NCJ Number
130080
Date Published
1990
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This report summarizes a study of the Centers for Disease Control's (CDC's) efforts to educate out-of-school youth regarding how to prevent the spread of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
Abstract
Out-of-school youth, including runaways and homeless migrants, and those incarcerated, are at greater peril of acquiring AIDS than other youth, because they are more likely to engage in high-risk sexual and drug activities. In obtaining information on the status of the CDC's efforts to educate out-of-school youth about AIDS, this study examined CDC records and interviewed CDC officials as well as officials of national organizations funded to reach such youth and officials of selected community-based organizations. The study found that the CDC has accomplished relatively little in providing HIV education to out-of-school youth. This is because CDC's Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (CCDPHP), which has the primary responsibility for youth, initially targeted the larger in-school population; the State and local education agencies funded to serve all youth lacked experience with those out of school and the organizations that serve them; and few guidelines and education materials were available. CCDPHP plans to fund local health departments of community organizations to act as focal points for providing services to out-of-school youth, including HIV education; however, this strategy is already being implemented by another center within CDC, the Center for Prevention Services. The CDC should consider whether the out-of-school youth component of CCDPHP should be merged with CDC's existing prevention programs. Appended supplementary information and 2 figures