A creative approach to HIV/AIDS programs for adolescents.

An empowerment-oriented approach is presented to effectively teach/inform youth about prevention of HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases. The article describes: an assessment of the target population and its results; steps to comprehensive peer education with this population; an action plan for mobilizing and linking resources for this population through social networks and community; and the importance of empowerment-oriented program evaluation. The target population are youth aged 12-18, housed in alternative settings such as residential child care facilities, psychiatric hospitals, or youth detention centers. This population is reliant upon residential programs for training and services, because they are unlikely to take part in school or other community-based programs.