|
December 2005 Monthly Monitor
Advocates for Youth's Youth of Color Initiative
Feature: young men of color *
Males' health is important because young men matter and because a gender gap exists in health outcomes. In 1920, men and women in the United States had an equal life expectancy,[1] suggesting that there is no inherent, biological life span difference between men and women. Yet today, as in the past eighty years, men in the United States die sooner than women.
Today, men's life expectancy is almost six years less than women's [2] and men have a higher mortality rate than women for all 15 leading causes of death.[3] The disparity is even greater for black men. For example, suicide rates in the last two decades have increased most rapidly among young black men.[4]
Half of all new HIV infections in men occur among black men.[5] Additionally, African American and Latino young men who have sex with men (YMSM) are more likely than other YMSM to be infected with HIV.[6] In 2001, the chlamydia rate among African American males ages 15 to 19 was 12 times higher than that among white males (1,550 and 128 per 100,000, respectively). [7] Recent data document rising rates of syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia among young men who have sex with men.[8] These differences are not biological, but more than likely behavioral and reinforced by societal concepts of how men should behave.
To address these inequities in health outcomes, young men of color need culturally specific programs that:
- Provide culturally appropriate, gender-specific sexual and reproductive information
- Promote a positive self-concept, including self-esteem, self-efficacy, self-respect, and life skills
- Build skills in communication, negotiation, and refusal
- Provide confidential clinical care and health services
- Involve young men as equals in the implementation and evaluation of programs for men.
For information on young men of color and on sexual health programs and service especially designed for young men, please check out the resources at the end of this Monthly Monitor.
References:
- Courtenay WH. College men's health: an overview and a call to action. Journal of American College Health 1998; 46:279-290.
- Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. National vital Statistics Report 2002; 50(6).
- Siegried M, Jadad AR. The future of men and their health. British Medical Journal 2001; 323:1013-1014.
- National Center for Injury Prevention & Control. Suicide Prevention Facts. Atlanta, GA: CDC, 2003.
- Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. HIV/AIDS Update. Atlanta, CA: CDC, 2003.
- Valleroy LA et al. HIV prevalence and associated risks in young men who have sex with men. JAMA 2000; 284;198-204.
- Division of STD Prevention. Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance, 2001. Atlanta, GA: CDC, 2002.
- Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. Taking Action to Combat Increases in STDs and HIV Risk among Men Who Have Sex with Men. Atlanta, GA: CDC, 2001.
- Sonenstein F. Young Men's Sexual and Reproductive Health: Toward a National Strategy. Washington, DC: Urban Institute, 2000.
* This feature is a summary of an article published in Advocates for Youth's Transitions in January 2001, “Masculinity: contributing to health disparities for young men of color,” by Thomas M, Boss M, and Kaggwa E.
Capacity building & professional development
Supporting Networks of HIV Care Is Now Accepting Applications for Technical Assistance
This project provides technical assistance and training to small or medium sized nonprofit community- and faith-based organizations. Agencies are eligible to apply for assistance through this project if they are:
- Committed to providing primary health care or related support services to people of color;
- Physically located in or near a community whose make-up is predominantly racial or ethnic minorities living with or at risk for HIV infection;
- Able to demonstrate financial need for the requested assistance; and
- In need of technical assistance to expand, implement, or improve HIV primary care and support services to people of color or to build networks and links to care.
Organizations can apply by filling out a Request for Service form. The three remaining application deadline cycles are December 15, 2005; February 28, 2006; and May 1, 2006. Visit SNHC online, http://www.hivta.org, or call 1.800.861.5640 for details.
Organizations that do not currently provide HIV and AIDS services or that do not currently receive HIV and AIDS funding are eligible to receive assistance through this project. Organizations that receive funding directly from Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to provide HIV and AIDS primary care are not eligible; however, subcontractors of directly funded HRSA grantees are eligible.
Diffusion of Effective Behavioral Interventions (DEBI): Sistas Informing Sistas on Topics of AIDS (SISTA) is sponsored by the National Minority AIDS Council, National Black Alcoholism & Addiction Council, and the Community Wellness Project of Saint Louis University.
The Diffusion of Effective Behavioral Interventions (DEBI) project brings science-based, community- and group-level HIV prevention interventions to community-based service providers and state and local health departments. The goal is to enhance state and local providers' capacity to implement effective interventions, to reduce the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and to promote healthy behaviors.
The SISTA project is a group-level, gender- and culturally-relevant intervention designed to increase condom use among sexually active African American women. Based on social learning theory and the theory of gender and power, SISTA consists of five peer led group sessions that focus on ethnic and gender pride, HIV knowledge, and building skills regarding sexual risk reduction behaviors and making decisions. The program is scheduled for 02/27/2006 through 03/03/2006 in Chicago, Illinois. The deadline to register is February 1, 2006. For up-to-date information, including registration, visit: http://www.nmac.org/programs___services/treatment__education___trainings/regional_trainings/903.cfm
Funding Opportunities
Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Procurement and Grants Office
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the availability of fiscal year (FY) 2006 funds for cooperative agreements to establish a national program to prevent behaviors and unhealthy environments that place elementary school through college-aged young people at risk for a myriad of health problems. The goal of the national program is to improve the health and well-being of youth and prepare them to be healthy adults in stable families and safe communities.
