Almost half of all new STI infections in the United States occur in young people under age 25. Additionally, at the end of 2006, in 45 states with reporting, almost 46,000 young people ages 13-24 were living with HIV, comprising about sixteen percent of all HIV infections. But experts believe young people may suffer from up to 30 percent of all cases of HIV in the United States. Moreover, youth of color, especially young women, are disproportionately affected by HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). To prevent HIV/STI infection among youth most at risk, Advocates for Youth established a Youth of Color Initiative. Over the past few years, Advocates has partnered with the NAACP, National Council of La Raza, National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education, National Organization of Concerned Black Men, and Black Entertainment Television (BET), among others to mobilize communities to get involved in the fight against HIV and AIDS on behalf of young African Americans, Latinos, Asian Pacific Islanders, and Native Americans.

Technical Assistance and Training

Through Advocates' Youth of Color Initiative, staff from organizations serving youth of color may receive strategic technical assistance via e-mail, telephone, mail, and face-to-face meetings. In addition, Advocates provides tailored training and workshops for youth-serving professionals, youth peer educators, and young people. Seed grants are also available to help implement HIV/STI and teen pregnancy prevention projects. Tailored technical assistance and training is offered on the following topics:

• Cultural competence
• Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth
• Parent-child communication about sexuality issues
• Peer education
• Science-based sex education and HIV, STI, and teen pregnancy prevention programming (including life skills)
• Youth-adult partnerships
• Youth-friendly services

Partners

Advocates provides technical assistance, training, and/or seed grants to youth of color-serving organizations around the nation to strengthen their HIV programming for youth of color.  Below are select partner organizations:

• AIDS Action of North Alabama (Huntsville, AL)
• Albuquerque Area Indian Health Board (Albuquerque, NM)
• AID Atlanta (Atlanta, GA)
• Communities in Schools (Thomasville, NC)
• ComServ Inc. (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
• Focus On Flagler Youth Coalition, Inc (Bunnell, FL)
• Girls Inc. of Lynn (Lynn, MA)
• HOTGIRLS (Atlanta, GA)
• Institute of Women and Ethnic Studies (New Orleans, LA)
• Love Heals (NY, NY)
• Make the Road New York (Brooklyn, NY)
• Taller Salud (Loiza, Puerto Rico)
• THE POINT Community Development Corporation (Bronx, NY)
• Uplift School Health Center (Chicago, IL)
• Youth Empowerment Mission (Brooklyn, NY)
  

Contact

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Associate Director, Equity and Social Justice
P: 202.419.3420
F: 202.419.1448
Advocates for Youth
2000 M Street NW, Suite 750
Washington, DC 20036 USA