The Teen Peer Prevention Program is designed for youth ages 13 thru 18 who reside in Asbury Park. The purpose of the program is to provide adolescents with the knowledge, motivation and skills necessary to make responsible decisions that would reduce their risk of infection from HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. The program trains teens to educate their peers on all aspects of sexual health issues, emphasizing the importance of abstinence from sex, drugs and alcohol while promoting self-esteem. A unique curriculum, “Be Proud, Be Responsible”, is used within the program and focuses on the need for teens to adopt responsible and safer sexual behavior to prevent the transmission of HIV, not only for the sake of themselves, but for the sake of their families, sexual partners, children and the community.

Making Proud Choice: A Safer Sex Approach to HIV/STDs and Teen Pregnancy Prevention

Making Proud Choices is designed for young African-American and Hispanic women ages 13-24 who attend school or youth serving community-based programs throughout Monmouth County.

The program gives adolescents the tools they need to reduce their risk of sexually-transmitted diseases, including HIV, and pregnancy. It also allows them to feel comfortable abstaining from sex completely or using condoms if they choose to be sexually active. Making Proud Choices is an eight-module curriculum designed to empower adolescents to change their behaviors in ways that will reduce their risk of becoming infected with HIV, STDs, and significantly decrease their chances of being involved in unintended pregnancies.

The program acknowledges that abstinence is the most effective way to eliminate these risks. However, we know that many young people will not choose the correct path and the curriculum spends a great deal of time encouraging the practice of safer sex and condom use. the curriculum also address the myths and facts about condoms, and provides information and exercises that teach adolescents how to use condoms correctly, and gives them the confidence they need to choose and negotiate safer-sex practices.

In addition the program also provides:

• HIV Testing
• Preventive Case Management, which provides one-on-one counseling with clients
• Referrals to Check-Mate Mobile Unit, which provides HIV testing, pap smears, STD screenings, pregnancy testing, breast exams and Hepatitis A,B & C screenings.

For more information, call (732) 774-3100, ext. 126 or (732) 489-4878 or e-mail jacobyh@check-mateinc.org. To volunteer or offer donations for the program, contact Marissa Durham at marissad@check-mateinc.org.

VOICES VOCES

Voices Voces allows health educators to convene groups of 4-8 clientin a room that allows privacy for discussions. Group sare gender-and-ethnic specific, so that participants can develop prevention strategies appropriate for their culture.

Information on HIV risk behavior and condom use is delivered by videos, facilitated group discussion, and a poster board presenting features of various condom brands in English and Spanish. Two culturally specific videos are used: one for African-American participants and a bilingual video for Latinos. Skills in condom use and negotiation are modeled in the videos, then role-played and practiced by participants during the 45-minute session, participants are given samples of the types of condoms they have identified as best meeting their needs.

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You may contact Ernie Rivera-Ramos, Community Development Manager if you have further questions. Phone (732) 774-3100, Fax (732) 774-3220, E-mail ernier@check-mateinc.org.

PREVENTION CASE MANAGEMENT

HIV prevention case management is also available for teens to help them develop plans of action to reduce their risk of HIV infection. These sessions are designed to provide an opportunity for teens to speak one-on-one with a prevention case manager in confidence.

OPEN SPACE PROJECT: Together creating a community for friendship for health for life.

Young gay and bisexual men are somewhat limited in their options to meet other men for friendship, dating and social activities. The Open Sapce gives these men opportunities to connect with other guys through a variety of fun, social activities that work around their schedules.

The casual and accepting setting of Open Space group allows participants to interact in a comfortable atmosphere where they have the freedom to be themselves. The program utilizes the benefits of group socialization to provide a great venue for social networking and dating within a given geographic area. Individuals meet on a regular basis to plan and organize group activities based upon the needs and interests of all men involved with the group. Group activities are tailored to the input of its participants and meet within their common region in order to encourage both personal and community empowerment.

Group activities include: movie night, brunch and dinner parties, open discussions, sport/game nights, volleyball and basketball, salsa dancing, house gathering, karaoke, poetry readings and community forums. The best part is it's all for free!

The Open Space Project is a product of "Mpowerment," which began in 1990 on the West Coast as an opportunity for young gay and bisexual men to meet new guys through social activities in the company of supportive friends. Mpowerment has been consistently successful in all locations and is making its East Coast launch in Asbury Park.

The Open Space Project welcomes any energetic, enthusiastic individuals to help create and participate in group activities. Active members of the community are encouraged to collaborate with the program. For more information, call (732) 774-3100, ext. 126 or (732( 489-4878 or e-mail jacobyh@check-mateinc.org.