Case Management Alternatives for African American Women at High Risk for HIV
Case Management Alternatives for African American Women at High Risk for HIV
The purpose of this study is to test two innovative case management approaches designed to increase linkages and engagement with drug abuse treatment, HIV-related care, and other health services among an underserved population of African American women at risk for HIV.
The study is fundamentally concerned with the implementation and evaluation of theoretically-based, culturally appropriate case management interventions targeting individual, social and environmental factors among highly vulnerable African American women. The research is designed to test innovative, comprehensive approaches to HIV prevention/intervention through case management driven service linkage and engagement. Testing new approaches to intervention with African-American women at high risk for HIV addresses a particularly urgent public health need in Miami, as well as other large metropolitan areas, where officials continue to document epidemic rates of HIV/AIDS clustered in urban, impoverished African-American communities.
Comparison: Participants will be randomly assigned to: a Strengths-Based / Professional Only Condition in which clients participate in a "strengths-based" case management approach; or, a Strengths-Based / Professional/Peer Condition in which a team composed of: a) a credentialed, professional case manager and b) a recovering addict peer - both trained in "strengths-based" case management techniques - develop and facilitate the implementation of a service plan.
Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria: