UMSN and U-M School of Public Health to Develop Online Database and Health App
A Herb Ritts Foundation grant provides funding for these resources to help young gay and bisexual men and transgender women navigate community services.
The Center for Sexuality and Health Disparities (SexLab) at the University of Michigan (U-M) has been awarded a two-year, $250,000 grant by the Herb Ritts Foundation to develop an online navigation system for health and social services that are available to young gay and bisexual men and transgender women. The navigation system will provide information about each service, and offer an online path for accessing services at low or no cost.
Although many young gay and bisexual men and transgender women recognize their vulnerability to HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), they struggle navigating health and social service systems due to their complexity," says Jose Bauermeister, PhD, the John G. Searle Assistant Professor of Health Behavior and Health Education at U-M School of Public Health (SPH). "This complexity, often paired with the socioeconomic challenges experienced by this population, make HIV and STI prevention and care efforts impossible to optimize," he says.
The two-year project will build upon existing resources provided by M-Fierce, a community-academic project funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to reduce sexually transmitted diseases in Michigan.
In year one of the project, the research team will compile information and resources into a searchable, online database and pilot test the application. Year two will focus on implementation and evaluation. If effective, the database will expand to other regions of the country. The ultimate goal is to develop a centralized system that lists all available services in a single, easy-to-navigate system so that service providers can make referrals, and individuals can directly access services.
"Our aim is to empower young gay or bisexual men and transgender women to be able to make positive changes in their life by identifying and setting goals for service use and then accessing these services through this online navigation system. We plan to serve youth in Southeast Michigan, and hopefully expand our reach nationally if the web app is a success," explains UMSN Professor Rob Stephenson, PhD, who is co-directing the research initiative with Bauermeister.
Based on 2012 Michigan Department of Community Health data, six of nine counties in the greater Detroit / Ann Arbor / Flint area account for the majority of new HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis cases in the state. A large proportion of these cases are diagnosed among young men who have sex with men who are ages 15-29. Access to an online database of services and resources has the potential to reach more than 5,000 HIV-negative young men having sex with men and more than 4,000 HIV-positive young men having sex with men between the ages of 13-29 in Southeast Michigan.
The Herb Ritts Foundation supports organizations advocating continued awareness, prevention, and research of HIV/AIDS, as well as assistance and care for individuals with HIV and AIDS.
More Information:
Media Contact: Terri Mellow, U-M SPH Senior Media Strategist
Phone: (734) 764-8094
E-mail: twm@umich.edu
Phone: (734) 764-8094
E-mail: twm@umich.edu
