The Health and Disability Working Group (HDWG)

The Health and Disability Working Group (HDWG) promotes strategies that improve the delivery of medical, behavioral, and support services to adults with disabilities and chronic illnesses, children with special health needs and people living with HIV/AIDS. Our primary focus is on low income, minority and disenfranchised populations. HDWG is a research, technical assistance and training program at the Boston University School of Public Health.

What's New at HDWG

Two new journal articles based on ECHO research Two articles based on the work of the ECHO HIV Oral Health Initiative 5-year multi-site evaluation have been published in the Journal of Public Health Dentistry:
A typology of models for expanding access to oral health care for people living with HIV/AIDS describes a typology of program models for expanding access to dental services for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA)
Factors associated with preventive dental care-seeking among PLWHA examines factors associated with preventive dental care-seeking behavior among HIV-positive adults

Fast facts on coverage and financing of care for children and youth with special health care needs
The Catalyst Center has enhanced and updated its web-based state data chartbook on coverage and financing of care for children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) for each state, DC, and Puerto Rico.  Get the data you need to make the case for kids with special health care needs in your state.
Online State-at-a-Glance Chartbook on Coverage and Financing of Care for CYSHCN

Also, check out the latest Catalyst Center video:  A light-hearted intro to the Catalyst Center

Journal article based on qualitative analysis of peer interviews
The PEER Center and Peer Education and Training Sites staff have published an article that describes peer support in HIV care and treatment from the perspective of 23 HIV-positive peers across the United States. The article appeared in this month's issue of AIDS Patient Care and STDs
“Positive Examples”: A Bottom-Up Approach to Identifying Best Practices in HIV Care and Treatment Based on the Experiences of Peer Educators

Spanish version of peer training toolkit available
 The PEER Center has created a Spanish version of the toolkit for training HIV-positive peers to support people living with HIV/AIDS:
Componentes Esenciales para la Capacitación y Éxito de los Trabajadores Pares (Peers) on PEER Center website