Mission History Contact Us

While looking at substance abuse and the emerging HIV/AIDS epidemic, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), realized the importance of providing skill-based training to those personnel working in the field of substance abuse. This realization led to the development of a variety of training courses related to these linked epidemics. The next step was to implement the training in states across the country. Texas was fortunate to receive some of the initial trainings as early as 1985 through the sponsorship of the Texas Commission of Alcohol and Drug Abuse (TCADA).

When TCADA licensed and funded substance abuse programs were required to provide HIV/AIDS related training to their personnel and clients, and the Texas HIV Connection was created in 1989 to meet legal and funding mandates. In 1992, the Texas HIV Connection joined Workers Assistance Program, Inc. a successful, not-for-profit organization with experience in the substance abuse field and providing HIV/AIDS related workplace trainings.

With this marriage of compatible programs, the HIV Connection, through contracts with TCADA and later the Texas Department of State Health Services Mental Health and Substance Abuse Division, has continued to provide training, information, and resources to substance abuse, mental health and HIV Early Intervention providers. In addition, through a contract with DSHS HIV/STD, the HIV Connection also provides Protocol Based Counseling training for those providing HIV counseling and testing services in the state of Texas. In 2008, the HIV Connection became a part of Coordinated Training Services, Texas’s “one stop prevention training shop” for substance abuse prevention and intervention professionals. With this new collaboration, the Texas HIV Connection will continue to provide a vital service to help substance abuse professionals in the fight against HIV/AIDS.