Jacksonville Area Sexual Minority Youth Network Inc

JASMYN SUPPORTS AND EMPOWERS LGBTQ YOUNG PEOPLE BY CREATING SAFE SPACE, PROVIDING HEALTH AND WHOLENESS SERVICES, AND OFFERING YOUTH DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES, WHILE BRINGING TOGETHER PEOPLE AND RESOURCES TO PROMOTE EQUALITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS. THE ORGANIZATION WORKS INTENTIONALLY IN FIVE AREAS TO MEET THE MISSION: HEALTH SERVICES, HOUSING , STUDENT OPPORTUNITY, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

HEALTH SERVICES: JASMYN IS A STATE CERTIFIED HIV COUNSELING AND TESTING SITE, OFFERING ON-SITE SERVICES AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH/TESTING. IN 2021, JASMYN COMPLETED 475 HIV TESTS WITH YOUNG PEOPLE, CONTRIBUTING TO A VIRAL SUPPRESSION RATE OF 76%. JASMYN STAFF LINKED 100% OF OUR HIV+ CLIENTS TO MEDICAL CARE LAST YEAR, PROVIDING LINKAGE, RETENTION AND MEDICATION ADHERENCE SUPPORT FOR 63 YOUNG PEOPLE. IN COLLABORATION WITH THE FLORIDA DEPT. OF HEALTH- DUVAL COUNTY, JASMYN OFFERED A WEEKLY DROP-IN SEXUAL HEALTH CLINIC OR MOBILE HEALTH UNITS ON CAMPUS TO PROVIDE OVER 1275 CONTACTS FOR SCREENING AND TREATMENT OF SYPHILIS, GONORRHEA, AND CHLAMYDIA. MORE THAN 50,000 CONDOMS WERE DISTRIBUTED DURING THE YEAR AND A HEALTH NAVIGATION PROGRAM CONNECTING HIV- NEGATIVE YOUNG MEN OF COLOR WITH PREP, PRE-EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS, SERVED 39 YOUNG PEOPLE WITH EFFECTIVE BIOMEDICAL HIV PREVENTION. THREE PEER SUPPORT COORDINATORS SERVED AS INTERNS DURING THE YEAR, PROVIDING YOUTH LEADERSHIP TO CENTER OUR WORK IN THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF YOUNG PEOPLE IMPACTED BY OUR PROGRAMS.

HOUSING SUPPORT: CARE COORDINATION SERVICES INCLUDING LINKAGE TO HOUSING RESOURCES ARE CRITICAL FOR YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, ESPECIALLY WHILE ALSO LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS OR SEEKING TO REDUCE RELIANCE ON SUBSTANCES. JASMYN PROVIDED OUTREACH, CONNECTION TO FOOD, SHOWERS, CYBER CENTER, AND TEMPORARY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO A TOTAL OF 264 YOUNG PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR UNSTABLY HOUSED IN 2021. SEVENTY-FOUR (74) YOUTH RECEIVED INTENSIVE HOUSING CARE COORDINATION SUPPORT AND LINKAGES TO STABLE HOUSING, AND 37 WERE STABLY HOUSED THROUGH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.

STUDENT OPPORTUNITY: JASMYN HAD 2376 PROGRAM AND SERVICE CONTACTS WITH YOUTH AGES 13-19 ON AND OFF CAMPUS IN 2021, INCLUDING ONLINE PROGRAMS, ON CAMPUS OFFERINGS, AND CONTACTS WITH STUDENTS IN SCHOOLS THROUGH THE STUDENT SUPPORT PROGRAM. JASMYN PROVIDED SUPPORT TO OVER 20 AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS IN MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA SCHOOLS, AND TRAINING AND SUPPORT FOR TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND GUIDANCE COUNSELORS TO HELP CREATE A SAFE EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL YOUNG PEOPLE. A FAMILY SUPPORT AND COMMUNITY ACCEPTANCE PROGRAM ENABLED JASMYN TO HIRE A PARENT CONSULTANT TO GUIDE CONVERSATIONS THAT PROMOTE ACCEPTANCE AND ADVOCACY WITH PARENTS AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS AND AT A WEEKLY FAMILY SPACE GATHERING.

MENTAL HEALTH ENHANCEMENT PROJECT: JASMYN'S NEWEST PROGRAM PROVIDED DROP IN HOURS AND ASSESSMENTS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WITH HIGH RATES OF DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY. REFERRALS AND LINKAGES TO ON-CAMPUS AND TELE-MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR THERAPEUTIC SUPPORT GROUPS, INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING AND PSYCHIATRIC CARE WERE PROVIDED FOR OVER 100 YOUNG PEOPLE DURING 2021. JASMYN LAUNCHED THE SAFE PLACE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN IN 2020 TO COMPLETE THE FINAL RENOVATIONS PLANNED ON OUR CAMPUS, EXPANDING ONE BUILDING TO CREATE ADDITIONAL CLINIC SPACE AND OFFICES, AND ENHANCE ACCESSIBILITY AND FIRE SAFETY FEATURES FOR OUR CAMPUS AS WELL AS TRANSFORM THE LARGE CORNER BACKYARD INTO USABLE OUTDOOR CLASSROOM, PERFORMANCE AND CHILL SPACE FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND THE COMMUNITY. AT THE END OF 2021, THE ORIGINAL GOAL OF 1.5 M HAD BEEN EXCEEDED AND DOLLARS WERE STILL BEING RAISED TO ACCOMMODATE THE RISING COSTS OF CONSTRUCTION. A GROUND BREAKING WAS HELD ON JANUARY 12, 2022, AND CONSTRUCTION HAS BEGUN FOR THIS PROJECT. THE FIRST PHASE OF BUILDING EXPANSION IS SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF 2022, AND THE FINAL OUTDOOR SPACE WILL BE COMPLETED IN 2023.