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CONNECT 2000: Community-Based Substance
Abuse and HIV/AIDS Outreach Program
Research Method:
Intervention Research
Project Director:
Merrill Singer, Ph.D. (HHC)
Grant:
Center for Substance Abuse Treatment
(CSAT), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
1 H79 TI12088
Partners:
Hispanic Health Council, AIDS Project Hartford, Institute
for Community Research, Latinos/as Contra SIDA, Urban League
of Greater Hartford
Dates of Study:
1999-2002
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Abstract
The Hispanic Health Council is the lead grantee for this three-year
project that aims to reduce HIV transmission by integrating
prevention education with substance abuse treatment and health
services. The intervention is aimed at men and women at high
risk for HIV/AIDS due to drug use (e.g., active street drug
users, sex partners of injection drug users, commercial sex
workers). The study assesses the effectiveness of an intervention
approach in which drug treatment advocates offer HIV/AIDS risk
reduction education and substance abuse pretreatment counseling
sessions that includes assisted access to drug treatment programs
and other health and social services. The sessions also assess
HIV/AIDS risk behaviors, understanding of risk reduction methods,
concepts and approaches, and the individual, social and contextual
barriers to risk reduction. Participants are assessed for their
readiness to start substance abuse treatment and are given direct
support to enter into and stay in treatment programs. |
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Project
Goals and Objectives
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Increase and facilitate
access to drug treatment programs for drug users
at high risk of HIV infection in Hartford, CT. |
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Reduce the rate of HIV
transmission among high risk populations in the
city. |
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Develop and intervention
program that integrates HIV prevention education
with substance abuse pretreatment counseling. |
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Advocate for easier access
to, and greater availability of, drug treatment
for drug users in Hartford. |
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Project
Details
In addition to the one-on-one
counseling sessions, participants receive HIV testing/counseling,
and for those who successfully enter into drug treatment,
advocates maintain ongoing tracking and support
through telephone contact and site visits. Project
staff also work to increase the network of health
and treatment service providers, and ensure that
participants have access to peer-support groups.
Staff from the Institute for Community Research
(ICR) worked with the project consortium in the
development of the grant and initial project implementation.
ICR is no longer actively involved in project activities,
but continues to provide referrals into this service
program. |
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Project Contact:
Merrill Singer, Ph.D., HHC
Project Director
Margaret
R. Weeks, Ph.D., ICR
Associate Director
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Link
to Research Methods page
Link
to Intervention Research Methods page
Links to other related sites (external links)
Hispanic
Health Council
AIDS Project
Hartford
Latinos/as
Contra SIDA
Urban League of Greater Hartford
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