The SAMM project (Stopping AIDS is My Mission) provides HIV and AIDS education to youth at risk throughout Greater Cleveland. SAMM is a culturally competent program whose sole aim is to reduce HIV risk behavior among African American, Latino and white youth. This goal is accomplished through a partnership with the AGAPE Program, the AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland, Cleveland Public Schools, concerned teenagers throughout Greater Cleveland, community centers and other community organizations.
SAMM provides education to young people by training teenagers, ages 13-18, to become Peer Educators in HIV prevention. In order to become a member of the Peer Educator Team, teens must complete an application process and if selected, participate in a 7-week training course. Once teens have completed the training they will work with professionals from the SAMM and AGAPE programs conducting educational seminars to other teens in the Greater Cleveland area.
It has been estimated that at least half of all new HIV infections in the United States are among people under the age of 25. Given the average current time from initial HIV infection to a clinical diagnosis of AIDS (11 years), we can accurately conclude that many of those cases of AIDS represent HIV infections that occurred during young adult years. An HIV infection rate for African American youth that is 30 times the statewide average means that it is vitally important that we arm teenagers with as much effective education as possible.
Antioch Development Corporation • 8869 Cedar Avenue • Cleveland, Ohio 44106 • 216-421-2345