In recognition of World AIDS Day, the Westchester County AIDS Council and the Westchester County Department of Health will sponsor a one day conference on Tuesday, November 30, 1999. The conference, designed to bring together community leaders, care providers and those living with HIV/AIDS in Westchester County, will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Abigail Kirsch at Tappan Hill in Tarrytown, New York.

The 1999 World AIDS Day Conference, "End the Silence: Listen, Learn, Live", will provide a unique opportunity for educators, community leaders, agency directors and religious leaders to learn what young people in Westchester County have as HIV/AIDS concerns and what they think adults need to know about the disease and their sexuality based upon the Youth Speak Out on HIV/AIDS Survey completed earlier this year.

Dr. Harold N. Adel, Westchester County Commissioner of Health identified today’s youth as having an increased risk for HIV infection. "Today, three-quarters of current high school seniors have already had sexual intercourse and 23% of them have had four or more sexual partners. The need to improve education strategies for HIV/AIDS prevention with relation to risk behaviors within our schools stems directly from this increased risk for HIV infection in our youth," Dr. Adel commented.

"The Westchester County AIDS Council has continued to work with Westchester County schools and various youth councils to identify effective means of reaching teenagers with the warning messages about risk behaviors that increase their risk for HIV infection," stated Westchester County AIDS Council’s Chairperson, Jane Pollock.

There are three keynote presentations for the 1999 World AIDS Day Conference. Dr. Michael Carrera, Thomas Hunter Professor Emeritus of Health Sciences for Hunter College of the City University of New York, will discuss building the assets of our youth and reducing their risk for HIV/AIDS; Mr. Owen Borda, Executive Director for the Westchester County AIDS Council, will present the findings of the Youth Speak Out on HIV/AIDS Survey, which was administered to Westchester County high school aged students; and Mr. Andy Stern from the Gay Men’s Health Crisis will provide the participants with an update on HIV confidentiality and names reporting legislation.

The afternoon’s activities will include a choice of five intensive concurrent workshops. The participants will choose between the following topics:

HIV Assessment and Risk Reduction in Primary Care, presented by Dr. Wally Jenkins, Westchester Medical Center and New York Medical College, will provide primary care providers with strategies for assessing HIV risk and integrating HIV educational messages in the routine visit.

Prevention of Needs of Gays and Lesbian Youth: Suburban Experience, presented by Dr. Joyce Hunter, HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, will address the unique needs of gay and lesbian youth for HIV prevention education and outreach with a particular focus on suburban youth who may not be identified as gay or lesbian.

Community Education and Outreach in San Salvador: A Partnership for Government, Church and Physicians will be presented through an interactive theater program using church-based HIV clinics to provide comprehensive education and service in cooperation with government agencies in San Salvador by Dr. Mary Annel, Maryknoll. This workshop will be conducted in both English and Spanish.

CHAMP (Chicago HIV Adolescent Mental Health Project) believes that the key to preventing HIV is to work with families while children are still young to delay the onset of sexual activity. Dr. Donna Batiste and Ms. Monica Hewitt of CHAMP will present the CHAMP’s research and program model for 4^th/5^th grade and 6^th/7^th grade children.

Youth Speak Out on HIV/AIDS Wrap-Up targeted to the adolescent participants of the conference, will have Mr. Owen Borda continue the dialogue with young people in articulating their HIV prevention needs.

To participate in the conference, there is a $25.00 full day adult registration fee and a $10.00 full day student registration fee. A limited number of conference scholarships are also available. For more information about the World AIDS Day Conference, contact Owen Borda at (914) 637-4711.