To make contact, she immediately works to show she's human. She uses teen language, makes herself available to answer questions that at-risk youths might not want to ask in a group setting and puts faces to the threat and tragedy of human immunodeficiency virus.

"I can show them statistics, but for some reason, teenagers don't pay much attention to that. Sometimes, we'll show them pictures of people who are infected with HIV," Elliott said. But it's the experience of an infected 16-year-old girl from another county that usually hits home and dispels teens' all-too-common belief that "It's not going to happen to me."

Heterosexual teenagers with that attitude make up the fastest-growing HIV-positive population. "A lot of it is because they're not using any kind of protection and they're changing partners so frequently," Elliott said. Those same practices also spread other sexually transmitted diseases.

The average life expectancy of someone diagnosed with HIV is 10 to 15 years, Elliott tells audiences. Speaking of the 16-year-old, "This girl probably won't live to be 30," she said. Often that registers, but there are always diehard teens who have an answer, or think they do.

"Magic Johnson. That's the first thing that comes out of their mouth when you start talking about death," Elliott said, referring to the former Los Angeles Lakers basketball superstar who has been very public with his HIV-positive diagnosis. "They see this normal-looking, healthy person who's infected and it gives them a big misconception of what this disease is all about."

Elliott said she reminds teens "This man is no ordinary Joe. He has access to all sorts of money and all sorts of treatments that aren't available to ordinary people."

Furthermore, while research has made great strides in moving HIV and AIDS toward a chronic condition, Elliott stresses the reality of the virus and the acquired immune deficiency syndrome it causes. "No matter what happens, it's going to kill you in the end. They have no cure for it," she said.

That's also her message to adults at a rehabilitation center for men and women with dependency issues and those who frequent a homeless shelter or other forums.

Optimism about controlling and treating HIV is directly tied to money. President Bush has asked Congress for $15 billion over 10 years to address AIDS in Caribbean nations and Africa.

"A lot depends on where the funding goes," Elliott said. She acknowledges the importance of research, but said that in general, "I think they're putting too much into the cure and not putting enough into prevention."

Prevention was one target in Texas Department of Health budget cuts, although Elliott's county successfully lobbied lawmakers to reallocate public health funds and save two nursing positions. One is that of an LVN whose full-time practice is centered on HIV and STD awareness, including clinics that offer both anonymous and confidential testing and follow-ups with patients.

Elliott, who splits her time between outreach programs and clinical care, said she counts patient follow-up as one of the better parts of a public health career.

Whether it is HIV education, stress management or a maternity clinic she runs, Elliott said, "A lot of times when you see these patients, you see them come back. You see that you made a difference."

Elliott makes a difference, too, in part because she is bilingual. "We have a large Spanish-speaking population so I've adopted some of the programs into Spanish," she said. "That helps reach people in the community who would not normally be reached," Elliott said.

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