Youth Services
Young people in the United States are at persistent risk for HIV infection. This risk is especially notable for youth of minority races and ethnicities.
- African Americans are disproportionately affected by HIV, accounting for 55% of all HIV infections among persons aged 13–24
- 30% of young, black gay men in America are infected with HIV
- 50% of homeless youth identify as LGBT
- 30% of all adolescent suicides in the U.S. are by LGBT youth
- 68% of black students said they had engaged in sexual intercourse by the age of 18, compared to 51% of Hispanic and 43% of white students
- 26% of gang members felt it didn’t matter if they got HIV, because they believed they would die young anyway
ACR’s Teen AIDS Task Force is the only school-based HIV prevention education program in New York State. TATF has historically provided middle and high school students the opportunity to discuss decisions that affect youth relationships and future health. TATF is abstinence-based and works with schools to prevent infections of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in students. As a supplement to existing HIV/AIDS curricula, each TATF chapter trains members who then share accurate and up-to-date information with other students and, through outreach events, with the larger community. TATF receives United Way funding.
AIDS Community Resources’ Q Center has a mission to promote health, safety, and empowerment for high-risk young people. The Q Center in Syracuse is a safe place for high-risk youth and their allies, ages 13 – 22, to gather. Staffed by trained adult volunteer facilitators, the Center offers educational and social events, HIV education and testing, a state of the art Cyber Center with computer literacy classes, drop-in counseling, the “Express Yourself” Arts Program, and tutoring. The Q Center has received funding from United Way, Onondaga County Department of Aging and Youth, the Gifford Foundation and the David Bohnett Foundation.
In the Mohawk Valley
A support group for Lesbian, Gay, Transgender, Bisexual and Questioning youth meets once each week and has additional social activities. Kelly Wolfe is a facilitator with the GLBT Youth Group, which meets Sundays from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. “For a lot of the kids, it’s very hard to meet people their own age, and this gives them a safe place.” For more information on the Mohawk Valley group, call Mary Doody at 800.475.2430 or glbtqyouth@aidscommunityresources.com.
Anyone under the age of 27 has never lived in a world without AIDS.
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/factsheets/youth.htm