Date: Friday, Dec. 13, 1996
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: HRSA Press Office(301)-443-3376

HHS Secretary Shalala Awards $3.35 Million in Ryan White Funds for Adolescent HIV/AIDS Services Models

HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala today announced $3.35 million in Ryan White CARE Act two-year continuation awards for nine projects in six states to evaluate and disseminate health care and support services delivery models for HIV infected and at-risk adolescents.

Located in San Francisco and Los Angeles, Calif.; Boston, Mass.; Bridgeport, Conn.; Indianapolis, Ind.; Minneapolis, Minn.; and Seattle, Wash., these projects provide a range of services such as medical, psychosocial, outreach, case management, peer counseling, referral and education.

"Adolescents at high-risk for HIV infection because of homelessness, injecting drug use or sexual activity may become the AIDS patients of the next decade," Secretary Shalala said. "The Clinton administration is counting on these nine projects to show us the best ways to reach these young people with the care they need to reach the future they deserve."

"I am pleased to see this strong show of support for efforts to help young people protect themselves from HIV," said Patricia S. Fleming, National AIDS Policy Director. "Today, one in four new HIV infections occurs among people under the age of 21. These projects can help us change that troubling trend."

These projects are funded under the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act, Special Projects of National Significance Program, administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration. HRSA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

"During the next two years, these projects will be evaluated so that good solutions for providing needed services to adolescents with or at risk for HIV infection or AIDS can be replicated in other communities," said HRSA Administrator Ciro V. Sumaya, M.D., M.P.H.T.M.

The nine projects receiving a total of $3,353,400 in funding are:

• Childrens Hospital, Los Angeles, Calif. - $745,000

Disseminates HIV prevention and early intervention information; provides risk reduction counseling; initiates case management services for youth at high risk for HIV who are also runaway, homeless and/or injecting drug users; and provides a wide range of medical and psychosocial services.

• Bay Area Young Positives, Inc., San Francisco, Calif. - $290,469

A staff of full-time, paid young people and volunteers provides support services for under 26-year-old youth with HIV infection. Services include peer counseling, advocacy education, practical support services, and information on youth-sensitive care providers.

• Health Initiatives For Youth Health Action Research Team, San Francisco, Calif. - $409,921.

Provides a comprehensive array of peer-based, youth-centered services, self-help resources, and skills-training for people age 25 years and younger with HIV.

• Boston HAPPENS, Children's Hospital, Boston, Mass. - $474,391

Provides outreach to high risk, homeless and street youth through a network of primary care service providers, and facilitates an integrated service referral program.

• TOPS Project of Greater Bridgeport Adolescent Pregnancy Program, Bridgeport, Conn. - $351,279.

Provides outreach, HIV prevention and early intervention, case management, and referral services for underserved minority adolescents, ages 15 to 24, who are HIV positive or at high risk for HIV.

• Indiana Youth Access Project, Indiana State Department of Health, Indianapolis, Ind. - $274,802

A peer-based model on access to health and support services for underserved gay, lesbian and bisexual adolescents who are HIV positive or at risk for HIV. Focuses on peer counseling, risk reduction and assessment, health evaluations, street outreach, and HIV prevention case management.

• University of Minnesota Youth and AIDS Project, Minneapolis, Minn. - $237,971

Outreach, early intervention, and service delivery to adolescents ages 13-21 living with HIV in Minnesota. Provides outreach and comprehensive, coordinated, and family-centered care.

• Walden House, Inc., San Francisco, Calif. - $239,220

Provides a multi-disciplinary approach to the substance abuse treatment, psychiatric, and medical needs of multiply-diagnosed youth. Combines long-term residential treatment with clinical and medical services designed for adolescents living with HIV.

• YouthCare, Inc., Seattle, Wash. - $330,347

Combines HIV testing and counseling with early intervention and prevention case management services to develop a continuum of care for out-of-home youth with or at high risk for HIV infection.

Note: HHS press releases are available on the World Wide Web at: http://www.hhs.gov.