Prevention Communication Branch

Mission Statement

To support the goals of DHP by developing, disseminating, and evaluating evidence-based HIV messages and communication programs to:

• public health partners,
• health care providers,
• people who are at risk for or who have HIV, and

• the general public.

Key projects include:

• campaign resources for consumers and health care providers through the Let’s Stop HIV Together campaign

• partnership activities and community engagement
• web development
• social media
• content development and inquiry response
• conference exhibits, and
• research and evaluation.

Let’s Stop HIV Together

Let’s Stop HIV Together empowers communities, partners, and health care providers to reduce HIV stigma and promote HIV testing, prevention, and treatment. The Let’s Stop HIV Together campaign is part of the national Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. initiative.

Partnerships

CDC partners extend the reach of the Let’s Stop HIV Together campaign. National organizations, public health organizations, media, and other partners help us to promote HIV awareness, prevention, testing, and treatment messaging wherever Americans live, work, play, worship, and learn. CDC provides partners with HIV prevention materials for dissemination at local events, digital resources, capacity building, strategic guidance for national and local activities, and linkages to other national and local partners. Learn more about our partners and how you can partner with us.

Websites and Social Media

CDC HIV provides current, scientifically accurate HIV content and resources for the public, public health professionals, and clinicians. Let’s Stop HIV Together provides access to campaign resources for distinct audiences. The HIV Risk Reduction Tool helps people learn about the risk of getting HIV or transmitting HIV to someone else, and how to lower that risk.

CDC’s HIV Nexus is a one-stop shop for up-to-date resources designed to support clinicians in informing and communicating with patients, caregivers, and the general public about HIV prevention, screening, and treatment. Clinicians can use HIV Nexus as a source of practical and credible information to stay abreast of the latest HIV recommendations and research, diagnose cases as early as possible, treat HIV rapidly, and prevent new HIV transmissions.

 PCB also engages with the general public, partners, and health care providers through social media, including Facebook (@CDCHIV and @Start Talking. Stop HIV), Twitter (@CDC_HIV), Instagram (@stophivtogether and @Start Talking. Stop HIV.), and CDC’s HIV YouTube playlist (HIV and STDs).

Content Development and Inquiry Response

PCB creates a wide variety of content related to DHP’s priorities, including fact sheets, web content, and infographics for partners and consumers. Writer-editors and health communication specialists work with other branches to interpret their guidelines, reports, and other data for various audiences.

PCB also manages the HIV content for CDC-INFO, part of CDC’s national contact center that delivers up-to-date health information to consumers, providers, and other professionals. PCB maintains prepared responses that CDC-INFO agents use to answer commonly asked questions about HIV, and PCB replies to questions that cannot be answered with a prepared response.

Exhibiting

PCB represents DHP at community events, HIV conferences, and other public health events to promote HIV testing, prevention, and care. Representatives from PCB staff the booths, answer questions, provide materials, and help attendees find online resources.

Research and Evaluation

PCB’s behavioral scientists lead research and evaluation activities that support the health communication activities of the branch. Activities include research and testing of ideas and messages with audiences before the development and launch of a campaign, and the process and outcome evaluation of campaigns after they launch.