Indiana Youth Access Project: a model for responding to the HIV risk behaviors of gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth in the heartland

Abstract

The Indiana Youth Access Project (IYAP) is supported by the Special Projects of National Significance Program, Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration. The IYAP is a model HIV care program being developed at the Indiana Youth Group, Inc. (IYG) in conjunction with the Indiana State Department of Health and Indiana University. Previous studies indicate that gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth are at increased risk of acquiring HIV because of the stigmatization and social marginalization they experience as a result of their sexual identities. During the course of the first 3 years of the demonstration, the program has served 418 young people, including nine who are HIV infected. The IYAP targets the special needs of this special population by confronting institutional barriers which limit these young people's access to HIV care services, assisting them in building stronger peer support networks, and providing them with professional case management and related services. The model builds upon the successful peer-support program established at IYG by incorporating a unique set of health, mental health, and social case-management services provided by trained professionals. In addition, the program incorporates an extensive peer-counselor training and outreach program which targets street youth and other at-risk young people. The program has provided education and training workshops on the special needs of gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth to thousands of health care, education, and social service professionals both in central Indiana and around the nation.