Tuesday, June 10, 2025
6/10/2025
OP EARLY INTERVENTION SVC W/RESPECT TO HIV DISEASE - The following narrative contains a general overview of the HIV epidemiology for the designated service area as specified in this grant funding request. The counties that will be the area of focus for this funding request are Baldwin, Choctaw, Clarke, Mobile, Monroe, and Washington. In the decades since the first AIDS cases were reported in 1981, the epicenter of the nation’s HIV epidemic has shifted from urban centers along the coasts to the 16 states and District of Columbia that make up the South. HIV in the southern United States is a significant public health issue. The region accounts for a disproportionate number of new HIV diagnoses and has higher rates of HIV-related deaths compared to other parts of the country. Factors contributing to the high prevalence of HIV in the South include poverty, lack of access to healthcare, stigma, and discrimination. Efforts to address HIV in the South include increasing access to testing, prevention education, and healthcare services, as well as reducing stigma to encourage more people to seek testing and treatment. It is important for communities, healthcare providers, and policymakers to work together to combat HIV in the southern United States. In the southern United States, a comprehensive approach to HIV support is critical in addressing the complex challenges faced by people living with HIV (PLWH). The narrative below includes a few key HIV supports provided by the Mobile County Health Department’s (MCHD) Family Health (FH) primary care division. Family Health provides mental health services, counseling, and support groups to help individuals cope with the emotional and psychological impact of living with HIV. Additionally, FH offers support for individuals dealing with substance abuse issues, as substance use can impact HIV treatment adherence and overall health outcomes. Lastly, FH has implemented programs to reduce HIV-related stigma and discrimination, which can prevent individuals from seeking testing, treatment, and support services. By addressing these key areas of need, FH is bettering its community in support of individuals living with HIV and working towards reducing new HIV infections and improving health outcomes. According to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s “County Health Rankings 2024,” Mobile County’s HIV prevalence rate, among people aged 13+ years per 100,000 population, is 563 (26-point increase from 2021). This is a dramatically higher rate than that experienced by the state of Alabama which is 340/100,000 population. A high HIV prevalence rate indicates Mobile County has a higher incidence for other sexually transmitted diseases resulting from high-risk sex behaviors. Choctaw’s HIV prevalence rate is 279, and Baldwin has a rate of 174. The HIV prevalence rate in Clarke County is 202 and in Monroe the rate is 208 and Washington County is 116. The key services that will be supported by this funding request totaling $724,745, are listed as follows: Outpatient/Ambulatory Health Services, Oral Health Care, Early Intervention Services (EIS), Mental Health Services, Medical Nutrition Therapy, Medical Case Management, including Treatment Adherence Services, Substance Abuse Outpatient Care, Non-Medical Case Management Services, Food Bank/Home Delivered Meals, Health Education/Risk Reduction, Linguistic Services, Medical Transportation, Outreach Services, Psychosocial Support Services, and Referral for Health Care and Support Services. The target populations (including sub-populations) that will be served by this request are: White/non-Hispanic persons, as well as minority populations including Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, and Asian, and additional sub-populations including sex workers, gay men and other men who have sex with men, transgender people, people who inject drugs, and people in prisons, persons in public housing, people experiencing homelessness, and agricultural/migrant workers.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).