Runaways, Homeless and Incarcerated Youth (From AIDS Challenge: Prevention Education for Young People, P 365-378, 1988, Marcia Quackenbush, et al, eds. -See NCJ-117621)

• NCJ Number: 117633
• Author(s): R S Woodworth
• Date Published: 1988
• Length: 14 pages
• Sale Source: Network Publications
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Youths who are runaways, homeless, or incarcerated are disconnected from most of the support systems that can provide accurate AIDS information, education, and prevention skills and require AIDS prevention efforts that recognize their characteristics and needs.

Abstract

All these youths are particularly vulnerable to behaviors that pose a high risk of AIDS transmission. The cost of reaching these youths, their distrust of adults and helping systems, their feelings of invulnerability, and their lack of motivation are often cited as insurmountable barriers to effective AIDS education. Overcoming these barriers is not an overwhelming task, however. Nevertheless, the process will take time and long-term commitment from service professionals. Successful approaches to providing AIDS education and prevention information to this population include educating the professionals who work with them, providing information and materials in the vernacular of the young people, reinforcing the AIDS message at every possible level of interaction, and focusing on high-risk behaviors rather than populations. Other successful approaches are to be prepared to deal with the issues of death and dying and empowering youths to know they can protect themselves and others. Mandatory testing would not be appropriate for these youths, however.