YouthPower Action supports and advances USAID’s Youth in Development Policy through evidence-based positive youth development programming across all sectors and country contexts by providing technical assistance to USAID Missions and operating units. YouthPower Action’s activities increase youth engagement and youth voice to strengthen USAID’s positive youth development programming.
This publication was made possible by the support of the American People through the support of the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) under task order contract number AID- OAA-TO-15-00003, YouthPower Action under IDIQ contract number AID-OAA-I-15-00009, YouthPower: Implementation.
It was prepared by Kate Plourde, Lisa Dulli, Hannah Silverstein, Kate R. Murray, Leila Dal Santo, Kathleen Ridgeway, Catherine Packer, and Donna McCarraher; original artwork by Hannah Silverstein; layout and design by Jill Vitick and Irinn Vinaiphat.
Young people living with HIV (YLHIV) face many challenges with adherence to antiretroviral therapy and retention in HIV health care services resulting in high rates of mortality among this population. These challenges include fear of stigma or disclosure to others, lack of social support, and limited knowledge about the disease itself, among many others (1-3). Efforts to improve care and treatment outcomes for YLHIV must begin by providing young people with factual information and social support. Given increasing access to and use of mobile phone technology, digital strategies have potential to support YLHIV and help meet informational and social support needs that could contribute to improved health outcomes (1,2).
SMART (Social Media to promote Adherence and Retention in Treatment) Connections, is an on-line, structured, support group program delivered through “secret” Facebook™ groups by trained facilitators. The program is designed to improve retention in HIV health services and to support antiretroviral treatment (ART) adherence among YLHIV. Informational content provided through this program was adapted from youth development curriculum including FHI 360’s Positive Connections guide for Leading Information and Support Groups for Adolescent Living with HIV(4), among others. The program provides participants with opportunities to discuss psychosocial and health-related issues with the facilitator and other group members and integrates key features of positive youth development programs.