PIA (incorporated in 1999 as Project of Intermediate Advocates) is a community-based 501©3 health advocacy organization aggressively addressing health literacy as a disparity in low-income communities in and around the DC Metropolitan Area. We have trained thousands to find and evaluate health information amassed in electronic medical libraries. We are now known as P. I. Advocates International, Inc. and we remain steadfast in "addressing health disparities in historically under-served communities" and invite you to join us. We are encouraging people to learn about their health with information found in electronic medical libraries. We continue to provide health information to people at grass root levels with literacy-appropriate processes. Our program develops purpose for many people impacted by adverse health conditions, especially HIV/AIDS.
Headquartered in Washington, DC: 2412 Minnesota Avenue SE; Suite 204 / 202-575-0046
HEALTH INFORMATION ACCESS AND RETRIEVAL TRAINING FOR SENIORS (click the poster for additional information)  Experience PIA’s well community-focused 2½ hour, hands-on (health literacy & computer literacy basics) workshop using computers to navigating the internet for easy-to-understand health information. PIA targets people with little or no computer skills, mostly living in resource-deficient and economically disadvantaged communities. |
Our computer-based multimedia technology concept provides participants with the opportunity to engage in learning experiences that not only advances their level of computer literacy and health literacy, but also exposes them to the technological environment of their society. Computer literacy translates into higher productivity and health literacy contributes greatly to positive health outcomes, especially when Internet searches for health information are used by client/patients and medical professionals.
PIA's central project is our 2 ½ hr. "Health Literacy Workshop". Our social focus is delivering "Mobile Health Information" on a variety of health topics via PowerPoint presentations to people at the community level. We provide this valuable health information in multiple community settings; i.e., churches, substance abuse programs, ex-offenders programs, and transition housing programs. To develop this model we were funded in part by the U.S. National Library of Medicine of the National Institutes of Health for seven years to teach/train the HIV positive population and the general public how to find and evaluate health information on the Internet. It is not our intent to give medical advice but to direct all people to advice given by professional medical practitioners found in electronic medical libraries. We invite you to join us as volunteers in the fight for health literacy.
(click here to volunteer) We acknowledge "being informed about medical conditions develops quality communication with doctors and/or healthcare providers". We advise everyone to discuss that information with your doctor or healthcare provider before making medical dicisions for yourself or anyone else.