Family program to help Black male caregivers protect Black girls from HIV and STIs
A Family-Based HIV Prevention Program for Black Men to Protect Black Girls
This project offers a program for Black male caregivers and their teen daughters to build skills and support that lower the chance of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11111276 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, you and your male caregiver will be randomly assigned to either the IMAGE program or a comparison group. IMAGE adapts the evidence-based IMARA program for Black male caregivers and their adolescent daughters with group sessions on sexual health, family communication, protection from sexual violence, and how harmful stereotypes affect safety. The study enrolls Black adolescent girls and their male caregivers in Chicago and tracks sexual health behaviors and STI/HIV testing results over time.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Black adolescent girls (about 12–19 years old) together with a male caregiver (father, stepfather, uncle, older brother, or other male guardian) who live in or near Chicago.
Not a fit: Girls who do not have an available male caregiver, people outside the target age or geographic range, or those already living with HIV may not receive direct benefit from this prevention program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this program could reduce HIV and STI rates and improve sexual and reproductive health for Black adolescent girls by strengthening family support and communication.
How similar studies have performed: Family-based programs that worked with female caregivers have shown improvements in sexual health for Black girls, while adapting the approach to male caregivers is a newer strategy.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, UNITED STATES
- University of Illinois at Chicago — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Crooks, Natasha Kaella — University of Illinois at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Crooks, Natasha Kaella
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.