Illinois HIV Care Connect Introduces HIV and Youth Web Content; Encourages All Young People to Take the Y.O.U.T.H. Quiz and Earn A Chance to Win a $25 VISA Gift Card

Learning more about HIV prevention and treatment can provide peace of mind. Review Illinois HIV Care Connect's HIV and Youth Web content and take the Y.O.U.T.H. Quiz to put your mind at ease and earn a chance to win a $25 VISA gift card. There is a version for HIV+ and HIV- young people. Take the quiz at https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/5208025/HIV-and-Youth-Quiz-version (Graphic: Business Wire)

SPRINGFIELD, Ill.--()--As part of a continuing effort to educate young people about HIV prevention and treatment, Illinois HIV Care Connect today introduced HIV and Youth web content to support the Y.O.U.T.H. Quiz in advance of Dec. 1, World AIDS Day 2019 (#WAD2019).

All young people, whether they are living with HIV or not, are encouraged to review the content, take the quiz, and earn a chance to win a $25 VISA gift card. The quiz is available in a version for young people living with HIV and a version for young people who are HIV-negative.

Y.O.U.T.H. stands for Youth Overcoming Undetected and Treatable HIV. Once HIV is detected through a simple blood test, the virus can be successfully treated with anti-HIV medications. However, youth living with HIV are less likely than older individuals living with HIV to be linked to care in a timely manner and to achieve viral suppression through successful HIV treatment, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Y.O.U.T.H. Quiz is designed to help Illinois youth to understand how HIV is transmitted from one person to another and how the virus can be successfully treated with medications, staying in care, treatment as prevention, and good mental health. “The quiz was designed for youth aged 13 to 24; these young people account for 21 percent of new HIV diagnoses in the United States,” explained Michael Maginn, HIV project manager for the Illinois Public Health Association, which operates Illinois HIV Care Connect with funding from the Illinois Department of Public Health. “Most HIV diagnoses in this age group occur among people of color who have had male-to-male sexual contact.”

Illinois HIV Care Connect will promote the content and quiz on the Illinois HIV Care Connect website (hivcareconnect.com) and on its @ILCareConnect Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube and Snapchat social media platforms.

Illinois HIV Care Connect can help people living with HIV gain the assistance they need

People living with HIV who enroll in Illinois HIV Care Connect may qualify for programs that may provide assistance in overcoming social and economic obstacles. Among these programs are Medicaid, Medicare, the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, the ADAP Medication Assistance Program (MAP), the CHIC Premium Assistance Program (PAP), Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA), and others.

About Illinois HIV Care Connect

Illinois HIV Care Connect is a statewide network providing medical case management, health care and support services to people living with HIV. About 37,000 Illinois residents are estimated to be living with HIV. Illinois HIV Care Connect’s eight lead agency offices serve people living with HIV in all of Illinois’ 102 counties. https://hivcareconnect.com

Contacts

Media contact: Ray Valek, ray@valekco.com, 708-352-8695

Release Summary

Illinois HIV Care Connect Introduces HIV & Youth Web Content; Encourages All Young People to Take Y.O.U.T.H. Quiz and Earn Chance to Win $25 VISA card

Contacts

Media contact: Ray Valek, ray@valekco.com, 708-352-8695