With the support of the New York State AIDS Institute, CCHE (Center for Community Health and Education, New York Presbyterian Hospital) has operated an HIV Prevention Program in its School-based Health Center sites since 1995. The goal of the HIV Prevention Program is to expand and strengthen HIV prevention education among adolescents and to develop youth educators and peer leaders.

The HIV Prevention Program conducts extensive classroom education and other outreach activities with youth to engage them in HIV, STI and pregnancy prevention as well as draw them into the SBHC practice for all medical and mental health services.

Youth leaders and peer educators participate in this school education effort as well as some community education and community projects. Teacher and parent education is also provided. Furthermore, the health educators provide individual STI and HIV counseling and testing services. Evaluation of project activities and goals is both quantitative and qualitative.

This program serves approximately 3300 students and adults at two school-based health center sites and conducted over 450 educational presentations last school year.

Youth leaders/peer educators developed several outreach projects including a newsletter, Power Point presentations and palm cards for the sports teams and visible school-wide activities on World AIDS Day and for the NYC AIDS Walk.

For more information about this successful peer education and prevention program, contact:

Manager, CCHE
    Janet Garth, MPH
    (212) 304-6076
    jag9007@nyp.org

Manager, CCHE Outreach & Health Education Program
    Pamela Haller
    (212) 304-5288
    hallerp@nyp.org