For native youth growing up in cities, feelings of isolation and lack of cultural identity can put them at greater risk for making unhealthy choices, including the use of alcohol and other drugs. To address these risk factors, the Native American Health Center (NAHC) sought to create an opportunity where local youth could come together […]
Innovative Interventions
IMARA: Family-based HIV Prevention Program for African American Teens and their Mothers
Informed, Motivated, Aware, and Responsible about AIDS (IMARA) is a family-based HIV prevention program that helps African American teenagers and their mothers work together to address risk behavior, improve parent-teen communication, and practice conflict resolution. IMARA aims to reduce the incidence of HIV in black female populations through strengthening family relationships and reducing sexual behavior […]
PHAT Life: Effective HIV Intervention for Youth in the Criminal Justice System
Annually, over 1 million youth are involved in the American juvenile justice system. They experience more mental illness, substance abuse, and sexually transmitted infections than their non-adjudicated peers. However, few evidence-based interventions exist to address these problems. Led by Geri Donenberg, Ph.D., University of Illinois, Chicago (UIC), a randomized trial called PHAT Life: Preventing HIV/AIDS Among Teens, […]
La’au Lapa’au: Preserving Ancient Hawaiian Healing Practices
Laʻau lapaʻau is a traditional medical practice, as defined by the World Health Organization: “Traditional Medicine is the sum total of the knowledge, skills, and practices based on the theories, beliefs, and experiences indigenous to different cultures, whether explicable or not, used in the maintenance of health as well as in the prevention, diagnosis, improvement or treatment […]
Sakhi for ending violence against South Asian Women
Sakhi for South Asian Women exists to end violence against women. They unite survivors, communities, and institutions to eradicate domestic violence as we work together to create strong and healthy communities. Sakhi uses an integrated approach that combines support and empowerment through service delivery, community engagement, advocacy, and policy initiatives. Founded in 1989 by a group of […]
THIS is Housing First for Youth – A Program Model Guide
Housing First for Youth (HF4Y) is a rights-based intervention for young people (aged 13-24) who experience homelessness, or who are at risk. It is designed to address the needs of developing adolescents and young adults by providing them with immediate access to housing that is safe, affordable and appropriate, and the necessary and age-appropriate supports […]