PHAT Life: Peer Versus Adult-Led HIV Prevention for Juvenile Offenders

The main objectives of the proposed study are to compare the effectiveness,
cost-effectiveness, and sustainability of Youth Representative-led vs. probation staff-led
PHAT Life in a real-world juvenile probation setting. The Specific Aims of this study are:

1. To conduct a methodologically-rigorous 2-arm trial comparing the impact of PHAT Life on
350 13-17 year-old offenders' risky sex, STI, substance use, and theoretical mediators
when delivered by Youth Representatives (YR) vs. probation staff (PS).

2. To compare the costs and cost-effectiveness of 100 YR-led vs. PS-led PHAT Life with
respect to the acquisition of incident STI.

We hypothesize: (a) Compared to teens in PS-led groups, we expect teens in YR-led groups to
report less risky sex and substance use at 6-month follow-up, to demonstrate greater
improvement on theoretical mediators of risk, and to have fewer incident STI infections; (b)
We expect YR-led PHAT Life to cost less and be more cost-effective than PS-led PHAT Life.

Inclusion Criteria:

a) male or female gender; b) remanded to a probation program; c) 13-17 years old; d)
adolescent is fluent in English; e) are not wards of the Department of Child and Family
Services (DCFS); and f) they have not already received the PHAT Life intervention.

Exclusion Criteria:

a) are unable to understand the consent/assent process; b) do not speak English, because
instruments are normed for English speakers; c) do not assent; d) legal guardians do not
consent to teens' participation; e) are not 13 -17 years old; f) are not on probation or
remanded to a probation program; g) are wards of the Department of Child and Family
Services (DCFS); and h) they have already received the PHAT Life intervention.