Adaptation and Implementation of Project Encuentro in the U.S.-Mexico Border

The coalitions in collaboration with CABs and peer leaders in their respective cities convened community meetings and events and invited PWID who had participated in other intervention components, who were receiving services at the partner organizations, and members at-large to participate. Events and meetings were advertised at the partner organizations offices, by staff during delivery of harm reductions supplies at places where PWID congregated to use drugs, and through social media. Events and meetings took place at community venues including parks, neighborhood gathering spaces, and at organizations. Events covered topics about HIV, sexual health, and human rights and included health fairs.

The social network HIV testing intervention consisted of offering rapid HIV tests to PWID using a social network referral methodology.

Two peer leaders will be selected from each city to deliver the intervention sessions. Peer leaders will recruit drug users they know who will be asked, in turn, to recruit other drug users in their networks. Peer leaders will deliver the intervention to 300 drug users (150 per border city) in cycles composed of small social networks of 5-6 PWID.