Project Title: TOPS (Teen Outreach and Primary Services).

Grantee: Greater Bridgeport Adolescent Pregnancy Program, Inc. (GBAPP)

Location: Bridgeport, CT

Phone 203.384.3629; Fax 203.384.4034

Project Director: Rudy Feudo, Ph.D.

Category: (A); continue to expand and ensure access to health and support services for underserved adolescents with HIV/AIDS or who are at risk for HIV infection.

Adolescents Targeted: Inner-city ethnic minority adolescent and young people (ages 15-24) with HIV/AIDS or who are at risk for HIV infection.

The Greater Bridgeport Adolescent Pregnancy Program continues in the process of developing an innovative model for accessing health and support services for inner-city ethnic minority adolescents and young adults (ages 15-24) who have HIV/AIDS or who are at significant risk for HIV infection. The core of this program is the TEEN OUTREACH AND PRIMARY SERVICES (TOPS) project, an outreach peer support and social networking program in Bridgeport. Substantial progress has been made during the past three years towards the objectives: (1) Refine peer counseling program for high risk youth with HIV/AIDS or who are at risk for HIV infection; (2) Provide outreach and assessment service to 500 hard-to-reach youth per year for potential admission to the program; (3) Provide individual and group harm reduction services to 175 youth at risk for HIV infection; (4) provide age-appropriate HIV counseling and testing to a minimum of 200 youth; (5) Provide training and consultation on HIV service and intervention needs of collaborating agencies; (6) Improve the availability and coordination of local services for underserved youth with HIV/AIDS or at high risk for HIV infection; and (7) disseminate the model of care and promote replication of the model in other sites.

More than 2,000 hard-to-reach adolescents at-risk for HIV/AIDS have been reached through street outreach, community-based organizations, and educational programs to inform them of TOPS and to expand their access to health and psychosocial support services. Two hundred and eight (208) teens have been enrolled and received a range of TOPS services: 435 case management sessions, 229 clients received individual counseling/therapy; 140 teens were referred for either medical, HIV counseling and testing, drug treatment, family planning or STD services; On-site recreational activities were developed as a client attractant and incentive for compliance with TOPS client service objectives.

Formal resource and referral arrangements have been established with 20 local provider agencies. Staff helped improve inter-agency collaboration by working to strengthen the local HIV/AIDS care Consortium in Greater Bridgeport. Project leadership activities have resulted in a perceptible increase in awareness of adolescent HIV/AIDS issues on the local and state levels. TOPS developed a video and instruction manual for professionals about the issues and techniques of establishing a peer educator program model, focusing on: street youth culture; issues about HIV/AIDS prevention and services; primary and subsequent pregnancy prevention; substance abuse; education and methods for enhancing adolescent self-esteem.

New HIV/AIDS-related services developed by TOPS include: co-location of a certified HIV Counselor from the Bridgeport Community Health Center to provide counseling and testing services at the TOPS clients; establishment of adolescent-specific HIV Clients at Bridgeport Hospital and the Park City Primary Care Center, and co-location of substance abuse counselors from the Guenster Rehabilitation Center and a mental health professional from Family Services Woodfield at the two specialty clinics, to ensure increased confidentiality and anonymity for teens.

A process evaluation involving clients, program staff and key informants is assisting TOPS in achieving a clearer understanding of the issues and barriers inherent in developing a peer educator model. Modifications in the original design have been instituted, peer educator qualifications designed and argumented, and the training needs of peer educators have been refined. TOPS will dissemble the model of care and promote replication of the model in other sites through the use of a training manual and videotape, publications and presentations.