Thursday, November 21, 2024
11/21/2024
Centerstone’s Wellness on Wheels (C-WoW) will take a syndemic approach to providing portable clinical care focused on integrating low barrier substance use disorder (SUD) treatment; HIV and other infectious diseases/conditions testing and treatment; mental health care; and harm reduction services for an unduplicated total of 300 individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness in rural DeSoto and non-rural Manatee counties, Florida, across the 3-year project period (Y1: 60; Y2: 110; Y3: 130). Demographics and clinical characteristics of focus population individuals will mirror those of the unsheltered population in Florida’s Continua of Care (CoCs) 500 and 517 serving catchment area counties, with 49% male, 51% female, 75% White, 24% Black, and 37% Hispanic individuals. Based on the FL-500/517 CoCs, C-WoW’s subpopulations are expected to include 242 racial/ ethnic minorities; 67 sexual/gender minorities; and 28 Veterans. Rates of health/behavioral conditions among focus populations are higher than catchment area individuals: HIV (0.5% vs. 0.3%, respectively), hepatitis C (22% vs. 0.04%), chlamydia (7% vs. 0.4%), and serious mental illness (14% vs. 6%). Co-occurring HIV and mental illness are expected among 50% of the focus population, and nearly 12% will experience SUD. Opioid misuse contributes to HIV prevalence, with nearly 17% of those who are HIV positive having had injected drugs. C-WoW’s evidence-based strategies/interventions include the San Francisco Department of Public Health’s Homeless Health Outreach and Mobile Engagement (HHOME) program, SAMHSA’s TIP 59: Improving Cultural Competence, and SAMHSA’s Harm Reduction Framework to guide overall activities; on-site Intensive Case Management, Motivational Interviewing, and SOAR; facility-based Community-Friendly Healthy Recovery Program; and other facility-based interventions at Centerstone available to C-WoW participants per their goals/ needs (e.g., Medication Assisted Treatment, Hazelden’s Co-Occurring Disorders Program, Whole Health Action Management, DIMENSIONS). C-WoW’s goals include: 1) Implement a pilot project for underserved populations experiencing unsheltered homelessness through the provision of portable clinical care, focused on the integration of behavioral health and HIV treatment and prevention services; 2) Develop/implement system capacity building activities to enhance and sustain project services; 3) Increase on-site point of care for the focus population; 4) Decrease barriers to care for the focus population; and 4) Develop/disseminate a documented service model/pilot program for replication/adoption. C-WoW’s measurable participant-related objectives include conducting screenings/assessments and/or testing for HIV, hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), Mpox, tuberculosis, SUD/COD, and other mental health conditions; developing Individual Treatment and Service Plans; and providing case management, care coordination, linkage to services for 300 individuals. For 100% of participants per their needs/goals, C-WoW will provide on-site low-barrier SUD treatments, including FDA-approved medications, primary care health services, and infectious disease services; linkages to housing resources; and transportation to infectious disease treatment/vaccination and to PrEP/PEP, SUD/COD/mental health treatment, primary care treatment services, Mpox, and recovery support services. C-WoW will increase access to trauma-informed, culturally responsive, integrated mental healthcare services among 80% and to harm reduction education, supplies, and other related services among 100% of participants. Additional objectives include training 50 Centerstone/project staff and other providers in SUD/co-occurring disorders identification, culturally-/linguistically-appropriate care, harm reduction, HIV/infectious disease treatment/prevention, etc. and establishing an Advisory Council comprising 20% focus population/individuals with lived experience.
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).
