| Programs
Tailored to Youth |
| |
Sexually
active young people
in the U.S. are
at persistent
risk for HIV infection
and other STDs.
About 18% of those
diagnosed with
HIV in 2008 were
young people 13-24
years of age.[1,11]
This number most
likely under-represents
the number of
youth actually
infected since
many will not
be diagnosed until
they become symptomatic
years later. Young
males are infected
twice as often
as young females.
Studies in urban
areas show that
young MSM, especially
young men of color,
are particularly
at risk.[12] One
study of over
5,500 young MSM
ages 15-22 found
that many young
men kept their
sexual attraction
to men a secret.
MSM who do not
disclose their
sexual orientation
are less likely
to access HIV
testing and are
more likely to
have a female
sex partner who
is unaware of
her partner’s
male-to-male sexual
experiences. As
a result, young
MSM may not know
if they become
HIV infected and
may unknowingly
transmit it to
other young men
and/or women.[13]
Another
disparity is that
African Americans
account for 55%
of all HIV infections among youth ages
13-24. [14] Poverty,
dropping out of
school and lacking
access to reproductive
health care all
contribute to
the vulnerability
of youth for HIV/STD
infection. Programs
that address these
structural risks
through youth
development can
be equally effective
in delaying sexual
debut and increasing
abstinence. Programs
that provide awareness
of HIV/STD risks
and teach negotiation
and partner communication
skills as well
as condom use
skills help to
protect youth
when they do become
sexually active.[15]
|
Target
Behaviors
and
Behavioral Determinants
Early debut of sexual intercourse;
lack of refusal skills and condom
negotiation skills; lack of information
about HIV/STD and unintended pregnancy
prevention.
Target
Audience
Ninth
grade
rural
youth
Description
An evidence-based
behavioral
HIV
prevention
program
for
youth
(not
a
DEBI)
This
12-session,
group-leve,l
skills-based
program
was
presented
to
9th
graders
attending
rural
Kentucky
schools
to
increase
knowledge
of
HIV,
STD
and
pregnancy
risks,
help
students
build
refusal
skills,
delay
initiation
of
sex,
correctly
use
condoms
and
contraceptives
when
they
become
sexually
active,
and
avoid
high-risk
situations.
The
intervention
included
videos,
power-point
presentations,
contemporary
music,
interactive
discussions,
and
role
plays.
It
is
based
on
Social
Learning
Theory and
Social
Cognitive
Theory.
Evidence
Those
who
completed
the
12-session
intervention
were
less
likely
to
initiate
sexual
intercourse
compared
to
a
control
group.
There
was
no
impact
on
condom
use.
Recommendations
A modified
version
of
Reducing
the
Risk
was
tested
that
included
extra
videos,
music
and
involvement
of
peer
educators
in
9
of
the
12
sessions.
The
modified
version
was
equally
as
effective
as
the
12-session
version
of
the
original
curriculum.
Where
Implemented
Rural
Kentucky
public
schools
Contact
Information
Reducing
the Risk
|
IMSexED
– Instant Message Sex Education
|
Target
Behaviors and Behavioral Determinants
Lack
of knowledge
about
HIV/STD
risk behaviors,
disease
symptoms,
HIV testing,
clinic
and testing
locations,
local
resources.
Target
Audience
Internet
users,
especially
men who
have sex
with men
(MSM)
who use
online
chatrooms
and sexual
hook-up
sites.
Description
IMsexED
builds
on the
current
popularity
of the
internet
to reach
rural
MSM
and
engage
them
in HIV-prevention
education
in a
cost-effective
way.
“Ed”
is personified
as a
condom-like
caricature
and
has
a profile
which
informs
viewers
that
his
function
is to
provide
sexual
health
related
information
and
referrals.
The
IMsexED
character
currently
makes
itself
conspicuously
available
on gay.com,
adam4adam,
lifeout.com,
blackgaychat.com,
Yahoo
Messenger,
Facebook,
Twitter
and
can
be e-mailed
at IMsexED@arcw.org.
Depending
on the
limitations
of each
particular
internet
site,
IMsexED
will
typically
and
proactively
provide
information
(in
the
form
of bullet
points)
on common
sexual-health-related
topics
such
as HIV/STD
risk
factors,
disease
symptoms,
HIV
testing,
clinic
locations,
breaking
news/studies,
links
to helpful
sites,
statistics,
etc.
In addition
to posting
important
information,
SexED
invites
folks
to ‘Instant
Message’
or ‘Private
Message’
for
more
detailed
information
on sensitive
or personal
matters.
Evidence
There is
extensive
anecdotal
evidence
that
“clients”
are
using
IMSexED
to
get
useful
information
and
find
resources.
Recommendations
Nine
months
of planning
went into
the creation
of the
IMsexED
protocols,
which
include
specific
information
regarding;
ISP negotiations,
message
content,
resource/referral
lists,
internet
terminology,
internet
etiquette
and program
documentation/evaluation
techniques.
Where
Implemented
Wisconsin AIDS
Resource Center of Wisconsin
Contact
Information
Paul
Jacob,, HIV
Prevention
Specialist
AIDS
Resource Center of Wisconsin
920-437-7400,
ext. 3110
paul.jacob@arcw.org
|
Students
Together
Against
Negative
Decisions
(STAND) |
Target
Behaviors
and
Behavioral
Determinants
Early
debut
of sexual
intercourse;
lack
of communication
and
negotiation
skills;
lack
of consistent
and
correct
condom
use
skills;
lack
of information
about
HIV/STD
and
unintended
pregnancy
prevention.
