The Diffusion of Effective Behavioral Interventions project (DEBI) is a
national-level strategy to provide high quality training and on-going
technical assistance on selected evidence-based HIV/STD/ Viral Hepatitis
prevention interventions to state and community HIV/STD program staff.
The
interventions have been proven effective through research studies that
showed positive behavioral (e.g., use of condoms; reduction in number of
partners) and/or health outcomes (e.g., reduction in the number of new
STD infections). Studies employed rigorous research designs, with both
intervention and control groups, so that the positive outcomes could be
attributed to the interventions. With input from the researchers, the
materials necessary to implement the interventions have been packaged
into user-friendly kits. With the appropriate training and intervention
package, service providers can increase their opportunities to conduct
effective HIV/STD/Viral Hepatitis prevention programs in their
communities.
The DEBI project began in 1999 when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) published a Compendium of HIV Prevention Interventions with
Evidence of Effectiveness to respond to prevention service providers who
requested evidence-based interventions that work. HIV prevention
technology transfer is a process by which these interventions are
disseminated for implementation through provision of training and
technical assistance. CDC now annually updates an online Compendium of Evidence-based HIV Prevention Interventions
by adding newly identified evidence-based behavioral interventions
(EBI) that have been scientifically proven to significantly reduce HIV
risk. CDC's Compendium now includes over sixty evidence-based individual-level, group-level, and community-level HIV behavioral interventions.
The
dissemination of effective interventions related to effective HIV
prevention is a critical part of building capacity among organizations
that implement prevention programs for populations at risk for HIV. The
CDC's Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention (DHAP), Capacity Building Branch
is committed to enhancing the capacity of individuals, organizations,
and communities to conduct more effective and efficient HIV prevention
services.
Partnering with CDC,
Danya
coordinates training and technical assistance for the DEBI project.
Danya works in collaboration with CDC/DHAP Capacity Building Branch
staff, the National Network of STD/HIV Prevention Training Centers
(PTCs), state and city health departments, Capacity Building Assistance
providers (CBAs), and the Behavioral and Social Scientist Volunteers
program (BSSV) to offer training and technical assistance on these
effective interventions for HIV prevention.