The Well Project 2024 Accomplishments

Submitted on Dec 31, 2024

Each year since The Well Project's founding in 2002, we have continued to grow in building the world we envision: one in which women living with or vulnerable to HIV have the information, support, and tools they need to advocate for their health and well-being, and live free from stigma. Thanks to the inspiration, wisdom, and leadership of our extraordinary staff, community advisory board, consultants, bloggers, and more, we have been able to offer a remarkable range of programming to our global community. Read on for a detailed accounting of The Well Project's programmatic accomplishments in 2024, listed according to the five pillars of our strategic plan (though many of our activities/initiatives fall into more than one section).

Information and Education

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The Well Project supports agency and health literacy among women living with HIV by developing and providing access to culturally responsive, scientifically accurate, women-focused HIV information.

Community Support and Community Building

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One of our primary goals is to sustain a secure, supportive, trusted space we all share. To that end, The Well Project fosters a strong and engaged global network of women living with HIV across the gender spectrum.

Advocacy and Leadership Development

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Infographic for Advocacy & Leadership.

The Well Project offers programming that enhances advocacy and leadership among women living with HIV, including webinars and discussion series; a strong presence at scientific, advocacy, and policy conferences; and opportunities to ensure women living with HIV are meaningful participants at decision-making tables.

  • Provided 58 discrete compensated opportunities for CAB members and other women living with HIV to date (not inclusive of full-time staff):
    • Provided ongoing contract work to seven women living with HIV including Global Ambassadors, CAB chair, consulting, etc.
    • Supported 13 CAB members for annual participation, paid bi-annually
    • Conducted four CAB meetings led by The Well Project
    • Conducted four CAB meetings led by CAB chair Marissa Gonzalez
  • Identified, facilitated and compensated leadership and networking opportunities for CAB members and other women living with HIV to:
  • Facilitated opportunities to develop The Well Project's team leadership and expand our reach, including:
    • Virtual screening of Unexpected and Q&A hosted by the CDC (for CDC employees) (Ciarra Covin, Krista Martel, and Masonia Traylor invited to present)
    • SIECUS/AIDS United HIV "If/Then Webinar" (Ciarra Covin participated as panelist)
    • In-person screening of Unexpected and Q&A at The Health Federation of Philadelphia Women and Girls Day Event for NWGHAAD (Ciarra Covin attended and participated in the Q&A)
    • NASTAD's "Social Determinants of Health and Black Maternal Health Webinar" (Ciarra Covin as presenter)
    • Take Control HIV "Living Positively: Inspiring Stories" profile series (Ciarra Covin featured)
    • O'Neill Institute convening on HIV, Aging, and Healthcare resulting in August 2024 publication, "Better Integration Between HIV and Aging Systems is Critical" (Bridgette Picou attended)
    • HIV Research & Clinical Practice journal publication, "Parenting with HIV: a Patient's view on Updated Infant Feeding Guidelines in the US" (Ciarra Covin authored)
    • NASTAD "National Consultation on Populations Aging with and Vulnerable to HIV" (Bridgette Picou participated)
    • Collaboration in Care Conference: Empowered Aging, Thriving Beyond HIV (Bridgette Picou on planning committee, attendee, hosted "Aging in Place" session, and hosted exhibitor table)
    • "Future of Personal Health" USA Today June 28 issue insert (Ciarra Covin, Olivia G. Ford, and Krista Martel featured)
    • "Envisioning the Future of HIV/STI Prevention and Contraception" at NIH Summit (Bridgette Picou attended and spoke as a panelist)
    • World AIDS Day screening and Q&A of Unexpected at the Mecklenburg County Department of Health in North Carolina (Ciarra Covin and Masonia Traylor attended an in-person screening and participated in a Q&A)
  • Submitted five abstracts to conferences featuring women living with HIV as authors:
    • AIDSWatch 2024 (Ciarra Covin, Heather O'Connor) – accepted
    • International Workshop on HIV and Women (Kim Canady, Ciarra Covin) – accepted
    • Ryan White HIV Conference (Ciarra Covin, Heather O'Connor) – accepted
    • CityMatCH Leadership and MCH Epidemiology Conference (Kim Canady, Ciarra Covin) – accepted
    • Positive Living Conference (CAB emerita member Katie Willingham) – accepted

Collaborative Engagement

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The Well Project develops mission-aligned partnerships with key organizations in HIV and intersecting fields. These relationships elevate our respective work, inspire collaboration, and ensure that all our endeavors add value by uniquely addressing gaps in current programming and resources.

Women-Focused HIV Research

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Infographic for Women-Focused HIV Research.

The Well Project identifies opportunities to advance the HIV research and policy agenda on women, ensure the implementation of evidence-based strategies, and increase research involvement and advocacy among women living with HIV.

  • Women's Initiative on HIV/AIDS (WRI) 2024
  • 2024 Infant Feeding and HIV Survey (BEEEBAH)
  • UPLIFT IMPAACT 046 research study (CDC-funded research on infant feeding and HIV) (subcontract/BEEEBAH related)
    • Ciarra Covin became a member of the UPLIFT research Protocol team (monthly virtual meetings and annual in-person meeting)
    • As a subcontractor for UPLIFT research team, The Well Project will provide feedback on the qualitative interview guides, recruitment, study findings, materials development, etc.
  • Language/stigma survey development
    • Began process (with five expert advisors) to develop and conduct a survey for women living with HIV to evaluate their experiences with stigmatizing and/or person-first language. Findings will be used to develop and disseminate educational materials for healthcare providers, researchers, policymakers, etc.
  • Conducted evaluations/needs assessments (varied program funding):
    • Eight program evaluations for in-person and virtual events
    • One major survey
    • Four targeted needs assessments to specific stakeholders for program development purposes
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