This Web site is a component of the SAMHSA Health Information Network
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This Web site is a component of the SAMHSA Health Information Network |
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This Web site is a component of the SAMHSA Health Information Network. |
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 How is CMHS involved in HIV/AIDS programs? How is CMHS involved in HIV/AIDS programs? The Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) leads Federal efforts to treat mental illness by promoting mental health and, when possible, to prevent mental illness. CMHS HIV/AIDS programs target prevention, education, and delivery of quality mental health treatment services to people living with HIV/AIDS. In Fiscal Year 1997 CMHS initiated Project SHIELD to "develop and test ... a brief/short-term prevention/intervention protocol, based on what is currently known, to encourage and enable adolescents/women who engage in high risk behaviors ... to change these behaviors." It consisted of seven intervention sites (four sites studying adolescents and young adults, and three sites studying women) and one coordinating center. What was the project prevention/intervention protocol? Two brief (2.5 - 3 hours) behavioral prevention/interventions were designed by the collaborators; one for adult women and one for male and female adolescents/young adults. The Project SHIELD prevention/interventions share a common cognitive-behavioral theoretical framework and emphasize four theoretical components of behavior change using a social learning theory framework: (1) provision of information about HIV infection risk; (2) enhancement of self-efficacy; (3) mastery of condom negotiation and use through modeling and practice; and (4) provision of social support for personal change. These components were selected based on research evidence and the collective experience of the Project SHIELD collaborators. Most importantly, the prevention/interventions were designed to be adoptable in public health and other community settings without significant modification. SHIELD participants completed a 30-minute self-report behavior interview conducted using an audio computer assisted self-interview (A-CASI) instrument at baseline and again at 3- and 6- month followup. A laptop computer "read" the questions to participants who wore earphones and participants responded via the laptop's keyboard. Additionally, all participants were tested (via urine samples) for three specific sexually transmitted infections gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomonas on the same days that they completed the A-CASI interviews. All participants who had positive tests were offered free treatment with single dose, directly observed therapy. What were the project results? Findings from the program are currently being reviewed and will be disseminated through publications in professional journals. Who can I contact about Project SHIELD? Barbara J. Silver, Ph.D. KEN98-0058 Please note that this online publication has been abridged from the printed version. |
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