SEATTLE YOUTHCARES PREVENTION, INTERVENTION, AND EDUCATION-PROGRAM - A MODEL OF CARE FOR HIV-POSITIVE, HOMELESS, AND AT-RISK YOUTH

YouthCare's project for youth who are human immunodeficiency virus (HI V)-positive or at high risk for becoming HIV positive is one of 10 sup ported by Special Projects of National Significance Program, HIV/Acqui red Immunodeficiency Syndrome Bureau, Health Resources and Services Ad ministration. Throughout its 23-year history, YouthCare has focused on serving runaway, homeless, sexual minority, and other youth ''on the margins.'' To respond effectively to the needs oi: these youth, YouthC are has developed creative service approaches including involving yout h in program design and taking I-he programs to where the youth live. Building on this experience,the agency developed a continuum of servic es which has provided care to 906 youth, including 37 who are HIV posi tive. The five major elements of the model include: (a) youth-specific HIV antibody test counseling, (b) outreach, (c) intensive ease manage ment for HIV-positive youth, (d) prevention services for youth at high risk of HIV infection, and (e) peer involvement. Quantitative evaluat ion helped in identifying youth served by the project (e.g.,over one t hird self-identify as a sexual minority) and the sites at which servic es should be provided. Preliminary results from qualitative evaluation s have stressed the importance of teamwork in designing clinical inter ventions and providing support to direct-service staff. This report's conclusion stresses that case management for this population, even tho ugh time and resource-intensive, is effective, and that services need to be flexible and tailored to each client's needs. (C) Society for Ad olescent Medicine, 1998.