La Clínica del Pueblo's MAI: High-Risk Populations project specifically targets the low-income, limited English-proficient Latinx community residing in Washington, DC, and Prince George's County, MD, facing substance use disorders (SUDs) and/or co-occurring SUDs and mental health conditions (COD). It focuses on individuals who self-identify as men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TG) aged 18 and above who are either HIV-positive or at high risk of contracting HIV. The project aims to increase engagement in care for 200 members of the focus population throughout the grant period by providing access to high-quality, culturally, and linguistically competent, evidence-based substance abuse treatment, HIV and viral hepatitis testing and treatment, and access to PEP/PrEP. This purpose directly responds to SAMHSA's overarching purpose for the MAI: High-Risk Populations program. La Clínica's project aims to continue and expand upon the achievements of our current TCE-HIV High-Risk Populations project, which has received funding under SAMHSA TI-17-011 and is set to conclude on 09/30/2023. It will build on the existing program based on the Matrix Model and Trauma Recovery and Empowerment Model (TREM) evidence-based interventions, which were tailored for the focus population and integrated into our substance use programming with the support of SAMHSA TI-17-011 funding. It includes case management, mental health evaluation and treatment, HIV/viral hepatitis testing, education, and linkage to care as integral program components. To achieve its purpose, the project will meet the following goals and objectives:
Goal 1: Increase the focus population's participation in care by providing access to high-quality, culturally and linguistically competent, evidence-based substance abuse treatment.
1.1: Conduct at least 75 outreach contacts with Latinx on the relationship between trauma and substance abuse and the availability of La Clínica's treatment and education program through a social and traditional media campaign and community education events; 1.2: Provide 200 unduplicated members of the focus population with outpatient and intensive outpatient substance abuse treatment services, and when needed refer individuals to La Clínica's medical services for FDA-approved medication treatment.
Goal 2: Provide access to members of the focus population participating in La Clínica's substance abuse treatment to HIV/viral hepatitis prevention, care, and treatment services.
2.1: Provide HIV education, testing, risk reduction counseling, and treatment as needed; 2.2: Provide viral hepatitis education, testing, risk reduction counseling, and treatment; 2.3: Navigate substance abuse treatment clients with identified HIV and/or viral Hepatitis to La Clínica's medical services for confirmatory testing and follow-up care; 2.4: Provide education, case management, and referral to PrEP and PEP services as needed.
Goal 3: Evaluate the program's success in providing effective, culturally, and linguistically appropriate treatment options for the focus population.
3.1: Collect data and report performance on key performance measures under the SAMHSA SPARS system; 3.2: Conduct annual local performance assessments to determine the success of the program model in meeting substance abuse treatment needs; 3.3: Conduct an annual event to disseminate best practices and lessons learned among key stakeholders to promote and inform the development of system improvements intended to expand SUD/COD, HIV, and viral hepatitis prevention and care, focused on the DC Metro region Latinx community's needs.
