2009 Curbing HIV/AIDS Transmission Among High Risk Minority Youth and Adolescents (CHAT) by Utilizing a Peer-to-Peer Outreach Model and New Application Technologies

As the lead agency to improve and protect the health of racial and ethnic minority populations through the development of health policies and programs that will eliminate health disparities, the Office of Minority Health, through the mechanism of the CHAT Program, seeks to improve the HIV/AIDS health outcomes of high risk minority youth by supporting community-based efforts to increase HIV/AIDS prevention/education efforts, testing, counseling and referrals. It is expected that applicants will ensure that their efforts will enhance current efforts and expand established capacity by federal agencies, and public and private youth service providers to engage youth who are currently in alternative education settings, alternative living arrangements ordered by the courts; and juvenile detention facilities. This project will also encourage partnerships among traditional services providers targeting high risk adolescents, such as substance abuse prevention centers for youth; foster care agencies working with youth; youth serving organizations; youth runaway shelters; and peer-to-peer education programs.