Saturday, November 23, 2024
11/23/2024
The Navigate to Health program will link 500 (100 per year) racial and ethnic minority youth ages 13-24 who are experiencing homelessness in San Francisco, CA to substance abuse and HIV/HCV prevention and care services through the implementation of a robust trauma-informed navigation strategy and partnerships with community sectors. In San Francisco, over 1,100 unaccompanied youth under the age of 25 were experiencing homelessness in 2019; over 80% are racial and ethnic minorities; 46% self-identify as LGBTQ+; 48% live with mental health issues; 31% self-report use of drugs and/or alcohol; and 8% know that they are living with HIV. Young people experiencing homelessness are a highly vulnerable population, having experienced extensive lifetime trauma both in their homes of origin, and living on the streets. The intersection of homelessness, food insecurity, and trauma place these youth at greater risk for substance use, HIV, and poor health. The Navigate to Health program is based on an empirically supported model of patient navigation that includes individualized care coordination and has demonstrated success in decreasing barriers to substance use and HIV testing and care. The Navigate to Health program will build on an existing successful collaboration of the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Nursing and Larkin Street Youth Services (LSYS) to achieve two main goals. First, the team will enroll existing and new LSYS clients into the Navigate to Health program to decrease substance use among clients by implementing navigation services to link clients to evidence-based programs that address underlying trauma and risk behaviors that lead to and exacerbate substance use. By the end of July 2025, the project will increase the number of clients screened for substance use by LSYS from 0/year to 200/year; Connect 100% of clients whose S2BI screen overall substance use risk is “Lower Risk”, or “Higher Risk” to patient navigation; and Link at least 60% of clients to evidence-based substance use treatment services. The second project goal is to increase client access to the HIV Status Neutral Continuum of HIV testing and treatment (pre-exposure prophylaxis, HIV care) and to viral hepatitis testing and treatment by implementing navigation services to link clients to evidence-based prevention, testing, and treatment services. By the end of July 2025, the project will increase the number of clients tested for HIV and HCV by LSYS from 250/year to 350/year, and 150/year to 250/year, respectively; Increase the number of clients who are linked to HIV prevention (PrEP) from 20/year to 100/year; Increase the proportion of HIV-positive clients linked to HIV care services from 80%/year to 90%/year, engaged in care from 75%/year to 85%/year, and retained in care from 60%/year to 75%/year; Among viral hepatitis-positive clients, ensure 50%/year are linked to care, 40%/year are engaged in care, and 80%/year retained in care; and Train 100/year substance use counselors and health care providers in San Francisco on the importance of HIV screening and assuring that HIV clinical care needs are met, and on the intersection of HIV and substance use.
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).
