Aids Care Group

EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES

EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES

RYAN WHITE TITLE IV WOMEN, INFANTS, CHILDREN, YOUTH AND AFFECTED FAMILY MEMBERS AIDS HEALTHCARE

RYAN WHITE TITLE IV WOMEN, INFANTS, CHILDREN, YOUTH AND AFFECTED FAMILY MEMBERS AIDS HEALTHCARE

HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS(HIV) PREVENTION PROJECTS FOR COMMUNITY BASED ORGS

SPECIAL PROJECTS OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE

GRADUATE PSYCHOLOGY EDUCATION PROGRAMS

SPECIAL PROJECTS OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE

SPECIAL PROJECTS OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE - MINORITY HIV/AIDS FUND - PROJECT ABSTRACT TITLE: SYSTEM-LEVEL SYSTEMIC APPROACHES TO IMPROVE HIV CARE AND TREATMENT FOR PEOPLE FROM RACIAL AND ETHNIC MINORITY GROUPS APPLICANT: AIDS CARE GROUP, 2304 EDGMONT AVENUE, CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA 19013 CONTACT: RAHAB GOODWIN, MPH. PHONE: 404-735-9290; FAX: 610-534-2504 EMAIL: MOGOODWIN@AIDSCAREGROUP.ORG WEB: WWW.AIDSCAREGROUP.ORG SUMMARY OF PROJECT AIDS CARE GROUP, A RYAN WHITE PROVIDER SINCE JULY 1999, WILL DESIGN AND ADMINISTER A SPECIAL PROJECTS OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE DEMONSTRATION PROJECT TO HELP IMPROVE CASE FINDING, LINKAGES TO CARE, AND RETENTION IN CARE FOR PEOPLE FROM RACIAL AND ETHNIC MINORITY GROUPS. THREE EVIDENCE-INFORMED INTERVENTIONS WILL BE BUNDLED: 1. OUTREACH AND ENHANCED PATIENT NAVIGATION; 2. “RED-CARPET CARE EXPERIENCES” COMPOSED OF MULTIPLE SUPPORTIVE ENHANCEMENTS, SUCH AS FOOD, LEGAL SERVICES, HOUSING COUNSELING, AND TRANSPORTATION; AND 3. RAPID AND SUSTAINED ACCESS INTO PRIMARY CARE AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. THE PROGRAM WILL BE CONDUCTED IN SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA, WITH EMPHASIS IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES: DELAWARE, BERKS, CHESTER, MONTGOMERY, AND BUCKS. THE PROJECT WILL BE STAFFED BY PERSONNEL OF AIDS CARE GROUP WITHIN THEIR FOUR CLINICAL LOCATIONS; AND SUPPORTED BY LOCAL HEALTH, JUDICIAL, AND SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES. TARGET POPULATION THE TARGETED POPULATIONS LIVE AMONG THE HAVE-NOTS IN A MIX OF