Step forward: A collaborative effort to reduce health disparities impacting Latino youth

The Center for Disease Control estimates that 1.1 million people in the United States are living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Disparities persist in the estimated rate of new HIV infections in Hispanics/Latinos, however in 2010; the rate of new HIV infections was greater for Latino men and women than their white counterparts. In addition, youth, 13-24 years of age in the United States are at persistent risk for HIV. The Step Forward Project, a collaboration between CODAC Behavioral Health Agency, the University of Arizona Southwest Institute for Research on Women (SIROW) and the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation (SAAF), expands services to youth, and enhances substance abuse pre-treatment and treatment services by incorporating comprehensive HIV/AIDS and sexual health education, outreach, pre-treatment, testing and counseling services for the adolescent population living on the United States/Mexican border region. People of color and young people in the Pima County community have historically had limited access to both services and treatment. The Step Forward Project is a participatory research project with 275 participants, 77.5% of whom identify as Hispanic/Latino. Our research question examines risky behaviors prior to and post intervention. Data were collected from individual self-report interviews using Global Appraisal of Individual Needs (GAIN) assessment and the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA). Baseline and 6-month follow-up data are being collected and a preliminary analysis of outcome data show that participants continued to engage in positive behaviors 6 months post intervention and of the participants whom were engaging in sexual behaviors had more protected sexual contacts post intervention.