 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Vivian Brown, PhD, PROTOTYPES, Inc., 5601 W. Slauson Avenue, Suite 200, Culver City, CA 90230, 310-641-7795, protoceo@aol.com
The proposed presentation will discuss a mental health service model for women of color living with HIV/AIDS in Inglewood (Los Angeles), California, as funded by the SAMHSA Center for Mental Health Services as part of its Mental Health HIV Services Collaborative (MHHSC) Program. The PROTOTYPES WomensLink mental health service model is designed to increase mental health treatment capacity for women of color living with HIV/AIDS and their families by identifying culturally appropriate and competent approaches to mental health for this vulnerable and diverse population. Because many women in the target population may have un-served or under-served mental health needs, the program has developed culturally-specific ways to increase the women’s willingness to seek help for mental health issues. The PROTOTYPES WomensLink mental health treatment model utilizes a blend of professional and peer counseling staff wherein peer counselors serve as an important bridge to help the women access mental health treatment services in a non-threatening and supportive manner. Housed within a community-based storefront outpatient and drop-in program for women living with HIV/AIDS, mental health services are part of an integrated, comprehensive service continuum that also includes substance abuse treatment and prevention services, social supports, medication adherence support (for HIV/AIDS as well as psychiatric medications), health education, links to primary and specialty medical care, and other wraparound services designed to reduce barriers to care for women living with HIV/AIDS.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Mental Health Services, Cultural Competency
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.