Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2006. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Bay Area Reporter - November 16, 2006
Jaime San Felippo
In April, BAY Positives, as the organization is widely known, became the first-ever HIV youth agency in the U.S. to use a live-chat feature on its Web site. The program gives health educators at the agency the ability to immediately help youth who are HIV-positive or questioning their status.
"We want to be able to get to the people at the time they need help," said Catherine Toyooka, BAY Positives' program director.
Half of all new HIV infections occur in young people age 15-24, though many do not believe they are at risk. According to Toyooka, this is because of the lack of HIV transmission and prevention knowledge available to youth.
With BAY Positives' live-chat youth have an easy, comfortable, and confidential way to talk to a trained health educator who will approach the discussion and answer questions in a non-judgmental and sex-positive manner. The service is available Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. So far, the live-chat gets about six hits per week, Toyooka said.
The live-chat was Toyooka's brainchild. She said she was inspired one day while shopping online.
"I do a lot of online shopping," explained Toyooka. "I always see shopping Web sites where you can ask a question and get an instant answer. I thought, why can't we do that with our services?"
Curtis Moore, executive director, said the program is "remarkably innovative." Moore and Toyooka credited Andy Veluswami, an eBay employee and former board member, with helping secure the grant.
In addition to the live-chat, youth can come to the agency where a peer counselor will talk with them to answer questions. Most of the employees at BAY Positives are either HIV-positive or have been through the testing process many times. The agency is geared toward HIV-positive youth under the age of 26.
"We want to de-mystify the process of getting tested," said Toyooka. "Getting tested for HIV can be a very isolating experience and many people do not want to tell their family or friends they are doing it."
Occasionally a member of the agency will go with a young person to get tested. Youth are even offered an incentive to get tested: a $5 gift card when getting tested and $10 cash when they get the result.
Currently BAY Positives is showcasing a Healing Arts exhibit, which is at the Eros safe sex club gallery through December.
For more information, visit www.baypositives.org.
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