“I would not trade I ACT for anything. I ACT helps people see that they are victors not victims” – I ACT Facilitator

 

OUR
PROGRAMMES


I ACT offers a highly participatory curriculum for open and closed group  
meetings and public educational sessions.
 

The core curriculum has been adapted to serve children, adolescents and offenders and staff members in correctional facilities.


All I ACT programmes strive to:

  • Nurture participants sense of belonging
  • Enable expression and sharing of feelings
  • Provide accurate information
  • Encourage hope
  • Facilitate new ways of doing things
  • Create space for personal growth
  • Promote positive living for people living with HIV
  • Be a safe haven

 

Read more about I ACT in the Programme Overview >

CORE CURRICULUM
  

 
 

 

The I ACT core curriculum includes detailed lesson plans, group discussion topics and other highly participative activities on 6, 2-hour meeting topics.

 

Meeting Topic

Meeting Concept

Key Lesson Learned
HIV/AIDS and opportunistic infections (OIs) including TB Understand the illness Without treatment and over time, HIV impacts one’s immune system and increases the risks for opportunistic infections and TB
Treatment Literacy and Adherence Learn treatment options and adherence strategies Antiretroviral medications can address different treatment needs when taken effectively
Acceptance of Status Recognise and accept one’s diagnosis Acceptance of one’s HIV diagnosis is the first step in advocating for health
Disclosure Consider when, where, how and why to discuss one’s health status Careful preparation and communication are essential when disclosing one’s HIV status
Nutrition and Healthy Living Principles Review healthy living strategies Eating a balanced diet and enjoying exercise and rest are health priorities
Prevention with Positives Understand prevention techniques There are effective strategies for preventing the transmission of HIV, sexually transmitted infections and TB

Please LOGIN before downloading the I ACT core syllabus and facilitator training manuals.

The I ACT curriculum was also adapted to suit the needs of children, adolescents and offenders and staff members in correctional facilities.

 

 

KIDZ ALIVE
  
 
 

Lead partner, Zoë-Life, together with the National Department of Health, recently adapted a module of KidzAlive to include I ACT for Kidz, a facilitated intervention for children ages 4 – 11, in particular children who are at risk of HIV or living with HIV.


The intention of KidzAlive is to increase HIV testing, treatment, prevention and the long-term survival of children affected by HIV.


Components of the KidzAlive programme include:

  • Wellness Days and Holiday Clubs for children and caregivers
  • Training for people who work with children, including hospital and non-governmental organisation staff
  • Caregiver support groups
  • Training and mentoring for health care workers, nurses and doctors
  • School-based Wellness programmes to assist educators

 

For more information see KidzAlive >

 

ADOLESCENT I ACT
  

 

Adolescents comprise 30% of the South African population and are among the most at-risk to experience a high burden of HIV disease.

 

Adolescents are largely under-served in the health sector and are typically a hard to reach population with very distinctive needs.

 

In response, experts from Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute adapted I ACT’s core curriculum to create the I ACT Adolescents Programme.

 

Read an interview with Shenaaz Pahad, Technical Specialist Psychologist at Wits and Editor for the I ACT Adolescent curriculum.

 

I ACT for Adolescents offers a comprehensive curriculum for 7 group meeting topics:

  • HIV, AIDS and Opportunistic Infections including TB
  • Treatment Literacy and Adherence
  • Acceptance of Status and Disclosure
  • Sexual Reproductive Health and HIV Transmission
  • Nutrition and Self-care, including mental health and substance abuse prevention
  • HIV Prevention and Risk Reduction
  • Moving Forward

 

Please LOGIN before downloading the I ACT Adolescents syllabus and facilitator training manuals.

 

 

STEPS
  
 
 

South Africa has more than 158,000 offenders who are at great risk for HIV and related infections. In 2012 and in partnership with the Department of Correctional Services, South Africa Partners adapted the core I ACT curriculum to create STEPS, a prevention strategy that helps offenders and staff members in correctional services facilities overcome stigma, get tested and stop the spread of HIV and other infectious diseases.



STEPS has since been implemented in 8 South African correctional facilities and 10,379 offenders, detainees and staff have been screened for HIV and tuberculosis.

 

Read more about how to develop STEPS programmes in our Implementation Guide >

 

STEPS serves offenders and staff members of correctional service centres through educational sessions and facilitated group meetings on 6 topics:

  • Introduction to HIV
  • HIV and sexually transmitted infections
  • Risk in correctional facilities
  • Risk reduction
  • Acceptance, disclosure and stigma
  • Living positively

 

Please LOGIN before downloading the complete STEPS syllabus and facilitator training manuals.

 

STEPS also offers Ubuntu Community Theatre, an interactive drama performed by peer educators who are trained as to act out health issues and promote a dialogue with the audience.

 

Read more about Ubuntu Community Theatre in the Guide for Theatre Troupes and Troupe Managers >