Project Access - Project ACCESS Los Angeles

The mission of the Division of Adolescent Medicine at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, founded in 1963, is to promote and advocate for the well-being of adolescents, their families and communities by providing adolescent-specific medical, psychological, and other supportive services coordinated by an interdisciplinary and collaborative team, including research which will help inform public policy related to youth. Division service and research are designed to be: multidisciplinary, accessible (e.g., school, community-based), respond to critical issues that put youth at risk (e.g., HIV, homelessness, violence, substance use and abuse) and collaborative. The Division provides leadership, training, and resources to increase the overall expertise of youth focused service providers and advocates. It has been committed to develop youth leadership and created and evaluated seven youth-driven programs in Los Angeles and Orange Counties.

THE RISK REDUCTION PROGRAM
Division of Adolescent Medicine

In response to the growing concern about HIV infection among adolescents and young adults, the Division of Adolescent Medicine, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, developed the Risk Reduction Program in 1988. This program provides comprehensive services for youth living with HIV and prevention services for youth at risk. The Risk Reduction Program also co-sponsors the L.A. County Adolescent HIV Consortium.

SERVICES FOR YOUTH LIVING WITH HIV

The Risk Reduction Clinic provides comprehensive health care, case management, health education, nutritional counseling, and individual and group psychological services to youth ages 12 through 23 years of age who are living with HIV disease. Services are provided by professionals who are specially trained to meet the needs of teenagers, young adults, and their families. This clinic provides adolescents with a wide range of services to improve their quality of life and to prevent the spread of HIV infection. The Division of Adolescent Medicine strongly believes that adolescents and young adults require specialized health care and psychosocial services. Young people living with HIV disease, in particular, must have a health care team that is sensitive to their needs and concerns. The Risk Reduction Clinic is committed to providing quality health services to this population. With support from a combination of grant funds and governmental programs, young people are able to utilize the confidential services of the Risk Reduction Clinic free of charge.

HIV PREVENTION PROGRAMS

The Division of Adolescent Medicine also provides services designed to prevent the spread of HIV infection among youth at risk. Several HIV prevention strategies are used to reach young people and help them master the skills needed for risk reduction. A street outreach team provides curb-side counseling about HIV and risk reducing behaviors to homeless and runaway youth on the street. These young people are particularly vulnerable to HIV infection because they may engage in prostitution, survival sex and drug use in order to survive on the street. Referrals for shelter, health care, and social services are also provided by outreach workers. Diversion from the streets may be the most effective prevention tool available for this population. Recognizing that adolescents may also be receptive to HIV education during a medical visit, the second strategy utilizes health educators to provide HIV education and HIV test counseling to youth during medical visits at several community clinics and the Teenage and Young Adult Health Center. "Young Women with Voices/Mujeres con Voz", is an HIV prevention program designed to meet the special education and skills development needs of pregnant teens and teen mothers. Through a group education series conducted at Project NATEEN and at local school and community sites, and through supportive individual and group counseling services, the staff of Young Women with Voices seeks to enhance the self-esteem, negotiation, and risk reduction skills of these young women. Youth educators who are themselves teen mothers co-lead many of the educational skill building groups.

SERVICES FOR TRANSGENDER YOUTH

In recognition of the multiple health risks faced by transgender young people, the Risk Reduction Program offers a harm reduction program for this population. With an experienced team composed of a physician, a psychologist, and a case manager, project staff help both HIV positive and HIV negative transgender youth assess and explore their gender issues and support these young people, as appropriate, through the transformation process. At the same time, Project staff also help these youth explore ways to reduce their health and HIV risks.

THE ADOLESCENT HIV CONSORTIUM

The Division of Adolescent Medicine has a long history of collaboration with community based agencies serving youth. In 1991, the Risk Reduction Program, in partnership with Los Angeles County Office of AIDS Programs and Policy, organized the Adolescent HIV/AIDS Consortium. The purpose of this consortium is to advocate for the needs of both HIV infected and at risk youth in Los Angeles County. Currently, the Adolescent HIV Consortium (AHC) is a body of over one hundred individuals representing geographically and culturally diverse organizations and institutions concerned about the issue of HIV and adolescents. The general body of the AHC meets quarterly, while the various subcommittees meet more frequently.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

All Risk Reduction staff can be reached at (323) 669-2390. The Risk Reduction Program clinic and administrative offices are located at 5000 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90027 on the 4th floor. The mailing address of the Risk Reduction Program, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles is P.O. Box 54700, Mailstop #2, Los Angeles, CA. 90054. The Risk Reduction Program is supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Los Angeles Family AIDS Network, the Los Angeles County Office of AIDS Programs and Policy, and the City of Los Angeles.