photo-003The Durham Knows campaign was awarded $5000 to implement a public health campaign to strengthen coordination of HIV related activities in Durham County and promote the idea that everyone in Durham ages 15-65 should know their HIV status.

The campaign is based on the “Bronx Knows” Campaign, which combined efforts of the New York City Health Department, medical institutions, and the public to increase HIV-testing, new diagnosis of HIV-positives, and enhance linkage to care.

During the July 1, 2015-June 30, 2016 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Culture of Health Prize mini-grant period, the campaign was able to:

  • Include HIV testing under routine Health Maintenance in the “Epic Maestro” Electronic Health Record used by Duke Health.  According to leader of the Beaker (Lab IT) project team- test numbers went from average 100 per day to average 200+ a day in the weeks after instituting the change.
  • Seven articles were carried in major local press featuring need for increase in testing, most of them occurring around World AIDS Day- News and Observer, Durham Herald-Sun, WUNC radio, covered on local network news and editorial in N&O on HIV testing for National testing Day.
  • Over 100 surveys were collected from targeted high risk groups and Lincoln Community Health Center patients.
  • Durham Knows videos were developed and addressed HIV testing role of PrEP and role of early treatment.
  • Volunteers distributed brochures and talked to hundreds of people at 9 community events- NC Pride Festival, Latino Health Fair, World AIDS day, Lincoln Community Health Center Health fair, Hillside High for HIV Youth Awareness Day, Durham Faith Community event for National Prayer Week, Red is the New Black event by 2Beat HIV, National HIV testing day at TA Grady Recreation Center and Pinhook Bar for Open Mike night with Underground Collective.

From Durham Knows campaign volunteers:

The project was a success because of the work of many volunteers and input from all the HIV/STI committee’s members: 2 Beat HIV, Duke ID and Duke Medicine, El Centro Hispano, Lincoln Community Health Center, North Carolina Central University, Triangle Empowerment Center and UNC Center of Infectious Disease. Partnering with the Durham County Department of Public Health greatly increased the public impact, and the program’s interns were vital in developing campaign information and materials.