YO ACAP'S MISSION is to provide culturally/ethnic specific HIV/AIDS prevention/education and care services primarily for African-American adolescents and young adults in the Philadelphia area. Target Population: Primarily, but not limited to, African-American youth between the ages of 15-25 years of age.  Theatrical and musical productions, implemented in 1991, are written and performed by YO ACAP cast members/Peer Educators, and focus on social and health issues such as HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases (STD's), violence, substance abuse, teenage pregnancy, relationships, conflict resolution, etc.  Small group workshops and presentations include information about HIV/AIDS, teenage pregnancy, and/or STDs. Workshops have proven to be effective methods in encouraging dialogue among youth in addressing issues that affect their lives, as well as enabling them to seek positive solutions to their problems.  Street outreach activities are initiatives in which outreach peer educators distribute safer-sex packets containing condoms, female condoms, HIV testing dates and times, and safer-sex literature. Individuals in non-traditional settings such as street corners, housing projects, recreation parks, malls, nightclubs and concerts are reached through this initiative.  Gender specific support groups are designed to assist in the reduction of support group participants becoming HIV positive.  Support groups provide a confidential and safe environment to discuss issues such as personal hygiene, general health maintenance, goal planning, teenage pregnancy, building healthy relationships, conflict resolution, substance abuse prevention and surviving parental substance abuse. A special emphasis is placed on HIV education and risk-reduction methods.  HIV prevention counseling and testing services, collaborated through the City of Philadelphia Department of Public Health, are provided on-site twice a month, as well as during street outreach initiatives.  Prevention case management provides intensive, individualized support and prevention counseling, assists individuals who have tested HIV negative but are engaging in high-risk behavior.  Media efforts include appearances on Power 99 FM, 103.9 FM, KYW-TV (Rap Around with Ukee Washington), WPVI-TV (Fast Forward), WTXF-TV (Ten O'clock News), hosting a weekly radio show on WPEB FM, and features in several newspapers. National media attention included an appearance on cable network Black Entertainment Television (BET).  Special events such as "Unity Day," "Black Expo," "Sistas," "AIDS Walk," "Celebrity Basketball Game at Temple University," "Philly Rap Woodstock," "The Smokin’ Grooves Tour," and a host of other events were attended.  Drama tours on the East Coast included cities such as Atlantic City, NJ, Dayton, Ohio, Richmond, VA, Jacksonville, FL, and Baltimore, MD. Conference panel appearances include Washington, DC and Atlanta, GA.  Actively participate in the "Rock The Vote" campaign, a national voter registration organization. Concerts, health fairs, conferences, and street outreach are where this initiative usually takes place.

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