Students who want to get involved in the community can take their energy and initiative to the AIDS Project of Centre County for its volunteer program starting this week.

The AIDS Project begins its three-week volunteer training program from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in room 220 of the State College Municipal Building, 243 S. Allen St.

There are two sessions a week on Tuesday and Thursday nights that will educate volunteers in HIV transmission and prevention, said AIDS Project assistant director Carol Berzonsky.

"They receive diversity training, cultural competence and deal with psycho-social issues," she said. "They also learn to do test counseling and are involved in outreach programs."

While some students have the option to receive specialized training to give HIV tests, it is not a requirement of becoming a volunteer.

Berzonsky said volunteers must foster an ethical relationship with patients.

"Confidentiality is the most important thing," she said. "Everyone will sign an agreement before they are able to complete the training."

Berzonsky added that breaking confidentiality applies to all staff members.

"That is one of the things we take very seriously," she said. "Anyone who breaches that agreement will be fired."

Once the training is completed, the AIDS Project requests 10 hours of volunteer time at their office during the semester.

"Volunteers stay as long as they want and usually just drop in," Berzonsky said.

The training program is held every semester.

Berzonsky said a large component of volunteering deals with outreach and education. AIDS education takes place in area schools, the university and the community.

Berzonsky said there are about 10 prospective volunteers each semester. Before entering the program, applicants fill out a form, agree to the confidentiality policy and must obtain several references.

"For the most part we have a good group of volunteers," she said.

Paula Nossek, office manager for Planned Parenthood, 253 Easterly Parkway, said the AIDS Project and Planned Parenthood often confer with each other when dealing with patients.

"We often plan events together," Nossek said, adding that while Planned Parenthood focuses more on sexually transmitted diseases, the AIDS Project deals only with HIV.

"Their work is outstanding as far as getting on and into the community," Nossek said. "The staff is very professional. Anyone we have referred to them said they were very supportive and helpful."

Centre County United Way, 2790 W. College Ave., funds the AIDS Project for its student education prevention program, executive director Ellie Beaver said.

"They're doing excellent in the face of falling funding," Beaver said.

She said the federal government has been reducing their funding to the project in the last few years.

Beaver said the AIDS Project is an asset to Centre County.

"I would like to think their prevention activities are helping to cut the infection rate and deal with treatment in Centre County," she said. "They do a lot with very little."