YOUTH INVOLVEMENT IN THE BOSTON HAPPENS PROGRAM. D.J. Fox, BS, P.M. Keenan, RN, BSN, M.W. Melchiono, RN, MS, C-FNP, D. Venable, E.R. Woods, MD, MPH, The Boston HAPPENS Program, Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA.

The Boston HAPPENS (HIV Adolescent Provider and Peer Education Network for Services) Program has received input from youth since the program’s inception. The first step in getting this valuable input was conducting a series of 4 focus groups with a total of 20 urban adolescents. Their information assisted the program in setting up the Boston HAPPENS care network by providing insight into the special needs of our target population (HIV positive, at-risk, homeless, or street youth ages 12-24). Youth input was also instrumental in assisting our program in developing a peer leadership program (including curriculum development) and a Youth Advisory Board (YAB). A youth intern (17 year old African American female) was hired soon after the program started to assist in developing an initial training curriculum for peer leaders and an ongoing training schedule. She stayed on as a peer leader and was crucial in reviewing and organizing the training materials as well as in the recruitment of peer leaders. The YAB was also developed with this valuable youth input. In the Fall of 1994, 8 youth from our target population were recruited to become YAB members and give input on all levels of HAPPENS service delivery. They met once a month to review all our educational and outreach materials as well as to develop youth-focused brochures and t-shirts. In December 1996, the YAB was reconfigured to address ongoing changes in the HAPPENS program and in the Children’s Hospital Adolescent/Young Adult Program. We invited youth representatives from 15 peer/youth programs and neighborhood health centers to attend YAB meetings to get input from a larger cross section of urban youth and trained peer leaders from different communities. This group of youth representatives also familiarize other members of the YAB with their programs each meeting adding a networking component to our meetings. These efforts demonstrate the strong commitment of Boston HAPPENS to youth involvement.

Related Information:

Evaluation Of A Model Health Care For Homeless, At Risk And HIV Positive Youth
The Evolution Of An Adolescent-Specific Network Of Care For HIV-Positive, Homeless And At-Risk Youth
Health Service Needs For HIV Positive And At-Risk Young Women
Providing Mental Health And Substance Abuse Services To HIV Positive And Homeless Youth
Mental Health And Substance Abuse Services For HIV Positive, Homeless, And At-Risk Youth
Do High Risk Youth Use Targeted HIV Testing Services: Experience Of A Program Of Care For High Risk Youth

Evaluation and Dissemination Center: Innovative Models of Adolescent HIV/AIDS Care 1993-1998