Past Projects
Affirming Voices for Action
Affirming Voices for Action (AVA) was a multi-site, U.S.-based mixed-methods study that sought to understand the experiences of transgender and gender diverse youth across the HIV prevention and care continua. This study was conducted through the Adolescent Trials Network for HIV/AIDS Interventions (ATN 130).
Bwino Bwino
Bwino Bwino was a study to understand and document the mental health-related needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) community members in Zambia. The Bwino Bwino study was a joint effort with Friends of Rainka, a leading grassroots LGBTI organization in Zambia.
CHAI
The Community Health Access Initiative (CHAI) was a free training and technical assistance program for health care providers and staff developed by a coalition of community organizations, LGBTQ+ youth, and university partners brought together by the Resilience + Resistance Collective at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. CHAI was focused on improving the health and well-being of LGBTQ+ youth in Washtenaw County by increasing access to affirming and inclusive health care services.
Jiamini
The Jiamini study quantitatively explored the potential influences of socioecological factors on the sexual risk and resilience behaviors among young gay, bisexual, and other MSM in Western Kenya. This project was a collaborative effort between NYARWEK and the University of Michigan.
Kufunua
The Kufunua study focused on the needs of sexual and gender minorities assigned female sex at birth in Western Kenya. After several community focus groups, a quantitative survey was developed to collect data on sexual health, experiences of violence, and community needs. Kufunua was a collaborative effort between staff at NYARWEK, University of Michigan, Northwestern University, and University of California Los Angeles.
Kujenga Uwezo
The Kujenga Uwezo study sought to understand the health and well-being of gay and bisexual men in Kenya by exploring their range of identity-related stressors and coping mechanisms through qualitative research, while strengthening the capacity of individuals and non-governmental organizations that are a part of the Kenya National Sexual Orientation Gender Identity and Expression Research Committee (G-10).
MFierce
Michigan Forward in Enhancing Research and Community Equity (MFierce) was a project to reduce STI disparities among young gay and bisexual men and transgender youth in Southeast Michigan. Through MFierce, we developed the Health Access Initiative training and technical assistance program. The MFierce coalition consisted of U-M faculty and staff, an LGBTQ+ youth advisory board, and representatives from organizations focused on sexual health and LGBT communities.
My Test My Choice
My Test My Choice was an implementation study focused on at-home HIV test kit use by young African American men. The study examined fidelity and cultural acceptability of the Ora-Sure self-implemented testing (SIT) program (OraQuick). My Test My Choice was led by researchers at Oregon State University.
N’tiyiso
N’tiyiso was an 11-session manualized intervention to help parents and caregivers in Mozambique disclose HIV status to their adolescent children who acquired HIV perinatally, facilitated by community health workers. The intervention was developed in close collaboration with AMODEFA, a sexual and reproductive health organization in Mozambique, with support from Children’s Place International and the American International Health Alliance.
POSSE
POSSE was a popular opinion leader HIV prevention intervention focused on Black gay and bisexual men and transgender women in the House and Ball Communities in Chicago and Philadelphia. This project was lead by researchers at Cook County Health & Hospitals System.
Quit Now
Quit Now was a pilot project to begin developing an online program that will help adolescents and young adults living with HIV quit smoking tobacco. The program aimed to build motivation and skills to quit smoking by focusing on building young people’s future orientation. This study was conducted in partnership with the Wayne State University Prevention Team (W’SUP).
ReACH 2gether
ReACH 2gether seeks to develop and pilot a couples-focused alcohol reduction intervention for gay and bisexual men living with HIV and their partners. This study is being conducted in partnership with Brown University School of Public Health.
Shauriana
Shauriana, which means “we counsel each other” in Swahili, is a study to adapt and test an intervention to help gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men in Kenya take charge of their sexual health, including uptake and adherence of PrEP for HIV prevention. The project is a collaborative effort between community and academic partners in the U.S. and Kenya: NYARWEK, Nyanza Reproductive Health Society, Maseno University, University of Washington, and University of Michigan. This study is funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (R34 MH118950).
WEMA
Wema was a manualized, group-based, peer-led intervention focused on improving mental health and well-being among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) adults in Kenya. This 6-session, theory-based and evidence-informed intervention utilized a culturally appropriate framework to address needs expressed by the LGBTI community in Kenya. Wema, which means ‘well-being’ in Swahili, is a “home-grown” intervention developed collaboratively with the Nyanza, Rift Valley and Western Kenya LGBTI Coalition (NYARWEK).