WHO WE ARE
APEL Health Services Center, Inc. (APEL), a faith based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in Jacksonville/Duval County, Florida, has provided an HIV/AIDS prevention & awareness program dedicated to reducing HIV/AIDS/STD infections rates in high-risk African American neighborhoods since 1999. APEL offers extensive street outreach, both anonymous and confidential oral HIV testing, client-centered pre-test and post-test counseling, linkages/referrals and informational brochures and health related prevention materials. Through Project YouthLink (http://www.youthlink-fl.com/), APEL and its founder and church partner, Abyssinia Missionary Baptist Church, provide comprehensive youth oriented programs to meet the needs of youth at-risk for HIV/STD infection and those infected with HIV/STDs. “YouthLink” provides health awareness through both community outreach & Internet outreach, designed to reach teens through cyberspace, utilizing Internet services and chat rooms. All teen peer educators provide assistance in the correctional facilities, as well as community outreach and prevention education at special events and health fairs at churches, community-based organizations and other gatherings where young persons may congregate, such as the local Job Corps and Edward Waters College, an historical black college. All teen peer educators are trained to use Internet chat rooms to reach young people in cyberspace and spend time outreaching on-line. Teens can make connections with others like them and participate in activities designed to increase effective decision-making skills, hone good judgment, and increase self-esteem. Teen Peer Health Educators (TPHEs) receive a monthly stipend.
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WHAT WE OFFER
- Confidential & Anonymous HIV Testing
- Youth Mentoring
- Free Health Screenings (Glucose, High Blood Pressure & BMI)
- Prostate Exams
- Nutritional Health Workshops (Childhood Obesity)
- Community Street Outreach
- HIV/STD Intervention Internet Chat (www.youthlink-fl.com)
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