.

So that our university community may be better informed about HIV and AIDS, please route or share this information with members of your staff. We also encourage you or your representative to attend “What You Need to Know About HIV/AIDS in the Workplace,” which is being held on campus this October and is described on Page 1 of this memorandum. Additional information about HIV and AIDS from this committee is forthcoming. In the meantime, if you have any questions about our efforts, please feel free to contact me by calling 846-0667 or 395-8037.

We appreciate your assistance!