Thursday, April 10, 2025
4/10/2025
AFC Prevention Navigator Program (AR) - Ambassadors For Christ Youth Ministries' (AFC) Project EQUIP will utilize coordinate and integrated strategies to deliver substance abuse, HIV and viral hepatitis (VH) prevention education, HIV and VH testing, and navigation services in the geographical catchment area of Pine Bluff, Arkansas - one of the most in need and impoverished areas in the state. The project will target 1,500 racial/ethnic minority youth and young adults (ages 13-24) over the 5 year project period (300 per year), with a special focus on African American males who have sex with males (MSM), illegal drug users, and other at-risk ethnic minorities. The GOALS of Project EQUIP are to: 1) Enhance local capacity and mobilize community resources to implement a coordinated Prevention Navigator model aimed at reducing the onset of substance misuse, and the prevention/transmission of HIV and VH among the target population: 2) Provide intensive case management that will navigate program participants through HIV/VH screening and testing; evidence-based education on HIV/STD prevention and risky behaviors; peer support; and services linkages to HIV, VH and substance abuse treatment; 3) Implement multi-faceted outreach and community awareness campaigns focused on HIV/AIDS and VH prevention and treatment, sexual health, and substance abuse; and the stigmas associated with them; and 4) Generate outcome and process evaluation data to analyze the effectiveness of the project. The OBJECTIVES of the project are to: 1) Host annual strategic planning meetings with partners, local agencies, community-based organizations, advocacy groups, and other community stakeholders with the aim of increasing local capacity and community resources; 2) provide quarterly education/training sessions to healthcare and treatment providers, and other key staff/contractors, on the importance of screening for HIV and assuring that clinical care needs are met if an individual is determined to be infected with HIV; 3) provide evidence-based substance abuse, and HIV/STD prevention cohorts, as well as education on the stigma and rumors associated with them to 1,000 program participants by the end of the fifth project year; 4) increase knowledge about HIV, VH and substance abuse by 80% among program participants; 5) provide HIV testing for 100 program participants annually; 6) reduce the number of program participants who use alcohol, illegal drugs, and/or engage in high-risk sexual behaviors by 30% annually; 7) increase program participants' access to and retention in care through intensive case management by 30% annually; 8) conduct at least 6 public messaging and social media awareness campaigns (annually) on the risk of substance misuse among individuals living with HIV, and the importance of seeking care and treatment; 9) conduct at least 3 community wide special events annually promoting substance abuse and HIV prevention; and 10) facilitate ongoing monitoring and assessment of program effectiveness, fidelity to implementation model, success and challenges, and quality improvement activities; and provide quarterly reports of the findings to the staff and steering committee in order to achieve desired outcomes.
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).