Description
STAND is
a
32-hour
course
to
prevent
HIV/AIDS,
STDs,
and
unintended
pregnancy
in
rural
teens
18
and
younger.
The
course
trains
teen
opinion
leaders
to
be
role
models
and
peer
eduicators
who
promote
abstinence
and
risk
reduction
with
their
friends.
STAND
focuses
on
empowering
teens
and
developing
mutual
support
systems.
After
the
focused
in-school
training,
student
opinion
leaders
plan
educational
activites
for
local
teens.
The
goals
of
the
program
are
abstinence,
reduction
of
risk
for
those
who
do
not
abstain,
and
developing
norms
that
oppose
sexual
risk
taking.
A
parent
module
is
available
to
supplement
the
peer
activities.
Evidence
STABD peer
leaders
were
100%
abstinent
during
the
training.
Compared
to
a
control
group
at
six
months,
STAND
participants
showed
a
60%
decrease
in
unprotected
intercourse,
2-times
more
consistent
condom
use,
a
7-fold
increase
in
condom
use,
and
4-fold
gain
in
HIV/AIDS
risk
knowledge.[16]
Recommendations
Developed
for
rural
youth
so
needs
little
adaptation.
Shown
to
be
effective
in
rural
schools.
Best
if
there
is
a
long-term
commitment
of school
administrators,
parents, teens
and
adult
program
coordinator.
Requires
funding
for
program
coordinator
and
incenctives
for
peer
educators.
STAND
is
currently
being
adapted
by
Indian
Health
Services
(IHS)
for
Native
American
youth.
Where
Implemented
Georgia:
Sandersville,
Brunswick,
Macon
and
other
counties.
Contact
Information
Mike U.
Smith, Ph.D.
Director
of AIDS
Education
and
Research
478-301-5832
Smith_mu@mercer.edu |
|
Target
Behaviors and Behavioral Determinants
Unprotected
sex, multiple sex partners, substance
use preceding sexual activity,
lack of self-efficacy, lack of
communication skills to avoid
date violence, lack of knowledge
and skills to set and achieve
goals.
Target
Audience
American
Indian
and
Alaska
Native
adolescents
Description
Adapted
from STAND,
a
popular
opinion
leader intervention
for
rural
high school
students,
Native
STAND provides
comprehensive
peer education
that
is
culturally
relevant
for
Native
American
and Alaska
Native
adolescents.
Topics covered
include
HIV/STD
and unintended
pregnancy
prevention,
drug and
alcohol
use,
and
dating
violence.
Sessions
for
peer
educators
focus
on
diversity,
self-esteem,
goals
and
values,
decision
making,
negotiation
and refusal
skills,
educator
skills,
and
effective
communications. Peer
educators
learn
to
communicate
one-on-one
with
teens
in
their
school
and
community
about
these
topics.
Evidence
Pre
and post-test
data
collected
using audio
computer-assisted
self-interviews
(ACASI)
from
four
pilot
sites showed
increased
knowledge,
more positive
attitudes,
increased
intention
to
use
condoms,
and
higher
condom
use
self-efficacy.
Recommendations
Used
a multi-disciplinary
workgroup that
included
Native
youth,
elders,
public
health
professionals,
youth development
experts,
and
representatives
from
National
Coalition
of
STD
Directors,
Mercer University,
Centers
for
Disease
Control,
and
Indian
Health Services.
The
final
curriculum
will be
available
online
at
no charge.
Where
Implemented
Pilot
programs
in off-reservation
Bureau of
Indian Education
boarding
schools
in four
geographically
diverse
states.
Contact
Information
Dana
Cropper
Williams
(202)
842-4660
dcropper@ncsddc.org |
|
Target
Behaviors
and
Behavioral
Determinants
Unprotected
sex, multiple
sex
partners,
substance
use preceding
sexual
activity,
lack of
negotiation
skills,
lack
of awareness
of triggers
of unsafe
behavior,
inadequate
problem
solving
skills.
Target
Audience
Homeless
and
runaway
youth
ages
11-18
Description
Adaptation
of Street Smarts (DEBI)
The
8-session
program
is based
on social
learning
theory
which
links
feelings,
attitudes,
and
thoughts
to behavior
change. Sessions
focus
on improving
youths'
social
skills,
assertiveness
and
coping
through
exercises
on problem
solving,
identifying
triggers,
and
reducing
harmful
behaviors. Sessions
are
primarily
group
sessions
but
also
include
one
individual
counseling
session
and
one
visit
to a
community-based
resource
such
as a
health
center.
Evidence
After
participation in Talkin’ SMACK,
youth report lower rates of
substance use and unprotected
sex; 93% report feeling very
or completely confident in their
ability to talk to partners
about using condoms, to put
a condom correctly on themselves
or their partner. Participants
also report increased confidence
in their ability to refuse unsafe
sex when being pressured by
their partner.
Recommendations
Offering
free HIV counseling, testing
and referral for participants
and other at-risk youth increases
HIV testing and awareness of
status. Spectrum worked with
a local design agency to advertise
the free testing on buses and
through flyers posted throughout
the city.
Where
Implemented
Burlington,
Vermont
Spectrum
Youth
and
Family
Services
Contact
Information
Spectrum Youth and Family Services
Lauren Vessella
(802)
864-7423 ext208 lvessella@spectrumvt.org
Bridget
Everts
(802) 864-7423 ext 222 beverts@spectrumvt.org
|
**Please
see Male to Male
Sex Programs for
a Youth Program
called YEAH!
**Please
see Minority Programs
for a Youth Program
called Informate.
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