Adolescents Living Safely
An Evidence-Based Practice
Description
The goal of Adolescents Living Safely is to prevent HIV infection and AIDS among adolescent runaways age 11-18. The program is designed to improve traditional services at shelters for runaway youth and has also been adapted to support gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender adolescents.
Up to 30 intervention sessions, each lasting between 90 and 120 minutes, are conducted by two trained leaders. Intervention activities address four components: Developing and improving interpersonal skills, promoting behavioral self-management, increasing HIV prevention knowledge, and providing peer support for HIV preventive behaviors. General knowledge about HIV/AIDS is addressed by requiring that adolescents view existing HIV/AIDS prevention videos and create their own commercials and public service announcements about HIV prevention. Next, adolescents are trained in how to practice behavioral and cognitive coping responses in situations with potential risk for HIV transmission.
A weekly visit from a public health nurse, referrals for specific health concerns, and visits to a community-based agency that provides ongoing comprehensive care are used to address issues of access to health care and other resources. Finally, individual barriers to safer sex are addressed through private counseling sessions that target dysfunctional attitudes.
Up to 30 intervention sessions, each lasting between 90 and 120 minutes, are conducted by two trained leaders. Intervention activities address four components: Developing and improving interpersonal skills, promoting behavioral self-management, increasing HIV prevention knowledge, and providing peer support for HIV preventive behaviors. General knowledge about HIV/AIDS is addressed by requiring that adolescents view existing HIV/AIDS prevention videos and create their own commercials and public service announcements about HIV prevention. Next, adolescents are trained in how to practice behavioral and cognitive coping responses in situations with potential risk for HIV transmission.
A weekly visit from a public health nurse, referrals for specific health concerns, and visits to a community-based agency that provides ongoing comprehensive care are used to address issues of access to health care and other resources. Finally, individual barriers to safer sex are addressed through private counseling sessions that target dysfunctional attitudes.
Goal / Mission
The goal of Adolescents Living Safely is to prevent HIV infection and AIDS among runaway adolescents.
Impact
Adolescents Living Safely changes youth sexual behavior to reduce transmission of HIV among runaways.
Results / Accomplishments
To assess the success of the program, interviews were conducted at baseline and again three and six months after the intervention. Participants who attended 15 or more of the 30 sessions significantly increased their consistent condom use from 33% at baseline to 57% at 3-months post-intervention (p<0.02), and significantly reduced their high-risk behaviors from 20% at baseline to zero at six months post-intervention (p<0.05).
This program has resulted in reduced frequency of sex and number of sexual partners and increased condom use.
This program has resulted in reduced frequency of sex and number of sexual partners and increased condom use.
About this Promising Practice
Primary Contact
Sociometrics, Program Archive on Sexuality, Health & Adolescence
1.800.846.3475
pasha@socio.com
http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/publications/1135...
1.800.846.3475
pasha@socio.com
http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/publications/1135...
Topics
Health / Immunizations & Infectious Diseases
Health / Adolescent Health
Health / Prevention & Safety
Health / Adolescent Health
Health / Prevention & Safety
Source
Urban Institute
Date of publication
Sep 1991
Date of implementation
1988
Geographic Type
Urban
Location
New York City, NY
For more details
Target Audience
Teens