What is the Raise 5 Project?

African-American college students are at risk for substance abuse and HIV.  Young adults, aged 18 to 22, enrolled full-time in college are more likely than non-college attending peers to drink alcohol, including binge drinking.   The rate of HIV infection among young African-American men and women is substantially higher than that for other ethnic groups.  The period of emerging adulthood, the age group of college students, is another risk factor because during this period there is greater likelihood of engaging in risky behaviors including binge drinking and casual sex.  The Raise 5 Project is a five-year capacity building program funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration to develop capacity for Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) student groups to implement HIV and substance abuse prevention activities. The target population is African-American college students attending VCU, an urban university, who represent 16% (approximately 5,000 students) of the student body. The project’s marketing name, “Raise 5”, was conceived by a student advisory council and represents the five point call to action: 1) Getting Tested Annually for HIV; 2) Partying Smart: Buzzed not Bombed; 3) Using Condoms 100%; 4) Creating a Community of Change-Makers; and 5) Knowing your Resources.  The four components of Raise 5 are: HIV testing, edutainment events, replication of three evidenced-based interventions (SISTA, NIA, and Safe in the City) and social marketing (e.g., Stall Seat Journal).  Participants are recruited using a variety of recruitment strategies.  In addition, students and student organizations are involved in all components of the program.