Aids Outreach

RYAN WHITE PART C OUTPATIENT EIS PROGRAM

BIRMINGHAM COMPREHENSIVE HIGH IMPACT PREVENTION PROJECT 2 (B-CHIP2). : DIAGNOSING, TREATING, AND PREVENTING HIV FOR BLACK MSM. - JEFFERSON COUNTY, ALABAMA, THE SETTING FOR THIS PROPOSED COMMUNITY-BASED HIV PREVENTION PROJECT, CONSISTENTLY HAS THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF NEW HIV DIAGNOSES AND STD DIAGNOSES (INCLUDING GONORRHEA, CHLAMYDIA, AND PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SYPHILIS) IN THE STATE, WHICH ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY EXPERIENCED BY BLACK MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN (MSM), THIS PROJECT?S TARGET POPULATION. FOCUSING ON REDUCING NEW HIV INFECTIONS AND IMPROVING PERSONAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH BY GETTING BLACK MSM TESTED AND LINKED TO/ENGAGED IN HIV MEDICAL CARE AND ESSENTIAL SUPPORT SERVICES IN THIS HIGH-BURDEN AREA OF THE STATE, THE CURRENT PROJECT, BIRMINGHAM-COMPREHENSIVE HIGH IMPACT PREVENTION-PROJECT 2 (B-CHIP2), LEVERAGES YEARS OF PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN BIRMINGHAM AIDS OUTREACH (BAO), THE OLDEST HIV SERVICE ORGANIZATION IN STATE OF ALABAMA AND THE ALETHEIA HOUSE, A LEADING EXPERT ON HIV TESTING AND PREVENTION SERVICES FOR BLACK MSM, HOUSING SERVICES, AND SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT SERVICES. BUILDING ON THE SUCCESSES OF OUR PREVIOUS CDC-FUNDED, HIGH-IMPACT HIV PREVENTION PROGRAM, B-CHIP, UNDER PS-15-1502, B-CHIP2 HAS MULTIPLE SHORT-, INTERMEDIATE-, AND LONG-TERM GOALS THAT ALIGN WITH THE FOUR PILLARS OF THE EHE (DIAGNOSE, TREAT, PREVENT, RESPOND). THE FOLLOWING SHORT TERM OUTCOMES AND CORRESPONDING GOALS WILL BE EVALUATED DURING THE PROJECT PERFORMANCE PERIOD: (1) INCREASING THE NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE OF BLACK MSM TESTED FOR HIV TO A MINIMUM OF 750 TESTS ANNUALLY AND DIAGNOSING 15 BLACK MSM WITH HIV PER YEAR (2.0%), (2) INCREASING THE PERCENTAGE OF INTEGRATED HIV TESTING EVENTS IN WHICH CLIENTS ARE ABLE TO RECEIVE STD TESTS EVENTS THAT SPECIFICALLY TARGET BLACK MSM (INCLUDING CHLAMYDIA, SYPHILIS, AND GONORRHEA), AS WELL AS TRICHOMONIASIS, HEPATITIS C, AND COVID-19 BY 50 PERCENT ANNUALLY OVER THREE LARGE-SCALE AND 12 MONTHLY EVENTS PER YEAR, FOR A TOTAL OF 2,250 INTEGRATED TESTS OVER FIVE YEARS, (3) INCREASING THE NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE OF BLACK MSM WITH NEWLY DIAGNOSED HIV WHO ARE LINKED TO H IV MEDICAL CARE AND RECEIVING ART WITHIN 30 DAYS OF DIAGNOSIS BY LINKING A MINIMUM OF 90% OF 15 BLACK MSM (N=14) TO HIV MEDICAL CARE USING ANTI-RETROVIRAL TREATMENT AND ACCESS TO SERVICES (ARTAS), (4) INCREASING THE NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE OF PREVIOUSLY DIAGNOSED, NOT-IN-CARE BLACK MSM WHO ARE LINKED TO HIV MEDICAL CARE AND RECEIVING ART WITHIN 30 DAYS OF IDENTIFICATION BY LINKING A MINIMUM OF 90% OF PREVIOUSLY DIAGNOSED, NOT-IN-CARE BLACK MSM (N=9) TO HIV MEDICAL CARE USING ARTAS, (5) INCREASING ACCESS TO PREP AND NPEP BY REFERRING AT LEAST 90% OF BLACK MSM IN THE PROGRAM AT HIGH RISK FOR ACQUIRING HIV TO PREP OR NPEP SERVICES, AS APPROPRIATE, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH CDC GUIDELINES, (6) INCREASING AVAILABILITY OF CONDOMS (BOTH MALE AND FEMALE CONDOMS) BY OFFERING FREE CONDOMS TO 100% OF BLACK MSM IN THE PROGRAM WITH HIV (INCLUDING BOTH NEWLY AND PREVIOUSLY DIAGNOSED) AND 100% OF BLACK MSM IN THE PROGRAM AT RISK FOR ACQUIRING HIV, EQUAL TO 10,000 NUMBER OF CONDOMS DISTRIBUTED PER YEAR.

