Network Supported Engagement In HIV Care

Network Supported Engagement In HIV Care

The Network Supported Engagement in Care (NSEC) intervention is a brief, theory based and culturally sensitive intervention designed to capitalize on organic yet underutilized social support networks in the lives of young black men who have sex with men (YBMSM) who have been recently diagnosed with HIV. The intervention has been developed with input from clients and their support network members, case managers, social workers, HIV primary care providers and pastoral care at a Federally Qualified Health Center. The goal of the intervention is to improve retention in care for newly diagnosed YBMSM who present for their first HIV primary care clinic appointment.

Inclusion Criteria:

Index subjects

• Self-identify as African-American and male;
• same gender anal/oral sex in the past 2 years;
• English speaking;
• have at least one SC in their network;
• own a cell phone not shared with other persons;
• agreeable to text-message mini-booster sessions; and
• between the ages of 16-29 years old.

Supportive Contact:

• Index participant has agreed to including the supportive contact;
• Supportive contact is willing to attend face to face and telephone mini-booster sessions;
• 18 years of age or older;
• English speaking; and
• owns a cell phone that is not shared with other persons.

Exclusion Criteria:

Index Subject:

• unable to provide assent/consent;
• plan to move out of the area within the next 12 months;
• are not willing to attend intervention sessions; or
• not willing to return for assessments

Supportive Contact:

• unable to provide informed consent; or
• not willing to return for 3 and 12 month assessments.