EXTREMES: RICH AND POOR; DURABLY HOUSED AND MARGINALLY HOUSED; WELL-NOURISHED AND UNDER-NOURISHED; WELL-EDUCATED AND UNDER-EDUCATED; SECURELY EMPLOYED AND UNEMPLOYED. THE FIVE TARGETED COUNTIES ARE IN THE TOP ELEVEN IN PENNSYLVANIA FOR BOTH INCIDENCE AND PREVALENCE OF HIV/AIDS. THE PRINCIPAL TARGETED COMMUNITY, CITY OF CHESTER, IS THE THIRD POOREST CITY OF ITS SIZE IN THE UNITED STATES; HAS THE HIGHEST CRIME RATE PER 100,000 POPULATION IN PENNSYLVANIA; AND HAS AN HIV DISEASE PREVALENCE RATE OF OVER 3% OF THE CITY’S POPULATION. CHESTER’S POPULATION IS 70% BLACK; 14% LATINO; AND 16% WHITE. THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY IS ONE DEFINED TO HAVE SIGNIFICANT UNMET MEDICAL AND SOCIAL-SERVICE NEEDS. OTHER COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE FIVE COUNTIES THAT HAVE SIMILAR SOCIO-ECONOMIC MARKERS INCLUDE: READING IN BERKS COUNTY; AND COATESVILLE IN CHESTER COUNTY. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR EACH OF THE FOUR YEARS OF THE PROJECT PERIOD GOAL: IMPROVE CLINICAL OUTCOMES OF HIV LINKAGE AND RETENTION IN CARE WITH MEASURABLE INCREASES IN SUPPRESSED VIRAL LOADS FOR 120 INDIVIDUALS WHO IDENTIFY AS MINORITY. OBJECTIVES: 1. PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE PATIENT NAVIGATION BY COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS TO 120 INDIVIDUALS WHO IDENTIFY AS MINORITY OVER A FOUR-YEAR PERIOD. PROVIDE BUNDLED SERVICES BUILT ON A FOUNDATION OF CURRENTLY ACCEPTED EVIDENCE-INFORMED INTERVENTIONS. 2. MEET ALL OFFICE OF HUMAN RESEARCH POTENTIAL OBLIGATIONS TO CONDUCT APPROVED MODELS OF OUTREACH, EDUCATION, COUNSELING, AND REFERRAL SERVICES. 3. WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH AN EVALUATION AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDER AND HRSA FOR THE COLLECTION OF RESEARCH DATA, ASSESSMENTS, AND PUBLISHED REPORTS. 4. CREATE REPLICATION AND DISSEMINATION PLANS AND DEFINE A SOUND FISCAL APPROACH TO SUSTAINABILITY OF THE PROJECT BEYOND THE FOUR YEARS OF THE PROJECT’S FUNDING PERIOD. SUMMARY OF FUNDING: REQUEST IS MADE FOR $500,000 IN YEAR ONE; AND $700,000 IN YEARS 2, 3, AND 4. SYSTEM-LEVEL SYSTEMIC APPROACHES TO IMPROVE HIV CARE AND TREATMENT FOR PEOPLE FROM RACIAL AND ETHNIC MINORITY GROUPS AIDS CARE GROUP HRSA-24-107

COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING/CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING - CONSTRUCTION - PROJECT NAME: CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING-AIDS CARE GROUP PURPOSE: CAPITAL EXPANSION PROJECT TO SUPPORT AIDS CARE GROUP’S CENTER OF INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE IN THE CITY OF CHESTER TO PROVIDE OPIOID USE DISORDER AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES; TEST AND TREAT FOR STDS, HIV, AND HEPATITIS C; AND SERVE AS A CLINICAL TRAINING SITE FOR WIDENER UNIVERSITY DOCTORAL CANDIDATES IN PSYCHOLOGY. AMOUNT OF CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING FUNDS ALLOCATED: $1,000,000 LOCATION OF PROJECT: 2304 EDGMONT AVENUE CITY OF CHESTER, 19013 - DELAWARE COUNTY; PA-05 SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT: FACILITY EXPANSION OF FORMER MEDICAL PRACTICE IN THE CITY OF CHESTER TO IMPROVE ACCESS AND QUALITY OF CARE FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS NEEDING OPIOID USE DISORDER CARE, MEDICATION ASSISTED THERAPIES, AND MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING. ABSTRACT NARRATIVE: PROJECT FUNDING IS DIRECTED EXCLUSIVELY TO CAPITAL EXPANSION WITHIN A BUILDING CURRENTLY OWNED BY AIDS CARE GROUP IN THE CITY OF CHESTER. THE CAPITAL EXPANSION WILL TRIPLE THE UTILIZABLE SPACE THROUGH RESTORATION AND MODERNIZATION; ACCOMMODATE HANDICAP ACCESSIBILITY, BRING THE BUILDING INTO CONFORMITY WITH LOCAL BUILDING CODES, AND ALLOW FOR THE EXPANSION OF CLINICAL SERVICES TO RESIDENTS OF CHESTER AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES WITHIN PA-05 WHO ARE IN NEED OF TREATMENT FOR OPIOID USE DISORDERS. FUNDING THROUGH THIS PROJECT WILL ALLOW AIDS CARE GROUP TO HAVE THE FACILITY TO EXPAND MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT, PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES (BOTH INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING), AND MEDICAL TREATMENT ON SITE (SCREENING, TESTING AND TREATMENT FOR STDS, HEPATITIS C AND HIV). TO INVEST IN THE CITY OF CHESTER, DELAWARE COUNTY, PA IS TO RECOGNIZE ACCELERATING NEEDS FOR AN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY DESPERATELY TRYING TO EXTRICATE ITSELF FROM MULTIPLE DETERIORATING PUBLIC HEALTH MARKERS AND OTHER SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH. AMONG THESE MARKERS ARE RISING RATES OF STDS, HEPATITIS C, OPIOID USE DISORDERS, MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS, AND HIV/AIDS. AIDS CARE GROUP HAS BEEN A FEDERALLY-FUNDED MEDICAL PROVIDER AGENCY WITH ITS PRINCIPAL OFFICES IN THE CITY OF CHESTER SINCE JANUARY 1998. OVER 3,500 PATIENTS HAVE BEEN SERVED AND CURRENTLY THERE ARE OVER 1,000 RECEIVING CARE FOR HIV/AIDS AND ANOTHER 550 PATIENTS WHO HAVE RECEIVED SERVICES FOR OPIOID USE DISORDERS, HEPATITIS C, OR STD TESTING AND TREATMENTS. OPPORTUNITIES MADE AVAILABLE FROM COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING WILL HELP TO SERVE AS ECONOMIC ENGINES TO CONVERT DREAMS INTO REALITY TO PROVIDE FACILITIES THAT WILL BE RAPIDLY DEPLOYED TO INCREASE SERVICES, HELP TRAIN FUTURE CLINICIANS, RE-INVEST IN WORKFORCE EXPANSION, AND WORK WITH UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS DESPERATELY IN NEED OF SPECIALTY SERVICES IN THE AREAS OF STDS, HEPATITIS C, OPIOID USE DISORDERS, AND MENTAL HEALTH.