COMPREHENSIVE HIGH-IMPACT HIV PREVENTION PROJECTS FOR COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS

RYAN WHITE PART C OUTPATIENT EIS PROGRAM

TRANSGENDER COMPREHENSIVE HIGH IMPACT PREVENTION PROJECT (T-CHIP)

THE CARE AND ACCESS FOR RURAL ENGAGEMENT (CARES) PROJECT - THE CARE AND ACCESS FOR RURAL ENGAGEMENT (CARES) PROJECT BUILDS ON THE ONGOING WORK AND EXISTING STRONG COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS BY FIVE HORIZONS HEALTH SERVICES TO EXPAND HIV AND SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION AND CARE IN 53 COUNTIES ACROSS WEST AND SOUTH ALABAMA (37 COUNTIES) AND EAST MISSISSIPPI (16 COUNTIES). THE PROJECT AREA INCLUDES OVER 2.1 MILLION PEOPLE, REPRESENTING ABOUT 26% OF THE COMBINED POPULATION OF ALABAMA AND MISSISSIPPI AND IS MAINLY RURAL. MOST OF THE RESIDENTS IN THE TARGET AREA ARE LISTED AS BEING IN PERSISTENT POVERTY. BY THE END OF THE PROJECT, WE WILL REACH APPROXIMATELY 80,000 INDIVIDUALS AND PROVIDE HIV TESTS, SUBSTANCE USE/MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT TO OVER 12,000 INDIVIDUALS. THE CARES PROJECT WILL EXPAND CARE TO MAINLY UNDERSERVED RURAL POPULATIONS IN ALABAMA AND EAST MISSISSIPPI, BY ADDRESSING THE SALIENT BARRIERS TO CARE AND PREVENTION AMONG INDIVIDUALS WITH OR AT RISK OF HIV AND ITS RELATED COMORBIDITIES INCLUDING SU/MHD. THE FOLLOWING GOALS AND OBJECTIVES WILL GUIDE THE PROJECT: GOAL 1: REDUCE NEW HIV INFECTIONS AND RELATED COMORBIDITIES BY INCREASING ACCESS TO SCREENING, TESTING, AND CARE FOR INDIVIDUALS AT RISK FOR HIV, THROUGH TARGETED OUTREACH EFFORTS AND REDUCING BARRIERS TO CARE RESULTING IN EARLY ACCESS TO TREATMENT AND PREVENTION. BY THE END OF THE PROJECT, THE CARES OUTREACH TEAM WILL CONDUCT OUTREACH EVENTS IN ALL 53 COUNTIES AND REACH AT LEAST 80,000 PEOPLE FROM MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED RACIAL AND ETHNIC COMMUNITIES DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY HIV/AIDS AND HIV-RELATED DISPARITIES. BY THE END OF YEAR 5, THE OUTREACH TEAM WILL OFFER PRELIMINARY HIV TESTING TO ALL INDIVIDUALS ATTENDING OUTREACH EVENTS OR VISITING FHHS, RESULTING IN AT LEAST 12,000 OF INDIVIDUALS (15%) ATTENDING OUTREACH EVENTS OR VISITING FHHS CLINICS GETTING TESTED FOR HIV. BY THE END OF YEAR 5, THE CASE MANAGEMENT TEAM WILL ENSURE THAT AT LEAST 95% OF CLIENTS SCREENING POSITIVE FOR HIV AT ANY OF OUR EVENTS RECEIVE CONFIRMATORY HIV TESTING AND 95% OF THOSE CONFIRMED TO BE POSITIVE ARE LINKED TO AND MAINTAINED IN HIV CARE. GOAL 2: REDUCE SU/MHD RISK AMONG INDIVIDUALS WITH OR AT RISK OF HIV, BY IMPLEMENTING AN ONGOING STRATEGY TO REACH AND PROVIDE EVIDENCE-BASED SU/MHD SERVICES. OBJECTIVES: BY THE END OF YEAR 5, THE OUTREACH TEAM WILL OFFER SCREENING FOR SU/MHD AS INDICATED TO INDIVIDUALS WITH OR AT RISK FOR HIV ATTENDING OUTREACH EVENTS FHHS, RESULTING IN AT LEAST 15% OF ATTENDEES BEING SCREENED FOR SU/MHD. BY THE END OF YEAR 5, THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TEAM (BHT) WILL DIAGNOSE AND DEVELOP AN INDIVIDUALIZED TREATMENT PLAN FOR AT LEAST 80% OF INDIVIDUALS WHO SCREEN POSITIVE FOR SU/MHDS. BY THE END OF YEAR 5, THE BHT WILL CONNECT 100% OF INDIVIDUALS RECEIVING A DIAGNOSIS FOR SU/MHD TO THE IN-HOUSE TREATMENT TEAM OR PARTNER AGENCIES AND ENSURE THAT AT LEAST 80% RECEIVE EVIDENCE-BASED TREATMENT AND ARE MAINTAINED IN CARE. GOAL 3: REDUCE RISK FOR NEW INFECTIONS FOR HIV AND OTHER STIS BY INCREASING ACCESS TO PREP, POST-EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS (PEP), AND STI TREATMENT AND CARE TO INDIVIDUALS AT RISK FOR HIV AND /OR STI. BY THE END OF YEAR 5, INDIVIDUALS IDENTIFIED AS BEING AT RISK FOR HIV WILL BE PROVIDED WITH SUPPORTS INCLUDING EDUCATION, CASE MANAGEMENT AND REFERRAL TO IN-HOUSE PREP AND STI TREATMENT AND CARE TO ENSURE THAT AT LEAST 50% OF INDIVIDUALS AT RISK AND ELIGIBLE ARE INITIATED AND MAINTAINED IN PREP AND/OR STI TREATMENT AND CARE. BY THE END OF YEAR 5, 100% OF INDIVIDUALS REPORTING INCREASED RISK FOR HIV WILL BE PROVIDED SUPPORTS INCLUDING EDUCATION, CASE MANAGEMENT AND REFERRAL TO HIV CLINIC TO RECEIVE PEP SERVICES, INCLUDING BEING PROVIDED WITH PEP MEDICATION WITHIN 72 HOURS TO ENSURE THAT AT LEAST 95% OF IDENTIFIED INDIVIDUALS AT RISK DUE TO EXPOSURE ARE INITIATED ON PEP AND MAINTAINED IN CARE. BY THE END OF YEAR 5, 100% OF INDIVIDUALS TESTED POSITIVE FOR VIRAL HEPATITIS B AND C WILL BE REPORTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH. GOAL 4: CONDUCT PROGRAM EVALUATION TO MEASURE PERFORMANCE ON OBJECTIVES AND PROGRAM SUCCESS.

SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION EDUCATION AND RESPONSE (SUPER) - THE OVERARCHING PURPOSE OF SUPER IS TO PROVIDE SUBSTANCE MISUSE AND HIV PREVENTION SERVICES TO UNDER-RESOURCED, ADULT (18 YEARS OR OLDER) BLACK MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN (MSM) AT RISK FOR HIV AND HEPATITIS C (HCV) LIVING IN THE BIRMINGHAM-HOOVER METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA, A LOCALITY HARDEST HIT BY THE HIV EPIDEMIC AND WITH SUBSTANTIAL SUBSTANCE USE BURDEN. THE PROJECT WILL ALSO INCREASE ACCESS TO TREATMENT AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES RELATED TO HIV, HCV, AND SUBSTANCE USE AND MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS. SUPER WILL UTILIZE BIRMINGHAM AIDS OUTREACH (BAO)'S EXPERTISE IN WORKING WITH PEOPLE WITH AND AT RISK OF HIV AND/OR HCV INFECTION. AS THE OLDEST AIDS SERVICE ORGANIZATION IN ALABAMA, BAO IS WELL-REGARDED BY THE COMMUNITY FOR ITS HIV/HCV/STI TESTING AND PREVENTION SERVICES. SUPER WILL LEVERAGE TWO EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES (EBP) RECOGNIZED BY THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (CDC) TO ACCOMPLISH THESE AIMS, INCLUDING ANTI-RETROVIRAL TREATMENT AND ACCESS TO SERVICES (ARTAS) AND SAFETY COUNTS. ARTAS FACILITATES TIMELY LINKAGE TO CARE USING THE PRINCIPLES OF MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING AND STRENGTH-BASED CASE MANAGEMENT, WHILE SAFETY COUNTS IS A RISK-REDUCTION INTERVENTION FOR DECREASING SEXUAL AND DRUG USE BEHAVIOR AND IS DESIGNED FOR PEOPLE WHO USE SUBSTANCES. PROJECT GOALS INCLUDE: GOAL 1: ASSESS HIV, HCV, AND SUBSTANCE MISUSE PREVENTION NEEDS AMONG BLACK MSM IN THE BIRMINGHAM-HOOVER MSA. GOAL 2: INCREASE IDENTIFICATION OF HIV AND HCV STATUS AMONG BLACK MSM. GOAL 3: REDUCE RISK BEHAVIORS AMONG BLACK MSM RELATED TO SUBSTANCE MISUSE, HIV, AND HCV THROUGH IMPLEMENTATION OF AN EVIDENCE-BASED RISK REDUCTION INTERVENTION, SAFETY COUNTS. GOAL 4: INCREASE ACCESS TO COMPREHENSIVE ANCILLARY SERVICES AS INDICATED AMONG BLACK MSM. SUPER WILL SERVE 40,800 UNDUPLICATED INDIVIDUALS WITH GRANT FUNDS OVER THE FIVE-YEAR PERIOD, INCLUDING 4,800 IN YEAR 1 AND 9,000 PER YEAR IN YEARS 2 THROUGH 5.

