AEGiS-11IAC: Street nurse program: evolution of issues and strategies within an AIDS outreach program targeting street-involved persons.

11th International AIDS Conference

Vancouver, British Columbia — July 7-12, 1996

Street nurse program: evolution of issues and strategies within an AIDS outreach program targeting street-involved persons.

Int Conf AIDS 1996 Jul 7-12; 11:353 (abstract no. Th.C.4643)
McNabb JA, Moore-Dempsey L; AIDS Outreach Program, British Columbia Ministry of Health, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Fax: 604-775-0808.

ISSUE: Street-involved persons require intervention and education strategies specific to their needs, fears, values, strengths, skills, culture and environment.

PROJECT: An AIDS/STD outreach program targeting street-involved persons for education and prevention using specially trained community nurses working on the street from store-front offices was initiated in 1988. Initial strategies have been modified and new strategies created to meet the ever changing needs of this challenging population.

RESULTS: The AIDS street nurse program has been extremely well accepted by street-involved persons and community support groups. The street nurses continuously monitor client and community issues in order to effectively alter program strategies to ensure delivery of effective client centered services. Client encounters have risen from 11,471 in 1989 to 31,768 in 1995.

LESSONS LEARNED: Based on health promotion principles, program planning, development, implementation and evaluation are essential elements in an effective street nurse outreach program.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Homeless Persons, Nurses, Social Welfare, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Program Evaluation, Evolution, Community Health Nursing, Human, nursing, ICA11

960707
ThC4643