Cooperative Agreement for Workforce Development in Vietnam: HIV-Addiction Technology Transfer Center

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is accepting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2011 for the Cooperative Agreement for Workforce Development in Vietnam: HIV-Addiction Technology Transfer Center (Vietnam H-ATTC). The purpose of the project is to build the capacity and increase the skills and abilities of the Vietnam Medical University (VMU) in developing and implementing a Vietnam H-ATTC to assess the training and development needs of the behavioral health (substance use and mental disorders treatment) and HIV workforce, and develop and conduct training and technology transfer activities in Vietnam in a culturally competent and linguistically appropriate manner. The grantee will provide training and technical assistance to VMU to enhance their ability to: (1) translate research findings into user-friendly and clinically applicable materials; (2) utilize innovative skills development methods; (3) increase awareness and expertise in cultural competence; and (4) promote and develop education and training programs within the existing academic institution (i.e., primary healthcare). SAMHSA, as an implementing partner in the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), is working with countries where the HIV epidemic is driven by substance abuse. Vietnam is one such PEPFAR country. The HIV epidemic in Vietnam is concentrated primarily among injecting drug users (IDU), commercial sex workers (CSW) and men who have sex with men (MSM). Prevalence is estimated at up to 60% among IDUs and 6.5% among CSWs, while the general population prevalence is 0.53% (UNAIDS, 2006). Thus, given the HIV epidemic, there is a strong need to develop the skills and abilities of in-country health care staff in the nexus of HIV, substance use and mental disorders to reduce the impact of HIV /AIDS. The US-Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) Network promotes and guides effective sharing of knowledge among stakeholders involved in the substance use disorders treatment milieu, resulting in positive changes in policies, attitudes and practices regarding treatment for substance-related problems. The ultimate objective of the ATTC Network is to increase availability and improve delivery of research-proven and culturally appropriate treatments in community settings in order to improve outcomes of substance use disorders treatment throughout the nation. The ATTCs are dedicated to building and supporting a well-trained, recovery-oriented, ethnically diverse workforce dedicated to reducing substance-related problems and consequences. Accordingly, the ATTC model and approach is the most appropriate for the delivery of technical assistance and training to assist in building the capacity of the workforce in Vietnam as the country begins to build and implement a system of HIV, substance abuse prevention and treatment services. This announcement addresses Healthy People 2020 Substance Abuse Topic Area HP 2020-HIV. SAMHSA strongly encourages all grantees to provide a smoke-free workplace and to promote abstinence from all tobacco products (except in regard to accepted cultural traditions and practices).