Governor Cuomo Announces Graduation of First Class From New York State's Peer Worker Certification Program in HIV, Hepatitus C, and Harm Reduction
July 5, 2017
From the office of Governor Cuomo
Certified Peer Workers Will Help New York State End the AIDS Epidemic
Certificate Awarded Through SUNY Stony Brook's School of Health Technology and Management
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that the first 45 people have graduated from the New York State Peer Worker Certification Program in HIV, Hepatitis C, and Harm Reduction. These new peer workers will be key players in the Governor's Ending the Epidemic initiative that aims to reduce the number of new HIV infections in New York State to an estimated 750 annually by the end of 2020.
"New York has established itself as a national leader in fighting against the AIDS epidemic and these newly certified peer workers will help to build upon the progress that we have made," Governor Cuomo said. "These trained individuals will provide support, education and assistance to New Yorkers living with these diseases across this state."
To be certified as a peer worker, a person must have "lived experience" related to HIV, Hepatitis C, and/or harm reduction services. Research shows that peer workers who share their life experiences with people in similar situations are able to help them achieve better health outcomes. Certified peer workers are employed by community based organizations and hospitals, in both clinical and non-clinical settings. Peer workers are considered part of a care team, are assigned to clients, provide services such as patient navigation, assistance getting to appointments, and support group facilitation. In addition, peer workers can help someone struggling with HIV and/or HCV overcome the stigma and discrimination that can undermine treatment adherence.
Commissioner of Health Dr. Howard Zucker said, "Peer workers are uniquely suited to work with people who need assistance accessing HIV, HCV or harm reduction services. These graduating peer workers will be able to provide the compassion and understanding that encourages at-risk individuals to take steps to ýprotect themselves or to get tested and linked to care."
To become certified, a peer worker is required to:
- Complete at least 90 hours of training, which is provided free of charge by AIDS Institute training centers and other partners;
- Complete a 500-hour practicum or work experience with an acceptable supervisory evaluation;
- Pass a test on relevant subject matter;
- Agree to follow a formal code of ethics; and
- Complete at least 10 hours of continuing education each year.
The certificate is awarded through SUNY Stony Brook’s School of Health Technology and Management.
Peer workers will help reduce new HIV infections by encouraging persons with HIV to take medications to achieve viral suppression and working with at-risk populations to avoid infections by using pre-exposure prophylaxis, condoms and clean syringes. The initiative is supported by the AIDS Institute’s training initiative and state Ending the Epidemic funding. There are approximately 300 additional individuals currently enrolled in the certification process.
About the State University of New York
The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country’s oldest school of maritime, the state's only college of optometry, 12 Educational Opportunity Centers, over 30 ATTAIN digital literacy labs, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.7 million students across its portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.5 billion in fiscal year 2025, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and annually one in three New Yorkers who earn a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit suny.edu.
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Holly Liapis
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