The sponsors of this guide deeply appreciate the work of the Rural HIV/STD Prevention Work Group. Work Group members generously shared their time, energy and knowledge to provide the foundation for this guide. Their commitment and innovative approaches to advancing HIV/STD prevention in rural communities was vital to the development of the guide.

The preparation of this document was a team effort of the editors led by senior editor Susan Dreisbach, who guided chapter preparation and document design. Susan is a co-director of the Rural Center for AIDS/STD Prevention (RCAP) and assistant research professor in the Department of Health and Behavioral Sciences, University of Colorado Denver. Richard Crosby is a co-director of RCAP and the Developmental Dimensions International Endowed Professor, Department of Health Behavior, University of Kentucky. Seth M. Noar is an associate professor in the Department of Communication, University of Kentucky and RCAP visiting research fellow. William L. Yarber is professor of applied health science and RCAP senior director at Indiana University.

Special appreciation is given to the co-sponsors of the guide: National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors, National Association of People with AIDS, National Coalition of STD Directors, National Minority AIDS Council, and the National Rural Health Association. The collaboration of these organizations with RCAP throughout the production of the document was invaluable.

The editors would like to recognize Sandra Chandley, Executive Director of Glades Health Initiative in rural Florida for her thoughtful contributions; Dave Kern, from the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors for his comments and feedback; Melody Moyer of EBM Design for the layout, design, and development of the website; Rose Hartzel, doctoral student in health behavior at Indiana University and RCAP research assistant, for her assistance in the project; and Rebecca Wood at Indiana University for her contribution to the final document.

The development of this guide was made possible by the Rural Center for AIDS/STD Prevention which is supported through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We would like to acknowledge the insightful guidance provided by Bob Kohmescher, Health Communications Specialist in the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who worked closely with RCAP throughout the development of this guide. The content of this document does not necessarily reflect the views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Home Page