HIV/AIDS, Severe Mental Illness and Homelessness

"SB-MI incorporates Motivational Interviewing strategies into a psycho-educational HIV risk reduction protocol to help participants identify high-risk behaviors, reduce ambivalence about these behaviors, increase motivation to change behaviors, and develop a specific plan of action for risk reduction. Consistent with MI, information gathered at baseline regarding HIV risk behaviors is systematically reviewed in a personalized way with each participant at the outset of the intervention. This is designed to engage participants in becoming active agents in the change process and to assist participants in recognizing discrepancies between their current risk behaviors and goals and values, which typically do not include HIV infection or transmitting HIV to others. Also consistent with the principles of MI, participants are empowered to choose those educational and skills-based modules which fit their personal risk profile and values."