Location
Minneapolis, MN
About the Organization
The Minneapolis Department of Health and Family Support, in partnership with Fremont Community Health Services, Inc., Children’s Hospitals and Clinics, and Teen Age Medical Services, works with adolescent and young adult African-American males in the North and South side communities of Minneapolis to address disparities in the rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and teen pregnancies in these neighborhoods.
Goal of the Project
The project goals are to: 1) increase knowledge, change social norms, and foster behavioral control with respect to sexual activity, condom and other contraceptive use, and STI testing; 2) increase condom use and other contraceptive use by partners; and 3) increase STI testing, STI treatment, and other health clinic visits by the target population.
Approach of the Project
Activities include: 1) modifying clinic environments to make them more welcoming to the target audience; 2) conducting clinic staff training to improve skills in working with the target clientele; 3) intensive outreach to local hangouts to provide one-to-one health education and risk assessments; 4) STI testing in traditional clinic settings, in community-based agencies, and on-the-spot specimen collection for young men who do not want to visit a clinic; and 5) conducting male discussion groups for young adolescents. These discussion groups will use the Making Proud Choices! A Safer Sex Approach to Prevention of STDs, HIV, and Teen Pregnancy, which emphasizes that risk can be eliminated by sexual abstinence or decreased by consistent and correct use of condoms. This program uses the Theory of Planned Behavior and Ecological Theory.