Wednesday, May 14, 2025
5/14/2025
RYAN WHITE TITLE III: EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES - Project Title: Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part C Early Intervention Services Program Existing Geographic Service Areas Applicant Name: Florida Department of Health St. Johns County Address: 200 San Sebastian View, Suite 1100, St. Augustine, FL 32084 Project Director: Karen Watts, RN Phone Numbers: (904) 506-6081 Fax (904) 428-5658 Email: Karen.Watts@flhealth.gov Web Site: http://stjohns.floridahealth.gov/ Program Funds Requested: $964,998.00 ($321,666.00 for each of 3 years) Summary of Proposed Project: The Florida Department of Health in St. Johns County (DOH-St. Johns) proposes a continuation of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) Part C Early Intervention Services (EIS) Grant. HIV/AIDS related services have been funded by RWHAP to DOH-St. Johns since 2000. DOH-St. Johns continues to serve as a principal provider for HIV/AIDS services to at-risk and low-income residents in St. Johns County. Specifically, DOH-St. Johns is applying for the RWHAP Part C EIS grant to continue providing the full continuum of HIV related services including counseling, testing and referral services, diagnosis and treatment of HIV/AIDS, and HIV/AIDS primary care and specialty care. Continuation of this funding will also ensure that clients will be linked to oral health, mental health, substance abuse and nutritional services. All services will be available to residents of St. Johns County and surrounding areas, with an added focus on providing enhanced services to low income and at-risk populations within the county. The St. Johns County at-risk populations consist of African American and Hispanic individuals, individuals living in extreme poverty, drug, and alcohol abusers, mentally ill and mentally impaired, homeless, those involved in the sex trade, and migrant workers. Portions of these populations are educationally challenged and have a low literacy level. The county continues to qualify as a medically underserved region in several of the targeted zip codes which are mainly located in the southeast and southwest quadrants of the county and are where these populations mainly reside. The total estimated population of St. Johns County as of 2022 was 299,827 (Florida Health CHARTS). St. Johns County’s population increased by 43% from 2010 to 2020, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The estimated rate of growth in the county is 4% per year, and the population estimate for the county in 2024 is 333,148 according to Census.gov. The total estimated number of reported HIV/AIDS cases in St. Johns County for 2022 was 662 (Florida Health CHARTS). As the county continues to grow, there is a demonstrated need for the continuation of this funding to support the ongoing provision HIV/AIDs related services. The program currently serves 261 individuals which equates to roughly 39% of the county’s affected population. The current viral load suppression rate for clients being served is 90%.
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).