HIV/AIDS: Global Information Resources
The CDC National AIDS Clearinghouse (CDC NAC) is a national
reference, referral, and distribution service for HIV/AIDS
related information. All of the Clearinghouse's services are
designed to facilitate the sharing of information and resources
among people working in HIV prevention, treatment, and support
services. Clearinghouse staff members serve a diverse network of
people who work in international, national, state, and local
settings.
Comprehensive Reference and Referral Services
A multidisciplinary staff of reference specialists provide comprehensive reference and referral services. Reference specialists answer questions and provide technical assistance to public health and other health care professionals, educators, people working in community-based organizations, and others working in the HIV/AIDS field. Using the Clearinghouse's online databases and other resources, reference specialists provide specific information on AIDS-related organizations, educational materials, funding opportunities, and other topics.
The Clearinghouse databases include:
- Resources and Services Database
- Educational Materials Database
- Funding Database
- Comprehensive School Health Education Database
- Conference Database
- CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports (MMWR)
Database
- Federal Information Database
- Periodicals Database
Publications Distribution Services
The Clearinghouse is a major distributor of published HIV-related materials including current information on scientific findings, CDC guidelines, and trends in the HIV epidemic. The inventory includes brochures, posters, and videotapes that can be used for HIV prevention activities as well as selected reprints from CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) series and HIV/AIDS Surveillance Reports. Many prevention materials are available in Spanish.
Resource Centers
The Clearinghouse Resource Centers, located in Rockville, Maryland, and Atlanta, Georgia, house extensive collections of educational materials and HIV/AIDS newsletters that focus on issues raised by the epidemic. Visitors can examine these resources and receive personalized assistance from Resource Center staff.
CDC NAC ONLINE
CDC NAC ONLINE is a computerized information network which gives people working in HIV/AIDS a direct link to the Clearinghouse. By accessing CDC NAC ONLINE, users can read abstracts of CDC's MMWR articles and HIV-related news articles in the AIDS Daily Summary; communicate with others using electronic mail; and conduct searches on the Clearinghouse's databases. Most information from CDC NAC ONLINE can be downloaded to a file or to another information service or printed out at a user's site. CDC NAC ONLINE is available, free of charge, to qualified organizations. Users must have access to a computer with a modem and apply for a password.
Internet Services
The CDC National AIDS Clearinghouse offers a variety of Internet services including a listserv of AIDS-related news, file transfer protocol, and gopher. The news service uses an automated mailing list to send electronic read-only HIV-related messages to subscribers. The file transfer protocol allows users to download current information on HIV/AIDS without an individual password. The gopher system provides a simple menu which enables users to find documents and use other Clearinghouse Internet services.
AIDS Clinical Trials Information Service
The AIDS Clinical Trials Information Service (ACTIS) provides up-to-date information on clinical trials that evaluate experimental drugs and other therapies for adults and children at all stages of HIV infection. ACTIS reference specialists respond to inquiries from people living with HIV infection, care givers, and health professionals.
HIV/AIDS Treatment Information Service
The HIV/AIDS Treatment Information Service (ATIS) provides information about federally approved HIV/AIDS treatment guidelines to health care providers and people with HIV infection and AIDS. ATIS is staffed by reference specialists who are health care professionals.
For more information:
CDC National AIDS Clearinghouse
800-458-5231, Fax: 301-738-6616
Write: P.O. Box 6003, Rockville, MD 20849-6003
Internet addresses:
CDC NAC mailbox: aidsinfo@cdcnac.aspensys.com
Gopher:cdcnac.aspensys.com
[Source: J.Watson; 1/95 CDC NAC inventory # B511]