Friday, November 22, 2024
11/22/2024
Project Abstract Tarzana Treatment Centers, Inc. (TTC) will strengthen and enhance its integrated, whole-person system of care and prevention services for individuals with mental health or co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders (CODs) who are living with or at risk for HIV and Hepatitis in Los Angeles County (LAC). TTC’s Whole Health Integration Project Plus Social Networking Strategy (WHIP+SNS) will target men who have sex with men (MSM), people who inject drugs (PWID), and others at risk for HIV/Hepatitis, with a focus on racial/ethnic minorities. LAC has the second largest number of persons living with diagnosed HIV (PLWDH) in the U.S. and minorities are at greatest risk with an incidence rate of 39 (per 100,000) for Black and 14 for Latinx compared to 10 for Whites (2019). Among LAC National HIV Behavioral Surveillance (NHBS) respondents, HIV positivity was highest for Black MSM at 36% followed by Latinx MSM at 18% and White MSM at 15%. White MSM had higher levels of testing than Latinx and Black MSM (83%), and White MSM participants were more likely to have used PrEP consistently for 2 or more months in the past year than Black or Latinx MSM participants. Viral suppression was also lower for Blacks and Latinx compared to Whites. Limited access to care seems to be driving these disparities with a higher proportion of minorities experiencing HIV service gaps. An even high proportion of PLWDH with a history of mental illness or recent substance use experienced service gaps. TTC has long sought to address the complex needs of the target population by co-locating an integrating behavioral health services with HIV services. However, funding for outreach services has been limited, so marginalized individuals at highest risk are not being reached. As one of the largest behavioral health agencies in LAC, TTC will identify and engage participants through implementation of an innovative community-based social networking strategy in conjunction with in-reach at TTC’s substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and mental health services programs, Syringe Exchange Program, and HIV Specialty Care/PrEP Clinic. The overall aim of TTC’s WHIP+SNS is to expand access to fully integrated evidence-based, culturally competent behavioral health services and HIV/Hepatitis testing and care/prevention services for those most at risk for HIV/Hepatitis in LAC. The project will address the identified disparities (higher infection rates among racial/ethnic minorities) and service gaps (lack of coordinated case management to assist individuals with mental illness or COD and limited funding for outreach services to reach marginalized individuals) leading to a reduction in the incidence of HIV and Hepatitis and improved health outcomes for the target population. In order to accomplish this, WHIP+SNS will: 1) identify the target population through implementation of an innovative evidence-supported outreach and engagement practice called Social Network Strategy (SNS) as well as in-reach at TTC service sites; 2) provide HIV/Hepatitis prevention services, including screening, risk assessment, prevention counseling, HIV/Hepatitis testing, referral to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and hepatitis vaccination within a behavioral healthcare setting; 3) screen and assess all participants for mental health disorders or COD and provide them with culturally- and trauma-informed behavioral healthcare services; 4) provide referral and linkage services through enhanced patient navigation and case management to a full continuum of services offered on site at TTC, including primary HIV/Hepatitis treatment and care and PrEP services; and 5) offer peer support groups utilizing Whole Health Action Management (WHAM). TTC will serve a minimum of 75 unduplicated individuals in Year 1 and 80 annually in Years 2-4 for a total of 315 unduplicated individuals served.
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).
