Community Health Education and Resiliency Program
The Community Health Education & Resiliency Program (CHERP, formerly the STD/HIV/AIDS Prevention Program) was established in 1989. As one of the few tribal HIV/AIDS prevention programs nationwide, it has built a trustworthy reputation that has been sustained over its 31 years of operation.
The program seeks to 1) increase awareness of STI, HIV and Hepatitis in AI/AN communities; 2) train Native-serving providers on best practices for addressing STI/HIV/Hepatitis-related issues within tribal communities; 3) provide STI/HIV/Hepatitis health education and risk reduction services for at-risk tribal members to raise awareness of STIs, HIV, Hepatitis and harm reduction practices; and 4) increase the capacity of tribal program staff to develop and implement STI/HIV/Hepatitis prevention strategies in community-based settings.
In recent years, CHERP has expanded its services to include community-based HIV and Hepatitis C rapid testing and positive youth development.
CHERP provides the following services:
- Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) and HIV Prevention Education
- Safer sex supplies and HIV Self-Testing kit distribution
- Rapid and anonymous HIV and Hepatitis C (Hep C) testing, counseling, and referral services
- Capacity Building for STI/HIV/Hep C prevention and testing services
- Positive Youth Development
- Capacity Building for Opioid Use Disorder prevention and linkage to treatment
- Adult and Youth Mental Health First Aid
- Training of Facilitators for the evidence-based intervention, Cuidaté
- Technology of Participation Facilitation, including focused conversations, action planning, and strategic planning
- Coordination of the National Native HIV Network