COMPREHENSIVE HIGH-IMPACT HIV PREVENTION PROJECTS FOR COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS

RYAN WHITE PART C OUTPATIENT EIS PROGRAM

RYAN WHITE PART C OUTPATIENT EIS PROGRAM

RYAN WHITE TITLE III HIV CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING GRANTS - CATEGORY: INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY: DENTAL EQUIPMENT FOR EXPANDING DENTAL SERVICE CAPACITY THE PURPOSE OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT IS TO ENHANCE AND SUSTAIN THE QUALITY OF CARE SERVICES PROVIDED TO CLIENTS WHOM UTILIZE THE ORGANIZATION’S ORAL HEALTH CLINIC. THE PROPOSED PROJECT ACTIVITIES WILL CONSIST OF THE ACQUISITION AND INSTALLATION OF NEW DENTAL EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES FOR THE ORGANIZATION’S ORAL HEALTH CLINIC. THE NEEDS ADDRESSED BY THE PROPOSED PROJECT ARE: (1) CURRENT LOCAL RYAN WHITE CARE PROGRAM FUNDS ARE INSUFFICIENT TO COVER EQUIPMENT ACQUISITIONS AND UPGRADES WHILE ALSO PROVIDING PROGRAM SERVICES FOR CLIENTS. (2) THE ADDITION OF NEW DENTAL EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES WILL ENHANCE THE ABILITY TO DELIVER HIGH QUALITY HIV DENTAL CARE SERVICES FOR LOW INCOME, UNINSURED, AND UNDERSERVED PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV IN THE LOCAL AREA. OPERATIONAL NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY PROPOSED PROJECT INCLUDE: PATIENT THROUGHPUT: LIMITED SPACE IN EACH OPERATORY RESTRICTS THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS THAT CAN BE ACCOMMODATED SIMULTANEOUSLY. THIS REDUCES THE ORGANIZATION’S CAPACITY TO SERVE PATIENTS EFFICIENTLY, LEADING TO LONGER WAITING TIMES AND POTENTIAL CLIENT FRUSTRATION. WORKFLOW EFFICIENCY: THE VARIATION IN SIZE AND LAY OUT OF EACH OPERATORY COMPLICATES WORKFLOW MANAGEMENT FOR DENTAL STAFF. THE DENTIST AND DENTAL ASSISTANTS NEED TO ADAPT THEIR MOVEMENTS AND PROCESSES ACCORDING TO THE SPECIFIC CONFIGURATION OF EACH ROOM, RESULTING IN INEFFICIENCIES AND POTENTIAL SAFETY CONCERNS. EQUIPMENT ACCESSIBILITY: SUPPLY DRAWERS AND CABINETS CAN ONLY BE ACCESSED WHEN THE DENTIST AND DENTAL ASSISTANTS MOVE AWAY FROM THE DENTAL CHAIR. INADEQUATE SPACE HINDERS THE ACCESSIBILITY OF ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES WITHIN THE OPERATORY. PATIENT COMFORT AND EXPERIENCE: THE LIMITATIONS IN THE EXISTING CHAIR DESIGN MAKE IT CHALLENGING TO COMFORTABLY ACCOMMODATE PATIENTS WITH VARYING PHYSICAL ABILITIES AND BODY TYPES. PATIENTS WHO USE WALKERS OR WHEELCHAIRS STRUGGLE WITH ACCESS AND POSITIONING, WHILE OBESE OR PETITE INDIVIDUALS FIND THE CHAIRS ILL-FITTING AND UNCOMFORTABLE. INFECTION CONTROL: EFFECTIVE INFECTION CONTROL MEASURES, SUCH AN MAINTAINING PROPER DISTANCING BETWEEN