Kurt Begaye

Kurt Begaye

Tribal Affiliation:  Diné

Title:  Senior Capacity Building Specialist

Pronouns:  He, Him, His

Bio: 

Kurt Begaye, Hashk’ááhadzohí (Yucca Strung Out on a Line Clan), born for Tó’aheedliinii (Water Flow Together Clan), is Diné originally from Chinle, Arizona and currently resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

He is the Senior Capacity Building Specialist for the Community Health Education and Resiliency Program at the Albuquerque Area Indian Health Board, Inc. Previously, he was the Director of Training & Technical Assistance with the Southwest Indigenous Women’s Coalition, and prior to that served as a Capacity Building Assistance Specialist first with the National Native American AIDS Prevention Center in Oakland, CA, then with the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum in San Francisco, CA.

Kurt has an extensive background in HIV education, prevention, testing, and capacity building assistance, having adapted two evidence-based interventions for American Indian communities. He has worked with many tribes, people of color-serving non-profit organizations, universities, and health departments across the country. Along with his direct service and capacity building background, Kurt also is a facilitator and trainer in multiple HIV evidence-based behavior interventions through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA), and the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Kurt is a founding member of the National Native HIV Network and currently serves as Co-Coordinator. Additionally, he is the Parity, Inclusion and Representation co-chair with the New Mexico Community Planning and Action Group. He is the recipient of the 2017 Honoring the Red Ribbon Award.

Certifications: 

  • HIV Counseling, Testing, & Referral Services
  • Mental Health First Aid

Certified Trainer:

  • ARTAS Linkage to Care
  • Creating Recovery-Ready Workplaces
  • ELEVATE
  • ESCALATE
  • Fundamentals of Motivational Interviewing for HIV
  • HIV Navigation Services
  • HIV Testing in Non-Clinical Settings
  • Impact of Compassion Fatigue in Peer Work
  • Increasing Hepatitis C Knowledge in Behavioral Health & Medical Providers
  • MPowerment
  • Popular Opinion Leaders
  • PROMISE for HIP
  • Social Network Strategies

Other Training Topics & Skills:

  • Cultural Sensitivity
  • Gender & Sexuality Sensitivity
  • HIV/STI/HCV 101
  • Social Determinants of Health
  • Social Marketing & Media
  • ToP Facilitation Methods