Adopting and Demonstrating the Adaptation of Prevention Techniques: Community PROMISE PLUS

• Sexual activities with main and casual partners in past 30 days to 6 months (i.e., unprotected insertive and receptive anal/vaginal sex and protected insertive and receptive anal/vaginal sex) [ Time Frame: 7/2006-2/2007 ]
  

• Behavioral intentions and attitudes for condom use; disclosure of HIV status; self reported STD diagnosis; medication adherence; links to care. [ Time Frame: 7/2006-2/2007 ]
  

Behavioral: Community PROMISE
The Community PROMISE begins with a community assessment to identify HIV risk factors. Once risk factors have been identified, individuals from the targeted at-risk community are recruited and trained to be peer advocates. Trained peer advocates interview members of the community about their behavior. Role model stories are written based on the interviews. Role model stories are personal accounts from individuals in the target population which explain how and why they took steps to practice HIV risk-reduction behaviors and the positive effects the choice has had on their lives. Each week, peer advocates distribute role model stories and supplies, such as condoms, to 10 to 20 members of their social networks.
Other Name: AIDS Community Demonstration Project

During the ADAPT project both sites will adapt the original Community Promise intervention to specifically address the HIV prevention needs of sero-positive, African American men who have sex with men (HIV+ AAMSM) in either Boston, MA or Minneapolis/St. Paul (MSP), MN. The adapted intervention will be referred to as Community PROMISE, Positives Leading and Utilizing Strategies (CP PLUS).

In the first two months of the ADAPT project, the Boston and MSP sites will conduct formative evaluation activities (i.e., a comprehensive literature review, focus groups, and individual interviews) to assess the needs of the target population and organizational capacities to serve them. Results will be used to inform the adaptation of the original intervention to ensure that CP PLUS meet the expressed needs of the target population.

Process data will also be collected from various sources throughout the life of the project. Process data will be collected through staff meetings, interviews with staff, focus groups with peer advocates, and an expert panel consultation. Process data will be extremely useful for ensuring program objectives are met, improving CP PLUS, and providing information for providers in other locales who may be interested in adapting this intervention to serve this target population.

The Boston and MSP sites will also conduct outcome monitoring through collection of data concerning risk behaviors pre- and post-intervention implementation (follow-up at 6-8 months post and 11-13 months post [Boston only]) to determine if the adapted intervention has met its outcome objectives. Outcome monitoring will also be conducted for the "parent" intervention at both sites for HIV- or unknown status men who have sex with men.

In addition to the project activities, the organization will be examining the utility of the CDC draft guidance. The Boston and MSP sites are two of five case studies throughout the United States that will detail the challenges, successes and lessons learned from adapting an intervention packaged by CDC's Replicating Effective Programs (REP) and disseminated by Diffusing Effective Behavioral Interventions (DEBI) to a specific population. These findings will help other community-based organizations and Health Departments effectively adapt and tailor group, individual and community-level interventions.