SKC'S BEAR project addresses reservation HIV/AIDS needs

PABLO - HIV/AIDS is increasingly affecting the American Indian population. In the past 10 years the number of Indian AIDS cases has increased from 322 cases in 1991 to 2,875 in 2003, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

In the United States, 44,000 new cases of HIV are reported each year, which includes all populations.

Many cases go undetected because people do not seek testing. Co-infections, such as Hepatitis C and Sexually Transmitted Diseases, occur frequently because of similar risk factors. HIV/AIDS case management and early care interventions for special populations, such as pregnant women, can improve health outcomes and quality of life.

The Tribal B.E.A.R. (Building Effective AIDS Response) Project trains tribal and HIS health care providers and other health care professionals on HIV/AIDS care and treatment so that tribal members can stay on their home reservations while receiving care.

The Salish Kootenai College Nursing Department coordinates the Tribal B.E.A.R. Project throughout Montana and Idaho.

Training and support is also offered to tribal clinic staff to facilitate access to local HIV/AIDS resources. Training curricula are designed to meet the specific needs of tribal providers, whether they are physicians, nurses, dentists, mental health/chemical dependency counselors, Community Health Representatives or other health professionals.

The B.E.A.R. project is one of several supported by the University of Washington - Northwest AIDS Education and Training Center (NW AETC)/Minority AIDS Initiative (MAI) program. Funding is provided by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) through the Ryan White Care Act.

The project also includes preceptorships, with a goal of giving health care providers and health professionals the opportunity to work with experienced providers/preceptors, and observe and interact with the clinician or health professional as they provide specialty care for their patients diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.

All preceptorships provide instruction designed to meet the specific needs of the individual trainee, taking into account their current practice situation and the issues that affect patient care in their setting. All preceptorships are free of charge. The University of Washington Schools of Medicine and Pharmacy provide continuing education credits.

For more information, contact SKC Training Coordinators Vicki Peterson, (406) 275-4913, or Niki Graham, (406) 275-4920. Or, write to Salish Kootenai College Tribal B.E.A.R. Project, Nursing Department, P.O. Box 70, Pablo MT 59855.