An innovative and exciting program, SexED4U allows trained HIV counselors to join gay and bisexual men’s chat rooms including: American Online, Gay.com and Adam4adam. The primary goals include sharing HIV information, resources, testing sites and articles of interest. The counselors use the screen name “SexED4U” to clearly identify as HIV educators and separate themselves from the general online chatters. By providing anonymity, the Internet allows the educator to answer questions that some men might feel reluctant to discuss in a group counseling session, at a bar event or other open forum. The Internet offers a safer, less threatening space for participants to honestly discuss sensitive issues. The SexED4U project is the first of its kind in Michigan and was modeled after similar programs in San Francisco and Boston.

Cyber outreach is the latest strategy to provide HIV information to those with the greatest risk during a time when they need it the most. Recent information has identified Internet chat rooms as the number one way for gay and bisexual men to find casual and anonymous sex partners beating out bathhouses and gay bars. Because many high-risk populations have been inundated with the same HIV prevention programs for twenty years, it is imperative that community-based organizations modify outreach interventions to stay current with the times. Since its inception in November of 2002, SexED4U counselors have engaged hundreds of online clients and have shared valuable resources, test sites and information

For more information regarding SexED4U, contact Jihannh Jones, (248) 545-1435. jjones@aidsprevention.org