Jump to sections: Quick Links to Resources for Partners | Timeline | FAQs
Thank you for being a part of the 2023 National HIV Community Partnership!
This Partner Portal is your go-to online resource for all testing partner needs during the activation.
If you have questions - or if your plans for this year change - please email Greater Than HIV.
Quick Links to Resources for Partners
- Let's Get Tested! National HIV Community Partnership Overview
- Digital toolkit with graphics, sample social media posts and more
- Online map directory of all testing locations for NHTD 2023
- Recording and slides of past webinars from Greater Than HIV and Walgreens about this year's National HIV Community Partnership
- NHTD 2023 Walgreens Store Manager Contact List
- Press Release: Walgreens and KFF’s Greater Than HIV Team Up with Community Partners to Provide Free, Confidential HIV Testing and Counseling on National HIV Testing Day (June 27)
Timeline
APRIL
It’s time to plan your event! Who is going to staff your event? What roles will they have? Do you need volunteers? What supplies will you need, including HIV tests and auxiliary testing materials? When you begin planning early, you will be more prepared come June!
- 4/24 – Deadline to request donated HIV tests. Request forms will be emailed directly to primary contacts at each organization.
MAY
Make a plan for getting the word out about your testing events! Now is the time to think about how you'd like to promote your event(s) in the community, on your digital platforms, and on local media (local radio, tv, etc.) Do you have a budget for promotions? The Digital Toolkit has all sorts of materials available to use in your planning.
- 5/3 – Webinar #1: Kick-off & Getting the Word Out! for important information about the partnership, details about promoting your event and more. View a recording of the webinar and slides here.
- 5/19 – Deadline to review your testing event listing on the interactive map. If something needs to be changed, please email Greater Than HIV.
Extended deadline to submit your Limited Use License Agreement(s) (LULA) and proof of insurance. These documents are required to confirm participation. If you have not heard from your Walgreens representative, please email HIVInfo@walgreens.com.
JUNE
Start promoting your events! Use the plan you made in May to get the word out about your testing events on your social, web, and email platforms. Don’t forget all of the assets available in the Digital Toolkit.
- 6/7 – Webinar #2: Setting Up for Success! for details about event set-up, logistics, and more. View a recording of the webinar and slides here.
- 6/8 – Reach out to your store(s) to introduce yourself and set up a pre-activation site visit. View the Walgreens store manager contact list here.
- Partners receive community toolkit(s) including promotional materials from KFF and Walgreens (including T-shirts, posters, stickers, and more) to support outreach and in-store tabling. If you haven't received your materials by 6/20, please email Greater Than HIV.
- 6/27 – FREE HIV testing on National HIV Testing Day!
JULY
How did it go? Please submit your post-event survey to Greater Than HIV and Walgreens so we can report on the successes of 2023.
- 7/14 – Submit your post-event survey with testing data and feedback from the event. Follow-up surveys will be emailed directly to primary contacts at each organization.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
What can we expect from Walgreens & Greater Than HIV to support testing events?
- Dedicated space at local Walgreens stores for tabling; private room or space for mobile unit available to conduct tests and provide results
- Community toolkit, including tabling and informational materials, posters, T-shirts, giveaways, & more to support outreach
- Pre-event promotions, including in-store advertising, digital marketing, press outreach, and social media
- The opportunity to request donated test kits for your event
What is a Limited Use License Agreement (LULA) and why do we need to sign it?
A Limited Use License Agreement (LULA) is a written agreement between the testing partner and Walgreens granting the testing partner permission, under specified terms, to perform HIV testing within the Walgreens store during the activation. The agreement details the terms and conditions the testing partner needs to agree to in order to participate in the activation and provide testing within the Walgreens store or on the store premises.
If a testing partner does not complete the LULA nor submit evidence of liability insurance, they will not be able to participate in the National HIV Testing Day activation.
Will we receive the LULA and store assignment together?
The first communication from your regional Walgreens representative will be an email to the organization’s primary point of contact with an invitation to participate in NHTD and a suggested store assignment. Once that store assignment has been confirmed between both parties, an email will be sent from CommunityUpdate@Walgreens.com to the individual at your organization who has been identified to sign the LULA. That email will include a link to an online Walgreens portal where that person can upload the certificate of insurance, review, and sign the LULA.