SPECIAL PROJECTS OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE

SUPPORTIVE HOUSING NEW

SPECIAL PROJECTS OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE

RYAN WHITE TITLE III HIV CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING GRANTS - PROJECT ABSTRACT TITLE: FY 2023 PART C CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT FUNDING (HRSA-23-052) APPLICANT: AIDS CARE GROUP 2304 EDGMONT AVENUE, CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA 19013 CONTACT: HOWELL IRA STRAUSS, DMD; PHONE: 610-389-2301; FAX: 610-534-2504 EMAIL: HOWELLSTRAUSS@AIDSCAREGROUP.ORG WEB: WWW.AIDSCAREGROUP.ORG SUMMARY OF PROJECT AIDS CARE GROUP, A RYAN WHITE PART C PROVIDER SINCE JULY 1, 1999 WILL UTILIZE PART C CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT FUNDS TO IMPLEMENT A ONE-YEAR PROGRAM OF HIV CARE INNOVATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF ESTABLISHING AGENCY-WIDE LONG-TERM CAPACITY FOR PARTNER VIOLENCE SCREENING AND COUNSELING. THIS SUPPORTIVE ACTIVITY WILL BE DEVELOPED TO IMPROVE THE IDENTIFICATION AND THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE ON-SITE OR REFERRAL SERVICES FOR UNDERSERVED WOMEN LIVING WITH HIV WHO HAVE LIVED WITH OR ARE CURRENTLY STRESSED BY THE BURDENS OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE (IPV). UNDERSTANDING THE INTENSE STIGMA RELATED TO IPV, THE UTILIZATION OF CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT FUNDING WILL BE DIRECTED TO THE IDENTIFICATION OF A DISTINCT DESIGNATION OF SERVICES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY OF AIDS CARE GROUP; BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, DISSEMINATED TO ALL STAFF MEMBERS OF THE AGENCY. WORKING FROM WITHIN THE AGENCY AND AMONG ALL STAFF MEMBERS SO THAT OUTREACH OF INFORMATION AND REFERRALS INTO CLINICAL CARE FOR NEEDY PATIENTS CAN BE SEEN AS A UNIVERSAL COMPONENT OF CARE IS BEING DEFINED AS AN IMPORTANT FOUNDATION FOR IPV PROGRAMS. CURRENT CONDITIONS OF COMMUNITY HEALTH AND ECONOMIC RESOURCES FOR MINORITY COMMUNITIES HAVE DETERIORATED SIGNIFICANTLY STARTING IN MARCH 2020 DUE TO COVID-19; AND ARE STILL NOT EXPECTED TO REGAIN PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS FOR MANY MONTHS. IPV HAS BEEN AN UNDER-RECOGNIZED AND UNDER-REFERENCED CONDITION IN THE HEALTH HISTORIES OF MANY OF THE PATIENTS OF AIDS CARE GROUP AND MAY BE DIRECTLY LINKED TO THE INABILITY OF THE AGENCY TO MOVE PAST 90% VIRAL SUPPRESSION RATES AMONG ALL PATIENTS IN CARE. CONSEQUENTLY, FOR INDIVIDUAL AND COMMUNITY HEALTH, THE DEVELOPMENT O F AN IPV PROGRAM THAT IS IDENTIFIABLE AND CAPABLE OF INITIATING TIMELY REFERRALS INTO CARE TO WOMEN LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS IS ESSENTIAL AT THIS TIME. THE PROGRAM WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN DELAWARE COUNTY AND BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA BY STAFF OF AIDS CARE GROUP WITHIN THEIR FOUR CLINICAL LOCATIONS; WITH COLLABORATIONS BY LOCAL HEALTH, LEGAL, AND SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES. TARGET POPULATION RESIDING PREDOMINATELY IN DELAWARE COUNTY, BUT ACCESSING CARE FROM OTHER SURROUNDING COUNTIES OF SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA, THE TARGETED POPULATION OF WOMEN LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS LIVES AMONG THE HAVE-NOTS IN A MIX OF EXTREMES: RICH AND POOR; DURABLY HOUSED AND MARGINALLY HOUSED; WELL-NOURISHED AND UNDER-NOURISHED; WELL-EDUCATED AND UNDER-EDUCATED; SECURELY EMPLOYED AND UNEMPLOYED; EMOTIONALLY SECURE AND EMOTIONALLY AND PHYSICALLY VIOLATED. IF THERE ARE MEASURABLE HEALTH INDICATORS THAT REPRESENTS INFECTIOUS DISEASE, POOR ACCESS TO CARE, AND OTHER NEGATIVE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH, THEN THEY CAN BE FOUND EASILY AMONG TWO OF THE AGENCY’S TARGETED COUNTY’S LARGEST AND POOREST CITIES: CITY OF CHESTER, DELAWARE COUNTY; AND READING, BERKS COUNTY. MORE IMPORTANTLY, REGARDLESS OF WEALTH, EDUCATION, GENDER, OR RACE, IPV HAS HAD AN IMPACT ON THESE COMMUNITIES; AND THIS IMPACT IS AFFECTING THE ABILITY OF PROVIDERS OF AIDS SERVICES TO WITNESS SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS IN THE RETENTION IN CARE AND SUPPRESSED VIRAL LOADS AMONG PERSONS IN CARE. SUMMARY OF FUNDING : REQUEST IS MADE FOR $150,000 FOR THE ONE-YEAR PROJECT.

