The Youth Task Force is dedicated to promoting the overall emotional, physical, sexual health and well being of Staten Island’s youth. Through the use of peer and staff education, counseling and referrals, we strive to empower young people to make positive life decisions. We make every effort to serve in a youth-friendly, nonjudgmental, compassionate and supportive environment as an affirmation of our commitment to youth and the communities they live in.

The P.L.A.C.E.
(Peer Leadership, Advocacy, Care, Education)

Because the Youth Task Force is committed to promoting the health and well being of Staten Island youth we understood the need for them to have a P.L.A.C.E. to call their own. A PLACE to feel safe enough to share with people they can trust and be comfortable enough to return anytime they needed. So we gave them The P.L.A.C.E., our youth site, which provides all that it says, peer leadership, advocacy, care and education.

Youth Task Force Programs

Peer Education Program High School students are trained by YTF on HIV/AIDS, other Sexually Transmitted Infections, Pregnancy, Prevention, Abstinence, Relationships and much more. Graduates of the trainings then take the information they learned in the training and bring it to the larger youth community by conducting educational presentations and outreach to their peers.

HIV Testing & Counseling Getting tested for HIV can be a very frightening experience. This is especially true for adolescents and young adults. To help ease the stress of this experience we provide HIV testing in a youth friendly and supportive manner. As with all our services, HIV testing is FREE, CONFIDENTIAL and parental consent is not required.

STI & Pregnancy Services We also offer FREE & CONFIDENTIAL testing and treatment for other Sexually Transmitted Infections, pregnancy testing and referrals, breast, testicular and GYN exams, and comprehensive risk assessments, risk reduction counseling and education. These services are offered by a private nurse practitioner and physician through a collocated agreement.

Youth Counseling The Youth Task Force provides FREE & CONFIDENTIAL, and nonjudgmental counseling for young people on issues such as sexual health, safer sex, relationships and substance use, and other issues relevant to youth.

Workshops & Trainings YTF also offers free workshops to community youth, schools and community organizations on a host of different topics including but not limited to: HIV 101, STI’s, Pregnancy, Prevention, Abstinence, Relationships, Body Image, and Sexual Identity. We also offer “How to Talk to Kids About HIV/AIDS” for parents and service providers and a 4-part HIV Prevention series conducted in high schools.

Safe Space for Young People Safe Space for Young People provides a welcoming, caring environment for LGBTQ youth and their allies regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Safe Space for Young People is a weekly social, educational and therapeutic program run by a mental health professional.

Summer Internship Program Summer Youth Internships are available to high school students through funding provided by the Pfizer Pharmaceutical Company, the United Way and the Community Health Action of Staten Island. Interns get trained as Peer Educators and learn a lot while having a great summer.

Materials, Information & Referrals Young people can come into our storefront to get free safer sex materials, information, and referrals to other youth resources on Staten Island.

Handy Websites to Check Out

Especially For Youth: Sex, Etc. http://www.sxetc.com
(website by teens for teens by the Network of Family Life Education)

Teen Wire http://www.teenwire.com
(website for teens by Planned Parenthood Federation of America)

Gurl.Com http://www.gURL.com
(website for teen girls – an alternative to prescriptive traditional girls' magazines)

I Wanna Know http://www.iwannaknow.org
(website by the American Social Health Association)

Youth Resource http://www.youthresource.com
(website for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender youth for Advocates for Youth)

Ambiente Joven http://www.ambientejoven.org
(website about sexual health and other youth issues in Spanish!)

Especially For Parents and Service Providers:

SIECUS (Sexuality Information and Education Council of the U.S.
http://www.siecus.org

Planned Parenthood Federation of America
http://www.ppfa.org

Advocates For Youth
http://www.advocatesforyouth.org

Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
http://www.pflag.org

Families Are Talking
http://www.familiesaretalking.org

Talking With Kids About Tough Issues
http://www.talkingwithkids.org