Special Service for Groups, Inc.

The Prevention, Education, and Knowledge on Substance Use/hiv Program (PEAKS) - Special Service for Groups, Inc. (SSG) Proposes the Prevention, Education, and Knowledge on Substance Use/hiv (PEAKS) Program to Prevent Substance Misuse, Reduce Hiv and Hepatitis Risk, and Address Barriers to Accessing Housing, Health Care, and Supportive Services Amongst Racial/ethnic Minority MSM, Transgender, and Non-binary Individuals in Central Los Angeles, With an Emphasis on Those Experiencing Housing Instability. Peaks Will Implement a Social Media Campaign and Skill Building Workshop Series That Leverages the Success Stories of Recent Participants to Engage and Inspire Our Population of Focus. Ssg/apait Will Utilize the Peers Reaching Out and Modeling Intervention Strategies (promise) Model to Recruit Peer Advocates (aka Role Models) and Cultivate Stories of the Positive Effects of Healthy Choices That Will Be Integrated Into Program Activities. Eligible Members of Our Population of Focus Will Be Enrolled in a Workshop Series Designed to Build Awareness and Skills That Decrease Substance Misuse and Hiv/hepatitis Risk and Promote Positive Health Outcomes. Peaks Will Also Provide Linkages for Participants to Access Resources and Supports Needed to Improve Stability and Decrease Risk of Substance Misuse and Exposure to Hiv/hepatitis. the Project Will Serve 60 Individuals in Year 1, and 80 Individuals Per Year in Years 2 Through 5 for a Total of 380 Unduplicated Individuals. the Peaks Program Will Achieve the Following Goals and Objectives by the End of Year 5 of the Program: - Goal #1: Decrease Substance Abuse/misuse Among At-risk Racial/ethnic Minority MSM, Transgender, and Non-binary Individuals in Central Los Angeles by Implementing a Prevention Education Campaign and Providing Targeted Prevention Education and Life Skills Workshops. - Goal #2: Increase Access to Health Care and Supportive Services for Racial/ethnic Minority MSM, Transgender, and Non-binary Individuals in Central Los Angeles at Risk of Substance Misuse And/or Hiv Infection by Providing Linkages Accompanied by Life Skills Workshops. - Goal #3: Increase Access to Housing Resources and Supports for Racial/ethnic Minority MSM, Transgender, and Non-binary Individuals in Central Los Angeles Who Are Experiencing Housing Insecurity and at Risk of Substance Misuse And/or Hiv Infection. - Goal #4: Increase the Number of At-risk Racial/ethnic Minority MSM, Transgender, and Non-binary Individuals in Central Los Angeles Who Know Their Hiv and Hepatitis Status in Order to Reduce the Risk of Transmission. to Achieve These Goals, by September 29, 207, Peaks Will Provide Prevention Education to 380 Racial/ethnic Minority MSM, Transgender, and Non-binary Individuals; 80% of Participants Will Report New Coping and Interpersonal Skills; 60% Will Demonstrate Increased Awareness of the Risk of Harm From Substance Misuse; 100% Will Be Linked to at Least One Resources; 80% of Those Linked Will Successfully Access Services; 80% Will Report Improved Quality of Life; 100% of Those Experiencing Housing Insecurity Will Be Linked to Housing Resources; 35% of Those Experiencing Housing Insecurity Will Be Linked to Permanent Housing; 100% of Participants Will Be Tested for Hiv and Viral Hepatitis and Receive Risk Reduction Counseling; Seven (7) Individuals Will Test Positive for Hiv And/or Hepatitis and Be Linked to Treatment.