HIV-Related Educational Materials Review

Please read all of the information on this page before submitting materials for review.

On this page:
CDC Materials Review Requirements
Materials Review Procedure
Materials that Require Review
Materials that do NOT Require Review

CDC Materials Review Requirements:

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) requires that HIV-related educational materials with educational content must be submitted to MDH and be approved by a review panel before being used.

Materials Review Proccess

1. Download HIV-Related Educational Materials Approval Request (Word)
2. Fill out a materials request form for each separate item.
3. Submit the materials request as a Microsoft Word document (do not convert to PDF) and the material to MDH.
   • If the educational material is available online, provide a link on the form.
   • If the educational material is in electronic form, send the item and form to health.hivprevention@state.mn.us (Consider whether the item can be scanned and uploaded as a PDF.)
   • If the educational material is in physical form, mail it to: HIV Prevention Unit, Minnesota Department of Health P.O. Box 64975, St. Paul, MN. 55164-0975

This process can take 2-4 weeks, so please plan ahead.

If you are unsure whether something needs to be reviewed or how to get it to MDH, contact us at health.hivprevention@state.mn.us

Materials that Require Review:

Any educational materials to be used in a MDH or CDC-direct funded HIV Prevention Project, including:

• Written materials (e.g., pamphlets, brochures, fliers, kit inserts)
• Audio visual materials (e.g., DVDs and videos)
• Pictorials (e.g., posters and similar educational materials using photographs, slides, drawings, or paintings)
• newsletters or articles with educational content
• Questionnaires or survey instruments
• Website/mobile app educational content
• Educational sessions (curriculum, etc.)
• Any materials in the above categories whether created by the grantee or acquired from other sources
• HIV/STD educational information on social network sites (e.g. Facebook). Only the educational information needs to be reviewed, not the whole site.

Materials that do NOT Require Review:

• Promotional materials ( e.g., a flyer or web notice announcing a workshop that tells topic, date, time and location but does not contain HIV/AIDS educational content.
• Real-time online chat or question/answers on the phone (voice or text).
  However, if you use a list of standard prepared responses to common questions, those responses should be reviewed by MDH and the AMRP.
• Client/participant personal stories of their own experiences. However, grantees should have a mechanism in place to check the medical and scientific accuracy  of any HIV transmission, prevention, testing or treatment information in the story.
• Social Network sites (e.g. Facebook) unless they contain HIV/STD educational information. Only the educational information needs to be reviewed, not the whole site.
• HIV-related materials downloaded from CDC, Minnesota Department of Health, Minnesota Department of Human Services or Hennepin County Public Health. These are considered pre-approved.