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 process
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 process

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 form as a Microsoft Word document (do not convert to PDF) and the related 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.)

This process can take two to four 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
• 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/STI 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.
• 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/STI 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.