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By the end of 2002, over 2 million adults were incarcerated in the US, and 93% of those were men. African Americans and Latinos were incarcerated at greater rates than Whites in the US, 7.6 times greater for African Americans and 2.6 times greater for Latinos. Nearly 40% of incarcerated men were under the age of 30. Young men of color are at high risk of incarceration and the health problems related to incarceration. These young men also are our neighbors, frequently passing in and out of jail and prison and returning back to the community. Men who are incarcerated have disproportionate rates of HIV, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and hepatitis. Rates of HIV are 8-10 times higher for incarcerated persons than for the general US population; hepatitis C rates are 9-10 times higher, and STD rates among men entering jails are as high as 35%. Men leaving prison face numerous challenges that may impede their ability to protect themselves against these diseases. Men often must re-establish relationships, find employment and housing and deal with addictions and mental health issues. Prisons present a unique opportunity for HIV/STD education and skills building to help men avoid risk after their release from prison.

The Mpowerment Project is a community-level HIV prevention intervention designed to reduce the frequency of unprotected anal intercourse among young gay/bisexual men, ages 18-29, by mobilizing young gay men to support each other about safer sex and to build a stronger, healthier young gay men’s community. It is the only scientifically developed and empirically tested intervention that has been shown to reduce HIV sexual risk taking behaviors among young gay men.

• Please see the Mpowerment website for full curriculum and replication materials.

This Quick-Start Guide is intended for community-based organizations that may be interested in partnering with academic researchers at UCSF to conduct community-based research. The Guide is a product of the Community Engagement Program of the UCSF Clinical & Translational Science Institute (CTSI). One of the Program’s primary aims is to assist both community-based organizations and UCSF-based researchers in the process of developing effective and mutually-satisfying collaborations on community-based research.

The Community Tool Box is a free, online resource for those working to build healthier communities and bring about social change. It offers thousands of pages of tips and tools for taking action in communities. Want to learn about community assessment, planning, intervention, evaluation, advocacy, and other aspects of community practice? Then help yourself to over 300 educational modules and other free tools. Under continuous development since 1994, the Community Tool Box is widely used in teaching, training, and technical support. Currently available in English, Spanish, and Arabic and with millions of user sessions annually, it has reached those working in over 230 countries around the world.