PATIENTS AND THE STERILIZATION AREA MAY BE CHALLENGING TO IMPLEMENT IN OUR DENTAL CLINIC. THIS POSES RISKS TO BOTH PATIENTS AND STAFF IN TERMS OF CROSS-CONTAMINATION. HOWEVER, ACQUIRING UPDATED STERILIZERS THAT DECREASE CYCLE TIMES AND EFFECTIVENESS OF INFECTION CONTROL WILL ENABLE EFFICIENT TURNAROUND TIMES FOR STERILIZED INSTRUMENTS AND LESS TIME OF EXPOSURE TO UNSTERILIZED INSTRUMENTS. MALFUNCTIONING EQUIPMENT: MULTIPLE HANDPIECES ARE UNINTENTIONALLY ACTIVATED SIMULTANEOUSLY. DENTAL STAFF MUST CONSTANTLY ADJUST HOSES TO PREVENT AIR LEAKS AND ENSURE PROPER FUNCTIONING OF THE EQUIPMENT. SEVERAL X-RAY MACHINES ARE MALFUNCTIONING. ONE MACHINE IS COMPLETELY UNUSABLE, THE TWO OTHER MACHINES ARE CONSTANTLY BEING ADJUSTED, OR RESET IN ORDER TO USE. THE INTRA-ORAL CAMERAS HAVE FAULTY BUTTONS. THE USE OF THESE EQUIPMENT WILL CAUSE DELAYS IN WORKFLOW AND INCREASE THE RISK OF ERRORS. EXCESSIVE NOISE POLLUTION: THE DENTAL VACUUM PRODUCES A HIGH-PITCH NOISE THAT REACHES THE WALLS OF ADDITIONAL OFFICES. THIS AFFECTS THE COMFORT OF PATIENTS AND STAFF. THE POPULATION GROUP(S) TO BE SERVED ARE PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV WHO HAVE COMPROMISED IMMUNE SYSTEMS AND ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO BACTERIAL INFECTIONS. TWO MAJOR ORAL HEALTH CONDITIONS, DENTAL DECAY AND PERIODONTAL DISEASE, ARE BOTH CAUSED BY BACTERIA. ORAL HEALTH CARE IS AN EXPENSE THAT FEW PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV CAN AFFORD. FUNDING AMOUNT REQUESTED FOR ONE-YEAR PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE, SEP. 1, 2025-AUG. 31, 2026: $150,000

RYAN WHITE TITLE III HIV CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING GRANTS

RYAN WHITE TITLE III HIV CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING GRANTS

RYAN WHITE TITLE III HIV CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING GRANTS - ADDRESS: FIVE HORIZONS DENTAL CLINIC, 3050 MCGEHEE RD, MONTGOMERY, AL 36111 PROJECT DIRECTOR: LORI WILSON, DDS, DMS CONTACT #S: VOICE – 334 239-9692 FAX – 334 239-9505 EMAIL: LWILSON@FIVEHORIZONS.ORG WEBSITE: WWW.FIVEHORIZONS.ORG CATEGORY: INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT SUMMARY: EXPANSION OF DENTAL CLINIC SERVICES IS CONTINGENT UPON ADDITIONAL AND UPDATED EQUIPMENT. A RECENT POLICY IMPLEMENTATION REFERS ALL NEW HIV PATIENTS FOR AN ORAL HEALTH EXAM AT INTAKE. THIS WILL INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS AND PROCEDURES, PROVIDING HIGH-QUALITY HIV ORAL CARE IN THE DENTAL CLINIC. ADDITIONAL AND UPDATED EQUIPMENT IS NEEDED TO ACCOMMODATE THE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS AND TO ELEVATE THE LEVEL OF SERVICES PROVIDED. GRANT FUNDS REQUESTED: $149,147