RYAN WHITE TITLE III HIV CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING GRANTS - TITLE: RWHAP PART C CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM-HRSA-22-019 APPLICANT: AIDS CARE GROUP 2304 EDGMONT AVENUE, CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA 19013 CONTACT: HOWELL IRA STRAUSS, DMD; PHONE: 610-389-2301; FAX: 610-534-2504 EMAIL: HOWELLSTRAUSS@AIDSCAREGROUP.ORG WEB: WWW.AIDSCAREGROUP.ORG SUMMARY OF PROJECT AIDS CARE GROUP, A RYAN WHITE PART C PROVIDER SINCE JULY 1ST, 1999, WILL UTILIZE PART C CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT FUNDING TO IMPLEMENT A ONE-YEAR PROGRAM OF INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE PURPOSES OF ESTABLISHING AGENCY-WIDE LONG-TERM CAPACITY FOR EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS. THIS SUPPORTIVE ACTIVITY WILL BE DEVELOPED FOR THE PURPOSES OF ESTABLISHING A COMPREHENSIVE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PLAN FOR ENSURING CONTINUITY OF CARE TO HIV/AIDS PATIENTS RETAINED IN CARE BY THE AGENCY. THROUGHOUT THE 24-YEAR HISTORY OF AIDS CARE GROUP, THE AGENCY HAS CONTENDED WITH A MULTITUDE OF INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL EMERGENCIES THAT HAVE DISRUPTED THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE CARE TO OUR PATIENTS, FROM NATURAL DISASTERS TO PANDEMIC DISEASE. WE HAVE DEALT WITH EVERYTHING FROM FIRES TO SNOWSTORMS, FROM SEWER BACKUPS TO POWER OUTAGES. EACH TIME, STAFF MEMBERS OF THE AGENCY HAVE FACED THE EMERGENCY AT HAND WITH DRIVE AND DETERMINATION – THEY ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM, DETERMINED A SOLUTION, AND RESUMED THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE CARE TO PATIENTS QUICKLY AND SAFELY. HOWEVER, THE PAST TWO YEARS HAVE CLEARLY SHOWN US THAT IT’S NO LONGER TENABLE TO ADDRESS EMERGENCY PROBLEMS WHEN THEY ARISE. INSTEAD, AGENCIES MUST TAKE A MORE PROACTIVE APPROACH IF THEY HOPE TO BE ABLE TO BE PREPARED FOR THE UNCERTAINTY OF TOMORROW. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS MUST NOW FOCUS ON THE IDENTIFICATION OF HAZARD THREATS BEFORE THEY OCCUR, ADDRESS THE POTENTIAL MITIGATION OF SUCH THREATS, DEVELOP A PLAN FOR RESPONDING TO THREATS WHEN THEY DO ARISE, AND A PLAN FOR RESUMING NORMAL OPERATIONS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. COMMUNICATIONS, CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS, AND STAFF TRAINING PLANS MUST BE DEVELOPED. EVERY KEY MEMBER OF THE ORGANIZA TION MUST RECEIVE INITIAL AND ONGOING TRAINING ON WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF EMERGENCY SO THAT WHEN EMERGENCIES ARISE, THEY KNOW WHERE TO BE AND WHAT TO DO. ADDITIONALLY, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS CANNOT BE CONDUCTED IN A VACUUM. STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS NEED TO BE FORGED WITH LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLANNERS AND HEALTH CARE COALITIONS SO THAT WE MAY SHARE VALUABLE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES AND RESPOND TO EMERGENCIES THAT THREATEN TO OVERWHELM THE LOCAL HEALTHCARE COMMUNITY. THE PANDEMIC EVENTS OF THE PAST TWO YEARS HAVE SERVED AS A DIRE WARNING FOR WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN SYSTEMS FAIL. OVERNIGHT, OUR ABILITY TO PROVIDE CONTINUOUS CARE TO OUR PATIENTS WAS THREATENED BY COMPOUNDING EMERGENCIES, SUPPLY-CHAIN FAILURES, SOCIAL UNREST, AND A LACK OF INFORMATION. IT FELT LIKE EVERY DAY WE WERE RESPONDING TO A NEW EMERGENCY, AND IT BECAME NECESSARY TO HANDLE MULTIPLE PRESSING ISSUES AT THE SAME TIME – LIKE SOURCING TOILET PAPER, MASKS, AND PAPER TOWELS WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY ENSURING PATIENTS COULD CONTINUE THEIR MEDICAL CARE SAFELY. THESE EXPERIENCES, WHEN COMBINED WITH THE EXPERIENCES OF THE LAST 24 YEARS, HAVE AMPLIFIED THE CALL TO CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE ALL-HAZARDS VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT AND DEVELOP A ROBUST EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN. THE HEALTHCARE LANDSCAPE IS EVER CHANGING, BUT WE WILL MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO BE READY. SUMMARY OF FUNDING : REQUEST IS MADE FOR $150,000 FOR THE ONE-YEAR PROJECT. FUNDING PREFERENCE: UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES

RYAN WHITE TITLE III HIV CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING GRANTS

HOMELESS ASSISTANCE

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

RYAN WHITE TITLE III HIV CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING GRANTS

RYAN WHITE TITLE III HIV CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING GRANTS

SPECIAL PROJECTS OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE

RYAN WHITE HIV/AIDS PROGRAM PART D WICY COVID-19 RESPONSE