Las Vegas, NV #GOMOJO HIGH IMPACT COMMUNITY BASED STRATEGY

State of Nevada Jurisdictional

STRATEGIES

1. Mobilize condoms anytime, anyplace, any element
2. Increase the availability and reach of media campaigns
3. Increase the availability of online interventions
4. Expand the availability of free and low cost HIV testing
5. Increase condom availability and appeal
6. Increase the number and availability of youth-specific interventions
7. Increase the number and availability of interventions that address substance use

INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY AND REACH OF MEDIA CAMPAIGNS

THE NEED

• Community member frustration over lack of media attention on HIV/AIDS

• Current media campaigns only target the GLBTQI community and reinforce the stigma that associates HIV as a “gay disease”

• Pharmaceutical companies heavily promote HIV as a manageable chronic disease

• Sexuality and condom use still portrayed as negative, dirty, and unhealthy.

THE GAPS

• No current media campaigns targeting injection drug users

• Campaigns targeting specific minority communities and HIV+ populations need to be expanded

• No current radio campaigns and limited television marketing

• No current campaigns that feature celebrities, athletes, and politicians getting tested for HIV

• No current campaigns that demonstrate that while HIV can be treated effectively, living with HIV is not easy and drugs have many side effects.

STRATEGIES

• Expand media campaigns to portray safe sex in a healthy, fun, sexy way

• Reinforce safer sex messaging on a variety of media outlets to reach diverse populations, including those with a focus on Latinos/as and African-Americans

• Encourage discussion of condoms in movies and television shows

• Develop campaigns that feature celebrities, athletes, and politicians getting tested for HIV

• Flash statistics of the number of people who are unaware of their HIV infection to reinforce testing messages

• Create advertisements that demonstrate that while HIV can be treated effectively, living with HIV is not easy and drugs have many side effects

• Include prevention messages in restrooms of bars/clubs, airports, and casinos

• Include information about HIV/AIDS prevention at gas stations, grocery stores, and bus stops

• Develop more HIV prevention materials in Spanish.

INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY OF ONLINE INTERVENTIONS

THE NEED

• Increase in the availability and use of internet sites and phone applications that people use for the purpose of seeking sexual partners (ie: gay.com, adam4adam, craigslist, grindr, etc.)

• Increase in the availability and use of social networking and dating sites that people use for the purpose of seeking sexual partners (ie: facebook, myspace, match.com, etc.)

• Advances in technology allow people easier access to meet sexual partners in a private and efficient manner

THE GAPS

• Limited staffing for active peer education

• Limited staffing for disease investigation

• No coordinated statewide internet interventions/marketing campaigns

• No active online intervention on craigslist

• Lack of interventions reaching out to MSM population in non-MSM online venues

• Limited educational outreach on online sites, such as chat room educational sessions

STRATEGIES

Increased online HIV prevention interventions may be the most efficient way to reach sexually active MSM, particularly those who do not self-identify as gay or bisexual, as well as younger populations.

• Require users of dating or sexual networking websites to click on a pop-up that acknowledges the importance of using condoms

• Display local links for HIV testing and services on the first page of websites

• Have peer educators create profiles and respond to ads with information about where to obtain free condoms and/or free testing

• Have peer educators set up an educational profile on social networking sites and ‘friend’ others

• Create social networking profiles (myspace, facebook, twitter) that send information about HIV prevention• Have public health professionals host live chats where individuals can ask questions about HIV and other STDs

• Display HIV risk reduction pop-ups that will catch the attention of target populations (ie: using attractive models and positive promotion of safer sex)

• Randomly display innovative and diverse condom advertisements

• Include a standard place for HIV status disclosure on all sites

• Development of a sex-positive branding strategy that promotes safer sex and harm reduction approaches

INCREASE THE NUMBER AND AVAILABILITY OF YOUTH-SPECIFIC INTERVENTIONS

THE NEED

• Community frustration with the quality and content of sexual health education that is delivered in schools

• Urgent need to develop sexual health programs that involve parents and include the roles of home and community

• Youth have become de-sensitized to HIV prevention messages

• Youth see HIV as a chronic manageable disease

• Youth are more concerned with pregnancy prevention than HIV/STD prevention

THE GAPS

• Limited resources and programming that target youth and young adults

• Lack of coordination and collaboration with sexual health education programming in school districts

• Lack of parent/child intervention programs

• Lack of peer sexual health education programs for youth

• Limited support groups for HIV+ youth and youth adults

STRATEGIES

• Develop sexual health education programs for parents and increase parent involvement in sexual health

• Advocate for consistent and comprehensive sexual health education programs throughout all school districts in Nevada.

