NCJ Number
125920
Date Published
1990
Length
35 pages
Annotation
This report resulted from a 2-day conference held in May 1989 to begin the development of strategies to communicate HIV prevention messages to street and homeless adolescents. The participants focused on several questions: what strategy would be most effective in delivery HIV prevention messages, how could youth professionals best coordinate these efforts, what specific policies would meet the needs of homeless and street adolescents, and what resources would help communities serve this population.
Abstract
The first section identifies types of street and homeless youth, defines terms related to HIV infection and AIDS, provides a profile of life on the streets, and summarizes the incidence of HIV and AIDS among this population. The obstacles to overcome in delivering HIV prevention messages center around the transient nature of these youth, the need for a credible messenger, and the problems posed by language barriers and literacy problems. The manual outlines components of successful collaborative efforts that can maximize resources and describes several model HIV prevention programs. Communities and policy makers are called upon to commit time and resources to this effort; to create programs and policies to address these youths' special needs; to support funding for efforts in HIV prevention, counseling, diagnosis, and treatment; and to recognize the special expertise of community-based organizations. 2 appendixes and 24 references.