Dr. Michele Rountree is serving as mentor and a topic expert to Dr. Diana Rowan, Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Work, on this federally funded Minority AIDS Research Initiative at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Dr. Rowan’s research will examine the use of a culturally relevant web-based social networking platform to deliver HIV prevention and health promotion messages to young black men who have sex with men (MSM). The social media site will offer HIV prevention and risk reduction education in the context of broader information that targets co- occurring problems such as low self-esteem, substance abuse and mental health issues, stigma, discrimination, violence, and economic challenges. YBMSM carry a disproportionate burden of HIV/AIDS diagnoses, as well as other psychosocial health problems. The site will provide HIV prevention and risk reduction education in a novel format in an attempt to engage this hard to reach group.
