The Intervention for HIV Negative and HIV Positive Drug Users (a.k.a. the Counseling and Foodbank Program) uses the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Project RESPECT Brief Counseling Intervention (BCI), combined with foodbank services, to provide risk reduction counseling to out-of-treatment drug users, women at risk, and men-who-have-sex with men (MSM). The BCI provides a framework for enabling participants to: initiate a behavioral change process for preventing HIV infection or transmission if already infected; increase self-perception of HIV risks; recognize and obtain reinforcement for previous HIV risk reduction efforts; increase their understanding of personal barriers to HIV risk reduction; articulate an action plan for reducing HIV risk; utilize the counseling relationship in risk reduction planning; and understand resources available for support of behavior change. The BCI also contains a component for receiving HIV testing and a second session for reinforcement of the action plan developed in the first session, as well as disclosure of HIV test results. We use the BCI, in conjunction with the incentive of food provided by the foodbank services, to recruit participants into the BCI intervention, and to enhance retention in the follow-up sessions. During 2007-2008, the program served over 3000 unduplicated clients with foodbank services, and 300 HIV negative gay men, 100 women at sexual risk, and 100 injection drug users. We also served 55 HIV-positive individuals.
For questions or comments, please contact us.
1090 Atlantic Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90813
Phone: (562) 495-2330
Fax: (562) 983-1421
General hours of operation:
Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri - 9am to 12pm, 1pm to 4pm
Wed, Sat, Sun - Closed