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Project Title
Chicago HIV Prevention and Adolescent Mental Health Project (CHAMP)

Supervisors
Roberta Paikoff, Ph.D., Sybil Madison, Ph.D., and Donna Baptiste, Ed.D

Project Description
CHAMP is an HIV prevention research project located in six elementary schools on the South and West sides of Chicago. The CHAMP Family Study began in 1993 by following children (aged 9 and 10) and their families over a period of five years to examine the factors related to protecting children from HIV risk exposure (e.g. early sexual activity). In 1995, the CHAMP Family Program was developed based upon the findings from the CHAMP Family Study and the research literature on prevention in urban communities.

The CHAMP Family Program is a 12-week, family-based intervention that targets 6th and 7th graders in four schools on the South side of Chicago. CHAMP families meet once a week for two hours in groups of 5 to 10 at school or community sites. The intervention is designed to bolster family communication, enhance care takers' strategies for monitoring their children, enhance children's social problem solving skills, and provide basic information about puberty and HIV/AIDS. Groups are facilitated by teams of community parents and mental health interns who have completed joint training.

CHAMP Family Project is overseen by the CHAMP Collaborative Board. The Board was developed in 1995 and is chaired by Dr. Carl Bell, the CEO of the Community Mental Health Center (located on the South side of Chicago). It is comprised of parent and teacher representatives from each intervention school, as well as university research staff. The Board has a major decision-making role in the operation of the intervention (e.g. personnel and budgetary issues) and will play a major role in data analysis and dissemination of findings.

Psychology Interns Roles and Contributions
Psychology interns have been involved with CHAMP since 1995. In the past, interns have co-directed multi-family groups, along with becoming involved in research and other opportunities. Interns also participate in developing intervention curricula, implementing the intervention with community partners, and analyzing and presenting data from the CHAMP Family Study.