Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

Abstract #149881

• Slides (pdf) or Handout

Nisha Beharie, MPH, Kosta Kalogerogiannis, LMSW, Laura Elwyn Elwyn, MSW, Rita Lawrence, RN, Angela Paulino, BA, Ervin Torres, and Mary McKay, PhD. Department of Psychiatry, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1230, New York, NY 10029, (212) 659-8868, nisha.beharie@mssm.edu

Background: This exploratory study (N = 168) of youth ages 11 to 14 years and their adult caregivers nested within NYC family shelters provides baseline data for a family and community based intervention. Objective: To describe caregiver and early adolescent risk behaviors in the context of families living in shelters in the Bronx in order to inform the development of a curriculum for a longitudinal study. Methods: Descriptive data was constructed from survey interviews of caregivers and youth on (1) HIV/AIDS/STI knowledge, (2) youth's and his/her friends' risk-taking behaviors; (3) caregiver and youth mental health; and (4) substance use. Recruitment for the program is still ongoing. Results: Preliminary risk profile reveals: 40% of youth evidence clinically elevated depressive symptoms; 44% of youth think that peers are engaging in sexual intercourse; 51% of youth have spent significant amount of time in situations of sexual possibility where gateway sexual behaviors have occurred; and 30% of youth do not believe they will abstain from sex until the 8th grade. 25% of youth reported using alcohol and 33% of parents reported using marijuana. Conclusions: Caregivers and early adolescent youth residing in NYC family shelters present elevated risk factors associated with HIV/AIDS/STI and substance using behaviors as a result of shelter life. Implications for interventions include the need to integrate evidence-based prevention components and tailoring curriculums specifically for homeless inner-city families.

Acknowledgements: HOPE is supported by National Institute on Drug Abuse (RO1 DA018574)

Learning Objectives:

• Identify key risk factors that put youth living in NYC family shelters at risk for contracting HIV/AIDS and other STI's as well as alcohol and drug abuse.
• Identify possible recommendations for family-based interventions to decrease caregiver and early adolescent risk behavior.
• Explore and identify barriers and facilitators to implementation of possible interventions for families experiencing shelter life.

Keywords: Homelessness, Adolescents

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

• Slides (pdf) or Handout