Black Educational AIDS Project 2003

Helen Higins

Comprehensive Risk Counselor

I have been involved in the health field for more than 15 years, I began my career at The Walter P. Carter Center for women in the capacity of Counselor whose role was to advocate in the court system in behalf of the client in order to reunite them with their children. In addition, I assisted them towards the achievement of remaining abstinence from drug/alcohol use through individualized treatment plans and individual sessions. My next career move was working for The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine as an Outreach Worker who targeted active substance abusers who were at high risk for contracting HIV and other STI’s. My career journey took me for the next couple of years to working with Baltimore Pediatric HIV Program conducting the SISTA (DEBI) program to women who were infected wit HIV or at high risk for contracting HIV. I have worked with the Black Educational AIDS Project as a Comprehensive Risk Counselor for five years thus far. I am responsible for conducting the HESSO Project (Healing Education Self to Serve Others) where we target African-Americans who are injecting drug users and partner’s of injecting drug users. Recently, we have broadened the scope of individuals we serve to all substance abusers who are at high risk for contracting HIV/AIDS. At BEAP we recruit clients for this program through partnerships of 7 recovery houses and through outreach efforts. Many times I must get people into drug treatment prior to engaqging them into the HESSO program. As a result of my extensive background in the field of drug addiction, I am able to meet the client at the level of their needs and get them into drug treatment with in 24 hours.

In terms of educational advancement I have completed the following trainings:

HIV Couseling Skills Level I, II, and III

Phlebotoby

Licenesed by the Maryland Board of Nursing to dispense medication

Social Marketing

SISTA (DEBI) Intervention

OraQuick testing

CRCS (Procedural Guidance)

Giving Results in a Rapid World (HIV Results)

HIV Testing: Promotional Strategies

Recruitment and Retention

Working for The Black Educational AIDS Project and parterning with Baltimore Pediatric SISTA Project has truly encouraged me to help all people accomplish their goals and dreams for the future. We are dedicated to making a difference in the African-American Community in terms of all health disparities that affect us as a people.

I am always available to the community, and you can contact me anytime.