Anti-Retroviral Treatment and Access to Services (ARTAS)

Anti-Retroviral Treatment and Access to Services (ARTAS)

Anti-Retroviral Treatment and Access to Services (ARTAS) is an individual-level, multi-session, time-limited intervention with the goal of linking recently diagnosed persons with HIV to medical care soon after receiving their positive test result. ARTAS is based on the Strengths-based Case Management (SBCM) model, which is rooted in Social Cognitive Theory (particularly self-efficacy) and Humanistic Psychology. SBCM is a model that encourages the client to identify and use personal strengths; create goals for himself/herself; and establish an effective, working relationship with the Linkage Coordinator (LC). 

Target Population: The target population for ARTAS is any individual who is recently diagnosed with HIV, typically defined as within 6-12 months, and willing to participate in the intervention.

ARTAS Training Information &
Pre-Course Module

Target audience for the ARTAS classroom training: This training is intended for individuals who will be responsible for conducting the ARTAS sessions with clients, (i.e., Linkage Coordinator). Linkage Coordinators should have experience providing case management or social services. Ideally, participants should include experienced case managers, social workers, and/or HIV test counselors. Completion of the ARTAS pre-course online module is required. 

The pre-course online module of the ARTAS Training of Linkage Coordinators will provide you with an overview of the ARTAS training agenda, objectives, and instructional methods of the course. This training is being conducted in a blended learning format; you will complete a portion of the training on your own by reviewing the material in this module, and the remainder of the training will be conducted in a classroom setting. 

Complete the ARTAS pre-course module.

This online module is a required activity that contains information that is necessary for the classroom training. The content of this module will provide you with background information on ARTAS, its theoretical basis and core elements, the logic model, key getting started and pre-implementation activities, and an overview of the client sessions and helpful tips. You will be expected to know this information and answer relevant questions about this material throughout the module; this information will not be repeated. Please print your certificate at the end of the module and bring it to the first day of the training.

By the end of this module, you should be able to:

• Describe the ARTAS intervention
• Describe the benefits of linking to care
• Discuss the key results of the original research studies
• Discuss the target population of the original research studies
• Discuss the strengths-based model upon which ARTAS is based
• Describe the core elements of ARTAS
• Describe the key characteristics of ARTAS
• Discuss the purpose of a behavior change logic model
• Describe the behavioral determinants addressed in ARTAS
• Discuss the key "Getting Started" activities
• Identify strategies for institutionalizing ARTAS in your agency
• Discuss how to integrate ARTAS into existing case management services
• Describe a process for enrolling clients into ARTAS at your agency
• Identify key policies that may need to be revised for ARTAS
• Identify key procedures that may need to be revised for ARTAS
• List the five client sessions
• Describe the key topics to cover in each client session
• Describe the key components of the ARTAS Session Plan
• Explain how to create SMART objectives

To apply for the ARTAS classroom training, please visit the EffectiveInterventions Training Calendar.  

ARTAS Podcast

Upon executing a successful ARTAS training in Birmingham Alabama, ETR had the opportunity to not only interact with great training participants but learn of the progressive work Alabama is doing to implement ARTAS. ETR recorded this pod cast to share Alabama’s innovative strategies with other CDC grantees. The Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention (DHAP) and the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) have funded two AIDS Service Organizations to implement ARTAS. ADPH also created a web based Application (App) to collect ARTAS and related data, and continuously engages Ryan White social workers to gain support for ARTAS and the App pilot program. In 2014, DHAP plans to mobilize a statewide Linkage Coordination collective for training updates, peer support networking, and continuum of care opportunities. All of the mentioned efforts complement ADPH's “KNOW. MANAGE. LIVE.” social marketing strategy.

To listen to the podcast, please visit ARTAS Podcast - Birmingham, Alabama

ARTAS Webinar Recording

The webinar is provided by PROCEED, Inc.'s National Center for Training, Support, and Technical Assistance

Title: Introducing ARTAS, Strengths Based Case Management & Motivational Interviewing into your HIV Intervention Services
Objectives of the webinar:

• Describe the ARTAS strategy
• Identify clients who are appropriate for enrolling in ARTAS
• Increase their understanding of how Strength Based Cased Management relates to ARTAS and Motivational Interviewing
• Become familiar with and increase their understanding of the spirit, principles and basic strategies of Motivational Interviewing

Speakers: Gustavo Campos, California STD/HIV Prevention Training Center; Ann Schwartz, Center for Health & Behavioral Training; Sarahjane Rath, PROCEED, Inc.

Moderator: Brenda Cruz, PROCEED, Inc.
Date: August 23, 2012
Duration: Approximately 1 hour, 45 minutes

To access the webinar recording, please visit: https://student.gototraining.com/71qf5/recording/2510022663004489984

Research and Development

L.I. Gardner, L.R. Metsch, P. Anderson-Mahoney, A.M. Loughlin, C. del Rio, S. Strathdee, S.L. Sansom, H.A. Siegal, A.E. Greenberg, S.D. Holmberg, and the ARTAS Study Group, “Efficacy of a Brief Case Management Intervention to Link Recently Diagnosed HIV-Infected Persons to Care,” AIDS 19, no. 4 (2005): 423-431.



J.A. Craw, L.I. Gardner, G. Marks, R.C. Rapp, J. Bosshart, W.A. Duffus, A. Rossman, S.L. Coughlin, D. Gruber, L.A. Safford, J. Overton, and K. Schmitt, “Brief Strengths-Based Case Management Promotes Entry into HIV Medical Care: Results of the Antiretroviral Treatment Access Study-II,” Journal of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndromes 47, no. 5 (2008): 597-606.

Program Review Panel Information

The CDC requires all CDC-funded agencies using the ARTAS intervention to identify, or establish, and utilize a Program Review Panel and complete Form 0.113 to document this activity. The intervention researchers and developers are not involved in this activity. This is a CDC requirement for their grantees, and all questions in this regard should be directed to your agency's CDC Project Officer or to the health department funding your agency's implementation of the intervention.

The Program Review Panel guidelines, instructions for completion of Form 0.113, and the form itself are available under the Related Links section of this website.