Project Title: Indiana Youth Access Project.

Grantee: Indiana State Department of Health, Division of HIV/STD

Location: 642 North Meridian Street, 6th Floor, Indianapolis, IN 46204

Phone 317.233.7867; FAX 317.233.7663

Project Director: Michael Wallace, Director, HIV/STD Division

Category: (A)

Adolescents Targeted: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered Youth Infected with or at Risk for HIV Infection.

Gay, lesbian, and bisexual (g/l/b) youth face all the difficulties and stresses of adolescence experienced by any teenager but in addition many suffer from a high degree of isolation and fear because of their sexual preferences and orientation. This situation, coupled with the failure of society to recognize and support these young people, creates situations where health risk behaviors become likely, particularly those which heighten their risk of HIV infection. The Indiana Youth Access Project (IYAP) is a cooperative partnership among the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) Division of HIV/STD, the Indiana University Mental Health Research Consortium, and IYG (Indiana Youth Group). The latter is a unique organization created to support and serve g/l/b youth age 20 and younger. IYAP, now completing its third year has increased the access of HIV information, services, and referrals for g/l/b youth in Indiana. The project includes: (1) risk reduction counseling, (2) risk assessment and health evaluation which includes HIV testing, (3) outreach services based on a peer-counseling model, and (4) expanded case management and referral services to identify new and existing networking resources. With this full array of gay-youth-sensitive health, mental health, and emotional support services, the IYAP model is designed to provide direct services to youth as well as develop an extensive network of providers for this at-risk population all within the context of healthy social activities and developing friendships through IYG membership. By the middle of the second funded year, IYG had 6,483 service contacts with 363 non-duplicated clients. Use of a full array of services was seen for 125 youth. Most frequently accessed services by all young people were the drop-in center, youth activities (i.e. social and educational activities with peers), and mental health support. The IYAP evaluation is designed around three interrelated data collection efforts: a.) a services monitoring system, b.) a case-study of the program processes, and c.) in-depth, longitudinal outcome interviews with youth. The services data generate descriptive information about the services provided and utilization patterns. The interview data are employed to evaluate self-esteem, health status, social networks, as well as attitudes and behaviors related to HIV risk, to show changes in these factors occurring over time, and to learn how the changes may influence HIV risk taking behaviors. The present application features program development in the areas of outreach to a high risk population in the north west corner of the state, increased emphasis on youth direction and responsibility for IYG planning and activities, and opportunities for recent alumni to play a part in supporting IYG functions. Dissemination of the evaluation data includes statewide AIDS service organization's "home page", written reports and conference presentations. Evaluation data will offer practical guidance on the best methods for reaching g/l/b/ youth.