• Include a discussion of homosexuality in sexual health programs

• Address the stigma associated with discussion of sexuality, birth control and HIV/STD testing

• Create programs were HIV-positive youth share their experience with other youth

• Create a “tip sheet” on how to bring up condoms with a partner distributed at youth-focused events

• Provide opportunities for youth to role-play condom negotiation

• Create peer education and mentorship programs for young MSM, as well as heterosexual youth

EXPAND THE AVAILABILITY OF FREE AND LOW COST HIV TESTING

THE NEED

Community members are engaging in risky sexual and/or needle sharing behavior; yet, these people are not getting tested for HIV due to barriers in cost and availability

Minority communities, although disproportionately at risk for HIV, report less availability of free or low cost HIV testing options in their communities

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend routine screening of HIV in health care settings for all adults

There is community stigma around HIV testing; HIV testing has not yet been “normalized”

THE GAPS

• No rapid testing in the field

• Limited diversity in HIV testing providers | South

• No online HIV test result options

• Limited education to providers about routine HIV testing

• Lack of testing incentives for high risk populations

• Limited free off-site testing outreach to minority and heterosexual communities

STRATEGIES

• Offer more rapid testing to increase the number of people who receive their test results

• Offer more oral testing options to increase the number of people who are willing to test

• Test where straight-identifying people hang out (e.g., “straight” bars, clubs, and concerts) to reach MSM who are not “out” and high-risk heterosexuals

• Encourage testing at fraternities, sororities, and the dorms

• Offer testing in more “mainstream” locations (farmers markets, grocery stores, schools)

• Encourage providers to make HIV testing a routine part of medical exams

• Increase street-based HIV testing to reach sex workers and their partners

• Encourage testing with one’s partner

• Give incentives for testing (discounted admission to shows, free drinks, vouchers for STD screening and/or birth control)

• Offer testing at special events and/or host new community events for targeted populations at risk (i.e., block parties, Cinco de Mayo, and community barbecues)

• Expanding testing and outreach in the jails and in collaboration with probation and parole services

INCREASE CONDOM AVAILABILITY AND APPEAL

THE NEED

• Community members stated lack of accessible, free condom distribution locations

• Community stigma surrounding the purchase and/or use of condoms result in less frequent use

• Few bars and clubs offer free condoms

• Free condoms that are available lack appeal The Current Resources: Free, yet limited, condom availability in the Reno and Las Vegas areas at MSM and Y/YA targeted sites.

THE GAPS

• Lack of funding and resources for widespread condom availability

• Limited locations for free condom distribution sites

• Limited hours of operations for many free condom distribution sites

• Lack of funding and resources for “appealing” condoms

STRATEGIES:

• Widely distribute condoms in both gay and non-gay establishments, including mainstream locations such as barber shops, bus stops, movie theaters, dorms, bars, and clubs

• Advertise and provide a wider variety of condoms (range of flavors, colors, sizes)

• Couple condom distribution with campaigns that promote condom use as sexy and desirable

• Advertise locations of free/reduced-cost condoms

• Have nightclub bouncers hand out condoms as people enter the establishment

• Install condom machines at bars, clubs, and gyms

• Distribute condoms at locations frequented by youth such as skate parks, schools, Boys & Girls Club

• Actively hand out condoms in places of high-risk activity

INCREASE THE NUMBER AND AVAILABILITY OF INTERVENTIONS THAT ADDRESS SUBSTANCE USE

THE NEED

• Substance use is a growing issue in all communities throughout Nevada

• Used syringes are being found on streets and in parks throughout Nevada

• Community members stated that they engaged in the “most risky” sexual behavior while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs

• Syringe access (needle exchange) is illegal in the state of Nevada

THE GAPS

• No statewide needle exchange program

• Lack of substance use interventions in Spanish

• Lack of online substance use interventions

• Lack of coordination between substance abuse agencies and HIV prevention efforts

THE RECOMMENDED STRATEGIES

I haven't researched but I do know that needles use is growing among young people.

• Implement a statewide needle exchange program-

• Develop campaigns that highlight substance use as a risk factor for HIV

• Develop more substance use educational materials in Spanish

• Promote online substance abuse prevention efforts Increase the availability of substance abuse treatment for diverse populations

• Decrease the stigma surrounding addiction