RYAN WHITE TITLE III HIV CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING GRANTS - PROJECT ABSTRACT: FY 2022 RWHAP PART C CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM PROJECT TITLE: EXTENDING HORIZONS TELEHEALTH PROGRAM ORGANIZATION NAME: FIVE HORIZONS HEALTH SERVICES – STARKVILLE ADDRESS: 807 MS-12 W; STARKVILLE, MS 39759 PROJECT DIRECTOR: JAMIL DAWSON, MBA CONTACT PHONE: (662) 268-6278 CONTACT FAX: (662) 320-8575 EMAIL ADDRESS: JDAWSON@FIVEHORIZONS.ORG WEBSITE ADDRESS: HTTPS://WWW.FIVEHORIZONS.ORG/STARKVILLE FUNDS REQUESTED: $84,040 FUNDING PREFERENCE: RURAL POPULATION PROJECT CATEGORY: INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT ACTIVITY: TELEMEDICINE A. SUMMARY OF REQUEST FIVE HORIZONS HEALTH SERVICES – STARKVILLE (FHHS-S), LOCATED IN STARKVILLE, MISSISSIPPI, IS REQUESTING FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $84,040 FROM THE HEALTH SERVICES RESOURCE ADMINISTRATION’S (HRSA) RYAN WHITE HIV/AIDS PROGRAM PART C CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. FHHS-S PROPOSES TO BUILD A TELEMEDICINE INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGH WHICH MEDICAL AND SOCIAL SERVICES MAY BE PROVIDED TO PLWH ACROSS A 16-COUNTY AREA IN RURAL MISSISSIPPI WHERE BARRIERS-TO-CARE SUCH AS A LACK OF TRANSPORTATION PREVENT PLWH FROM ACCESSING HIV SERVICES AND PREVENTION EFFECTIVE RETENTION IN CARE. B. TARGET POPULATION FHHS-S PROVIDES HIV TESTING AND TREATMENT SERVICES ACROSS A 9,515 SQUARE MILE AREA OF EAST MISSISSIPPI. POVERTY IN THIS AREA IS SIGNIFICANT AS THE MEDIAN INCOME IS LOWER THAN THAT OF THE WHOLE OF MISSISSIPPI. PLWH IN THIS AREA FACE ADDITIONAL BARRIERS TO HIV CARE SUCH AS STIGMA, LOW HEALTH LITERACY, GEOGRAPHIC ISOLATION/DISTANCE, AND LACK OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SERVICES. THE PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION IN THIS SERVICE AREA WHO ARE EITHER BLACK/AFRICAN AMERICAN, WOMEN, OR YOUNG ADULTS ARE HIGHER THAN THE STATE AVERAGES. THIS IS NOTEWORTHY AS EACH OF THESE POPULATIONS ARE TRADITIONALLY UNDERSERVED AND DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY HIV/AIDS. C. NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED A PRIMARY REASON CITED BY PLWH FOR THEIR INABILITY TO ACCESS AND REMAIN IN HIV CARE IS A LACK OF TRANSPORTATION. THE PROPOSED PROJECT W ILL ALLOW FHHS-S TO ELIMINATE THAT BARRIER TO CARE BY LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY TO ENSURE ALL PLWH RECEIVE THE HIV SERVICES THEY NEED. THIS PROJECT WILL LEAD TO A) IMPROVED APPOINTMENT ADHERENCE, B) IMPROVED VIRAL SUPPRESSION RATES, C) AND PREVENTION OF HEW HIV CASES THROUGH THE CONCEPT OF UNDETECTABLE = UNTRANSMITTABLE. D. PROPOSED SERVICES THE PROPOSED PROJECT WILL ALLOW FHHS-S TO HIV PRIMARY MEDICAL CARE, MEDICAL AND NON-MEDICAL CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES, OUTREACH SERVICES, AND LINKAGE AND RETENTION SERVICES TO PLWH IN HIGH-RISK COMMUNITIES VIA TELEHEALTH HARDWARE/SOFTWARE.

SPECIAL PROJECTS OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE

RYAN WHITE HIV/AIDS PROGRAM PART C EIS COVID-19 RESPONSE

RYAN WHITE TITLE III HIV CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING GRANTS