AIDS Arms, Inc. dba Prism Health North Texas (PHNTX) will continue the Supporting Treatment, Empowerment and Progress (STEP) program whose purpose is to address engagement in care for Black MSM, Hispanic MSM, White MSM, and transgender individuals with substance use disorders (SUD) and/or co-occurring substance use and mental disorders (COD) who are at risk for HIV or HIV positive, through an integrated model of behavioral health (BH) and medical care.
The program will serve an average of 100 unduplicated clients annually and 500 unduplicated clients in total through an integrated model of care utilizing evidenced-based practices (EBP) and supportive services. The EBPs will include Counseling, Testing and Referral, Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment, Integrated Treatment for CODs, Behavioral Activation for Methamphetamine Dependence, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), CBT for HIV Medication Adherence and Depression, Motivational Interviewing, and Peer Recovery Support Services (PRSS). The supportive services will include HIV and Viral Hepatitis (VH) testing and linkage to treatment, case management, PrEP services, medical care, integrated behavioral health, recovery support services, and linkage to SUD treatment. In addition, a program advisory board with membership comprised of program participants will provide feedback regarding program development and enhancement. The STEP program goals, and measurable objectives include:
-Expand SUD/COD treatment and recovery support services by increasing access and availability to the populations of focus.
By 9/29/2027, increase utilization of integrated BH services for 95% of clients who are screened positive for SUD and/or COD and enrolled into the program.
By 9/29/2027, increase engagement and retention in care in 90% of clients through focused CBT interventions and Peer Recovery Support Services.
By 9/29/2027, increase patient self-efficacy in 85% of clients identified through the GPRA survey administered at intake, 6-month follow-up, and discharge.
By 9/29/2027, decrease negative symptoms of SUD/COD in 85% of clients identified through EBP screening tools and GPRA administered at intake, 6-month follow-up, and discharge.
By 9/29/2027, provide services with high-fidelity to EBP by observing 100% of staff monthly utilizing the BH Observation Form.
-Increase linkage to and engagement in HIV and VH testing, risk reduction education, case management (CM) services, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) services, and treatment for populations of focus and their drug-using and/or sexual partners.
By 9/29/2027, increase in number of individuals tested for HIV and VH through outreach and in-house testing identified through completed tests in electronic health record (EHR).
By 9/29/2027, 90% of HIV positive clients engaged in HIV medical care identified through appointment completion in EHR.
By 9/29/2027, 80% of individuals tested positive for HIV linked to integrated care identified through appointment completion in EHR.
By 9/29/2027, 100% of individuals tested negative for HIV linked to PrEP services identified through appointment completion in EHR.
By 9/29/2027, 80% of individuals tested positive for VH linked to case management identified through appointment completion in EHR.
By 9/29/2027, 95% of individuals tested for HIV/VH completed risk reduction education identified through education completion in EHR.
By 9/29/2027, 100% of individuals tested for HIV/VH provided materials to refer drug-using and/or sexual partners to HIV/VH testing identified through education completion in EHR.