Funds are designated for content areas of:
- HIV prevention
- Asthma
- Tobacco use prevention
CDC will award cooperative agreements to national nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that will become an integral part of a broad national strategy to prevent and reduce health problems among youth. To achieve the broad national strategy, grantees with appropriate experience, talent, and constituents for each category will work at activities specified in the separate funding categories.
Eight-component coordinated school health programs, including physical education, nutrition services, and counseling and psychological services were consolidated into this program announcement to support capacity building in ten separate funding categories, including
- Preventing HIV infections by providing capacity building assistance (CBA) to state and local education agencies;
- Preventing HIV Infections by providing CBA to state and local health agencies;
- Preventing HIV Infections by providing CBA to organizations that serve youth at high risk for HIV infection;
- Improving disease prevention and health promotion programs to prevent HIV infections and/or tobacco use by providing CBA to institutions of higher education;
- Promoting sexual abstinence by providing CBA to organizations that serve youth and parents;
- Reducing the burden of asthma by providing CBA to state and local education agencies and to state and local health agencies;
- Preventing chronic diseases by providing CBA to state and local education agencies;
- Promoting coordinated school health programs by providing CBA to state and local education agencies;
- Promoting school mental health services by providing CBA to state and local education agencies; and
- Providing professional development for other DASH-funded NGO partners funded under this program announcement.
For more information, visit http://www.fedgrants.gov/Applicants/HHS/CDC/PGO/CDC-RFA-DP06-601/Grant.html
CDC announces the availability of fiscal year (FY) 2006 funds to create a national network of sexually transmitted diseases (STD)/human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention training centers (NNPTC). These prevention training centers (PTCs) will provide innovative, high-quality, comprehensive STD/HIV training across the United States. The NNPTC will consist of three types of PTCs:
- Part I PTCs will provide STD medical and laboratory services training.
- Part II PTCs will provide training on behavioral interventions.
- Part III PTCs will provide training on STD/HIV partner elicitation and referral, and on STD counseling and case management.
Parts II and III will also provide training to strengthen health department STD/HIV prevention programs. Each PTC will be responsible for training in a designated coverage area (HHS region or quadrant, see appendix A). Parts II and III will also provide training in areas of the nation outside of their designated coverage areas.
Each PTC must be a partnership between: 1) an organization--such as an academic institution--that can bring state-of the-art research findings to the development of STD/HIV prevention education and training courses and materials for health care professionals, prevention specialists, and STD/HIV prevention programs; and 2) an organization--such as a state or local public health department--that can deliver the resulting STD/HIV prevention education and training courses and materials to health professionals, prevention specialists, and STD/HIV prevention programs. Additionally, each PTC must be staffed by health professionals with demonstrated expertise in STD/HIV prevention training. The PTCs are intended to be dynamic, flexible, and collaborative in order to assess and meet the training needs of STD/HIV health professionals across the nation. For more information, visit http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/PS06-606.htm.
Announcements
BET Programming Lineup as Part of the Rap-It-Up HIV and AIDS Public Education Initiative
BET and the Kaiser Family Foundation announce a lineup of special HIV-themed programming to mark World AIDS Day on Thursday, December 1, 2005, as part their Rap-It-Up HIV and AIDS Public Awareness Initiative. New interactive content will also be available on both http://www.bet.com and http://www.rap-it-up.com Web sites. Launched in 1998, the initiative informs and raises awareness about HIV and AIDS, a pandemic that disproportionately impacts African Americans. Since 1998, BET has partnered with the Kaiser Family Foundation on Rap-It-Up. To date, the Initiative has helped over 8,000 people nationwide to get tested for HIV; received over 1,000,000 calls to its toll free hotline; distributed over 360,000 brochures with information on HIV and AIDS, and hosted community forums in over 29 cities for at least 9,000 young adults.
The Council of Chief State School Officers, School Health Project Announces the Availability of Three New Fact Sheets on HIV and AIDS
- What Education Leaders Should Know about HIV and AIDS--describes the basic facts of HIV and HIV transmission; background and differences between HIV and AIDS; and the impact of HIV and AIDS among school-age youth.
- What Education Leaders Should Know about HIV and AIDS and School-Aged Youth--provides information on why school-age youth are at risk for HIV; lists school-based prevention strategies; and describes the roles of family and community in addressing school-based prevention.
- What Education Leaders Should Know about Forming Partnerships to Prevent Sexual-Risk Behaviors in School-Aged Youth--describes the collaboration process; gives examples of potential partners; and shows how top level education officials can support and improve interagency partnerships.
To download, visit: http://www.ccsso.org/projects/School_Health_Project/Project_Publications/HIV_AIDS_Fact_Sheets/. These fact sheets were developed as part of CCSSO's cooperative agreement with the CDC. For additional information please contact Nora Howley 202.336.7033 or norah@ccsso.org or Stephanie Yun at 202.336.7038 or stephaniey@ccsso.org.
Resources
For resources on sexual health services for young men of color, please check out the following:
You can help Advocates for Youth with a contribution today. To donate, visit http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/about/donatetoday.htm
Read previous issues from the Archive of e-News Updates >>
|
Send this page to a friend