Deborah Beete, Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) director of research for the Department’s STD/HIV Prevention and Care Program, has left CDPH to begin studies at McCormick Theological Seminary. Beete, originally from New York City, has worked in several public health areas including substance abuse, STD/HIV prevention, reproductive health and domestic violence.
But it is her innovative approach to two adolescent projects…The Night Ministry and a program targeting high-risk adolescent women…for which she will perhaps be most remembered.
Beete’s efforts led to the creation of the CDPH STD/HIV Adolescent Program, which encompasses several projects throughout Cook County and has provided prevention services to thousands of at-risk youth across the city. The goal of the program is to be a resource to the city of Chicago to bring sexually healthy and appropriate programming to youth through technical assistance, capacity building, direct service and other collaborations. Adolescent Programs recently collaborated with the CDPH’s Office of Lesbian and Gay Health, Coalition for Adolescent Risk Reduction (CARR) and community-based agencies around the city to form the LGBTQ Youth Initiative, developed to address issues of importance to South Side youth.