The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #45921

Penny Dorsey Tinsman¹, Xiaowu Chen, MD¹, Kenneth Burgdorf, PhD¹, Stephanie Bullman¹, and James M. Herrell, PhD, MPH². (1) Caliber Associates, 10530 Rosehaven Street, Suite 400, Fairfax, VA 22030, 703-385-3200, tinsmanp@calib.com, (2) Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), SAMHSA, CSAT, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockwall II, Ste. 640, Rockville, MD 20857

In 1995, as part of its efforts to address the serious health threat presented by HIV/AIDS, SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Treatment funded the HIV Outreach Demonstration Program, whose goal was to reduce HIV transmission among high-risk populations (injection drug users, sex and/or needle-sharing partners, other chronic drug users) and to provide greater access to substance abuse treatment. Through this program, several projects targeted a female population, and incorporated gender-specific services to reach the program goals. The data used for this presentation include client-level data submitted for a cross-site evaluation, the quarterly progress narratives of the HIV Outreach projects, and site visit observations. This presentation will include descriptive statistics that will illustrate the unique clientele and project characteristics of those that offered gender-specific services. Results from hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) analyses, conducted to identify characteristics that influence project success, will be discussed. HIV Outreach is an effective model for reaching clients who have not been reached through traditional means. Offering gender-specific services to at-risk females intensifies the success of the HIV Outreach Demonstration model.

Learning Objectives:

• The objective of this presentation is to discuss the importance of providing gender-specific projects to females at risk for exposure to HIV. By incorporating services designed to address the specific needs of its female clients, an HIV Outreach project can increase its effectiveness. Those in attendance will gain knowledge about a proven technique in reducing HIV transmission and providing access to substance abuse treatment, while addressing the specific needs of the target population.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.