5032.0 Linking Vulnerable Drug Using Populations to Quality Care and Services

Wednesday, October 31, 2012: 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Oral
The special needs of vulnerable populations are often not addressed within the healthcare system. Moreover, social injustices (e.g. racism and socioeconomic marginalization) often result in preventable health inequalities. In their attempt to avoid stigma and discrimination, many of these vulnerable groups do not access and utilized needed care. Research identifies strategies for linking vulnerable groups to quality care and services, and highlights public health implications. The first presentation emphasizes the need for strategic planning and understanding of the social context of communities so that efforts to link target population groups to available resources are successful. For example, PEPFAR provides funding for HIV testing and antiretroviral treatment in South Africa,but these efforts have had limited success in reaching drug users, particularly women who use drugs, many of whom are HIV+, largely because they were unaware of available care. Plans to reach and link this targeted population will be presented. The next presentation shares findings from a 5-year randomized intervention trial that tested two strengths-based case management approaches designed to increase health services linkages and reduce HIV risk among a sample of African American female sex traders. The last presentation highlights effective strategies for linking and engaging delinquent adolescents who use drugs in family-based interventions.
Session Objectives: Identify barriers to linking vulnerable populations to medical services. Assess and evaluate successful linkage approaches.
Moderator:

8:30am
Linking vulnerable drug using populations to quality care and services
Dionne J. Jones, PhD, Wendee M. Wechsberg, PhD, Hilary L. Surratt, PhD and Norweeta Milburn, PhD
8:50am
Reaching and linking substance abusing vulnerable women in South Africa to HIV testing and care after PEPFAR
Wendee M. Wechsberg, PhD, Tracy Kline, PhD, William A. Zule, DrPH, J. Ndirangu, Jessica Hopkins, MPH and Rachel Middlesteadt-Ellerson, BA
9:10am
Promoting health service linkages among underserved African-American women at high risk for HIV
Hilary L. Surratt, PhD, Catherine O'Grady, MPH and Steven P. Kurtz, PhD
9:30am
Engaging delinquent adolescents in family-based interventions
Norweeta Milburn, PhD and Marguerita Lightfoot, PhD

See individual abstracts for presenting author's disclosure statement and author's information.

Organized by: Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs
Endorsed by: HIV/AIDS, LGBT Caucus of Public Health Professionals, Medical Care, Mental Health, Public Health Nursing, Black Caucus of Health Workers

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH) , Masters Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES)