Eversley RB, Mosby R, Spikes P, Quamina A, Williams R; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 2002 Jul 7-12; 14: abstract no. ThPeF8109.
UCSF, San Francisco, United States
ISSUES: African-American adolescents and young adult men who have sex with men comprise the majority of the new HIV/AIDS cases in the United States. While embedding HIV risk reduction in existing community-based social venues has been found to be an effective method for targeting HIV risk reduction strategies toward sexual minority youth, few programs have effectively reached young African-American gay men. DESCRIPTION: Sexual Minority Alliance of Alameda County (SMAAC) Youth Center located in Oakland, California is an multi-service program for African-American adolescent and young adult men (ages 14-23) who have sex with men. SMAAC offers HIV prevention case management, support groups, psycho-education groups and social events. SMAAC also offers substance abuse counseling and HIV testing and counseling. Peer treatment advocacy is offered to those who are HIV positive. SMAAC participants also operate Sweeties, a cafe that offers room for the youth to socialize as well as develop employable skills To date SMAAC has reached over 1200 clients. A key component of SMAAC programs is having African-American sexual minority youth staff the program and serve on its board of directors. LESSONS LEARNED: A multi-purpose youth center incorporating youth in active role in program design can effectively reach African-American sexual minority youths. RECOMMENDATIONS: The SMAAC youth model may be replicated in other cities to provide a friendly venue for offering HIV services for this population.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Adolescent
- Adolescent Health Services
- Adult
- African Americans
- California
- Counseling
- Demography
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Homosexuality, Male
- Humans
- Male
- Minority Groups
- United States
- education
Other ID:
UI: 102252978
From Meeting Abstracts