Prevention Navigation for Male Identified Gay and Bisexual Men of Color ages 18-29 in Los Angeles County, CA. - Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is proposing to partner with In the Meantime Men’s Group, Inc to implement Prevention Navigation for Male Identified Gay and Bisexual Men of Color ages 18-29 in Los Angeles County, CA. The project is centered on supporting low income gay and bisexual male identified people of color (YGBMC), particularly African American and Latino, ages 18-29 at high risk for HIV in Los Angeles County and assist them in receiving HIV and hepatitis testing and support services. Using a navigation approach and guided by the steps of the Strategic Prevention Framework, team members will help at least 480 YGBMC access the comprehensive services needed to reduce morbidity and mortality. The central area of Los Angeles is the geographic target due to its definition as an area of high need and because it is a home to significant numbers of youth, and more specifically YGBMC. The overall purpose of the proposed project is to reduce HIV transmission and acquisition and increase protective factors for YGBMC at risk for HIV/AIDS in Los Angeles County. Program goals include: 1) utilize SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework to enhance HIV and substance misuse prevention with YGBMC in Central Los Angeles; and 2) increase the number of YGBMC in Central Los Angeles receiving substance misuse and HIV and hepatitis prevention education and mental health promotion services. Objectives include: 1) By 01/01/23, complete needs assessment in partnership with CHLA and ITMT’s existing YGBMC youth community advisory boards focused on substance use and HIV prevention (assessment); 2) By 9/29/23, and annually thereafter, collaborate with Connect to Protect Los Angeles (C2PLA) to implement a minimum of one capacity building events per year focused on providers who serve YGBMC (e.g. workshops, webinars, new resource tools) (capacity building); 3) By 9/29/23, and annually thereafter, develop and disseminate a minimum of one social media campaign message based on ongoing assessment activities (planning and implementation); 4) By 9/29/23, and annually thereafter, utilize evaluation data, including campaign metrics, to inform additional strategies and messaging (evaluation); 5) By 9/29/23, 80 YGBMC (n=100 in years 2-5) will be linked to Navigation Support Services to link individuals to care for mental health disorders, substance misuse, HIV, and hepatitis, where indicated; 6) 95% of participants enrolled in project will be screened for HIV/STIs and Viral Hepatitis; 7) 100% of all youth identified as HIV positive or positive for Viral Hepatitis will be linked to treatment services; 8) 75% of youth enrolled in services will be linked to a minimum of one additional essential support service (e.g. biomedical HIV prevention) or recovery support services (e.g. housing support); and 9) 100% of insurance-eligible YGBMC enrolled in project will report having health insurance within 6 months of enrollment and will be able to identify their medical home and a primary care physician; 10) Greater than 85% of participants will have gained knowledge, skills and tools that will help them in their transition to adulthood (positive youth development); 11) Greater than 85% of participants will report that services are supportive and responsive to the diversity of experiences and individual strengths (responsive services); 12) Greater than 85% of participants will have positive support people in the community that they can rely on and go to for help and support (community connections); and 13) Greater than 85% of participants will have developed resilience factors such as an understanding of their own strengths, hopes for the future, and connections to community resources for meeting their needs (resilience).
