Deonta Bebber is 18 years old, and he contracted HIV at the age of 16. Deonta’s partner Dean Rosette is 22. He contracted HIV at the age of 18. Deata and Dean are two very impressive success stories of the Youth AIDS Project (YAP) and relayed their experiences at the 2010 AIDS Action Day at the Minnesota State Capitol. Val Smith, the person Deonta and Dean call “The new Wonder Woman,” is their case manager at YAP.
In a telephone interview Val told me of the courage and determination of Deonta and Dean who met Val at Pride last year. At the time Deonta and Dean met Val they were living with others in an apartment; they had just moved to Minnesota from Seattle, WA a month before. Now, thanks to the work of the Youth AIDS Project and Val, Deonta and Dean now live in their own place and Deonta is going to start school in the fall of 2010. All because of YAP’s commitment to help youth who live with HIV/AIDS find dignity and meaning in their lives.
The Youth AIDS Project began in 1989 and is located in the Loring Business Office Building. The advocacy and human services agency is part of the Adolescent Health Program of the University of Minnesota. YAP serves youth from ages 13 to 24 and collaborates with the Minnesota AIDS Project. Val Smith has been a Case Manager with YAP for the past twelve years. Yap was severely affected by Gov. Pawlenty’s $1 million budget cut in 2003 and has been struggling to recover. YAP operated without a budget and cut staff to be able keep up with their case demand for about 3 years. During that time YAP began to see their case load change from mostly white males to including females and African Americans. In 2006 YAP received a grant from the Department of Health Services and since has been operating with a budget once again. Their funding has seen increases so as to provide services
As the number of new HIV infections rose by 13 percent in 2009, YAP saw their case loads include more people of color. In the Minnesota Health Department’s report about the rise in new HIV infections in 2009, we will see that African born and African American’s make up 34 percent of the overall infections. Minnesota’s Health Program includes Disease Investigators who assist those affected by HIV to inform their partners to help prevent spread of the disease.
Among the many services that the Youth AIDS Project provides is health care. Case managers like Val Smith go with their clients to doctor’s appointments and help them understand physician instructions for treating their condition. YAP’s case managers assist clients to find housing, schools, food shelves and other help services for youth living with HIV. As our interview was ending Val told me that just recently she was with one of her clients who gave birth to a new life in the world, and how privileged she felt to be there for the exciting event.
Those wishing to know more about YAP are encouraged to visit their web site. Val Smith can be reached at 612-627-6829 or at [email protected].