Sunday, May 11, 2025
5/11/2025
Ryan White Part C Outpatient EIS Program - Zufall Health Center requests $255,807 for the first year, with a total of $237 over three years, to continue addressing the urgent needs of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH) in the rural northwestern New Jersey counties of Morris, Sussex, Warren, and Hunterdon (MSWH). This funding will support a comprehensive continuum of Early Intervention Services (EIS) and the following five core HIV/AIDS services: 1) Outpatient/Ambulatory Medical Care, 2) Medical Case Management (including Treatment Adherence), 3) Oral Health Care, 4) Mental Health Services, and 5) Medical Nutrition Therapy. Additional support services will include Linkage to Care, Transportation, and Referrals to Care. Zufall is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and one of New Jersey’s largest safety-net providers, serving over 48,000 unduplicated patients in 2023, 76% of whom identify as Hispanic and 50% as uninsured. The MSWH region served faces significant health disparities, with low-income residents, seasonal and migrant farm workers, and uninsured individuals having limited access to essential services. Zufall's integrated, culturally responsive approach addresses these barriers by providing services at nine fixed site locations and through mobile health vans. Zufall has a proven track record of success, having quadrupled the number of PLWH patients served from 72 in 2012 to 338 in 2023. The center maintains high standards of care with Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) recognition and Joint Commission Accreditation. In 2023, Zufall served 338 active RWHAP patients, 79% of whom were linked to care within 30 days of diagnosis, 87% were on antiretroviral therapy, and 82% were virally suppressed. Demographically, 32% of Zufall’s active RWHAP patients identify as gay, 7% as bisexual, 30% as Black, and 49% as Hispanic/Latino. This reflects a substantial representation of minority populations and men who have sex with men (MSM), who are statistically the most at-risk groups for HIV. These figures highlight Zufall’s commitment to providing culturally responsive services and targeted outreach to the populations most in need. Zufall provides additional health services to a high percentage of RWHAP patients: 70% have received tobacco cessation counseling, 73% have undergone cervical cancer screening, 86% have received nutrition screening, and 90% have received depression screening. Without Zufall’s services, PLWH in this area would have limited options for care, reducing their likelihood of being linked to and retained in care and achieving viral suppression through ART, thereby increasing the risk of poorer health outcomes. Zufall’s HIV services focus on early diagnosis, linkage to care, and retention in treatment, aligning with the National HIV/AIDS Strategy goals of reducing new infections, increasing access to care, and reducing HIV-related health disparities. The program includes HIV testing and counseling, rapid initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART), adherence support, and preventive services such as Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (nPEP). The organization collaborates with numerous community partners and participates in local and regional planning councils to enhance service delivery and address the needs of the PLWH population. Zufall continues to address growing care gaps for RWHAP patients, particularly among priority populations. The program's steady growth in patient volume over the last three years highlights the significant and ongoing need for high-quality, affordable HIV primary care services. This funding will enable Zufall to sustain and expand its services, ensuring that PLWH in northwestern New Jersey receive timely, effective, and equitable care they need.
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).