If you have not heard from a regional Walgreens representative, please email HIVinfo@Walgreens.com and they will follow-up with their field staff to close the loop.
What is a Certificate of Insurance (COI) and why do we need to submit it?
A Certificate of Insurance (COI) is evidence of liability insurance that is required for a testing partner to perform testing at a Walgreens store. A COI is to protect against claims resulting from injuries and damage to people and/or property on June 27.
If a testing partner does not complete the Limited Use License Agreement (LULA), nor submit evidence of liability insurance, they will not be able to participate in the National HIV Testing Day activation.
What are testing hours for June 27th, and are they flexible?
The recommended testing hours for Tuesday, June 27 are 10am – 7pm, however they can be customized between the testing partner and Walgreens representative based on availability of the testing organization and store hours. Digital promotions and signage will not list testing hours, but specific testing hours by location will be listed on the main website referral for the program.
Where is HIV testing conducted within a Walgreens store?
HIV testing takes place in a private room within the Walgreens store.
The ONLY exception to the private room stipulation is if the organization has a mobile testing unit and your store has an acceptable parking lot. Events are not allowed to be hosted in other non-approved parts of the store (i.e. portioned sections of the waiting room or aisle, breakrooms, training rooms, etc). Immunization pods are now available in select stores; these pods are NOT sound proof.
If a store manager has approved the use of space in the Walgreens parking lot, private tents can be used as additional spaces for HIV testing and outreach.
Can a mobile unit in the Walgreens parking lot be used as another testing location?
Yes, if your organization has a mobile testing unit, and the Walgreens Regional Health Director and Store Manager have approved the space in the parking lot for the unit, you are welcome to bring your mobile unit to create space for additional HIV testing and screening.
What types of tests can we use? What about in a mobile unit?
Testing partners are only allowed to use rapid/point-of-care tests. This can include a finger-prick blood test, however the test cannot be a venous blood test. The same parameters apply to testing in a mobile unit.
What other types of testing are partners able to provide?
Testing partners are only allowed to provide Hepatitis C (HCV) testing in addition to HIV testing. A different LULA is required if a testing partner would like to test for both HIV and HCV testing.
Do we need to provide HIV counseling, or just the HIV testing?
Testing partners are expected to follow their standard HIV screening protocol, inclusive of HIV testing and post-test counseling. Share the latest information about HIV and answer questions about HIV prevention and treatment options, including PrEP.
What happens if a patient has a preliminary positive HIV result from the rapid test?
The testing partner is allowed to conduct confirmatory testing if they are using another rapid test (if it is in their protocol). They are NOT allowed to conduct confirmatory testing via a blood draw. If the testing partner’s protocol indicates that they need to do confirmatory testing via a blood draw, then they must refer the individual to their clinic/office location.
Does Walgreens provide test kits or people to help with testing or providing results?
Testing partners are required to bring their own HIV tests, testing personnel/staff/counselors, and auxiliary testing supplies (i.e. swabs, band aids, etc.). Additionally, Walgreens employees are not administering the test or interpreting results.
Testing partners are only permitted to use a rapid/point-of-care test. It can be a finger-prick blood test, however the test cannot be a venous blood test.
Can we take pictures during the testing event?
Yes! As long as the people appearing in the photos give you their permission, we welcome and encourage photos! They are great to share on social media to promote your event in real time. And then please send them to Greater Than HIV after your event so that we can have a copy and use them for future outreach.
If you’re contacted by a reporter
- Refer to the media advisory and talking points (in the Digital Toolkit) for key messages
- If a reporter has more extensive questions, please contact Walgreens media relations
- Walgreens Media Relations: media@walgreens.com
If a reporter attends your event
- Be prepared – identify someone on your team who can speak with press on June 27
- Reporters are welcome at testing events – introduce yourself and welcome them, though please alert Walgreens media relations so they can provide additional guidance and help facilitate interviews as needed
- If a reporter is interested in filming inside a Walgreens store or speaking to a customer getting tested, please contact Walgreens media relations to ensure the right guidance and forms are provided
- We recommend filming outside of the store if possible to avoid clearance issues
- Walgreens Media Relations: media@walgreens.com