Description

For this trial, we will recruit, screen, and enroll a sample of 120 young black sexual minority men from our networks of community-based organizations and LGBT-serving partners. Eligible participants will be pre-screened for enrollment by a University of Chicago study research staff/project manager. Next, the research staff will explain the scope of employment program and expectations of enrollees. Those interested in enrolling in the employment program and study will then be invited to an initial session of the employment program.

The overall employment program will consist of 2 days of workshop content focused on employment skills and the relationship between work and health.

Day One. Upon arrival, the program implementers and researchers will explain the employment program and purpose of the research study. University of Chiago research staff will complete informed consent procedures with participants prior to beginning the study baseline questionnaire and ensure that all participants are capable of consenting to participate. Participants will be asked to complete a release of information to access electronic medical records for the purposes of collecting measures of viral load and clinical care visit attendance at each time point.

Baseline (T1). Prior to the start of the first session, participants will be given an iPad tablet and headphones containing a 30-35 minute audio-computer assisted self-interview (ACASI) survey. Self-assessment measures, including: sociodemographic characteristics: age, race/ethnicity, income, incarceration history, and employment history; employment and housing: job seeking self-efficacy, average hours worked in a week (last 30 days), work motivation, job-seeking behavior, and homelessness (last 3 months); and clinical care: receipt of ART/PrEP prescription (past 4 months), visits for HIV/PrEP care (past 6 months), HIV/STI testing visits (past 6 months).

Day Two. Immediate-post program (T2). At the completion of the employment program on the second day, participants will complete a 25-30 minute ACASI survey assessing the feasibility, acceptability, and satisfaction with the employment program.

6-months (T3) and 12-months (T4) post-program. Participants will be contacted by study research staff to complete additional follow-up surveys via private phone conversation or independent completion online through the REDCap data collection platform. Follow-up surveys at 6 months and 12 months post-program will assess all variables addressed at T1.