California condom access project (CAP): Using the internet to improve access to condoms for youth

Rates of STDs and unintended pregnancy are high among sexually active youth and young adults in California. Condoms are an effective method for preventing transmission of STDs and unintended pregnancy when used consistently and correctly. However, teens in California who want to use condoms often face significant barriers to accessing them including cost, embarrassment, confidentiality concerns, and accessibility. To address these barriers, the California Family Health Council (CFHC) created the Condom Access Project, or CAP, in partnership with the California Department of Public Health STD Control Branch.

CAP was modeled after a similar intervention program in Philadelphia and launched on Valentine's Day 2012. The program is housed on CFHC's teen-friendly website, www.teensource.org. The CAP website enables California youth 12 to 19 years old to search a condom access site map for physical locations where condoms are available on a walk-in basis. In select high STD morbidity counties, teens can request condoms by mail.

A year after the project's launch, CAP has over 465 teen-friendly locations listed on the CAP map, 65 newly recruited condom access sites, and mailed youth in target counties more than 3,000 individual mailers with condoms, lubricant, and health education materials. This session will present information on the rollout of CAP, website analytics, marketing efforts (including a targeted Facebook campaign), and data from evaluating the project's reach and impact. The session will highlight outcomes, successes and lessons learned in implementing a web-based statewide condom distribution program for adolescents.