Wednesday, January 15, 2025
1/15/2025
In NYC, STI rates are significantly higher among Black New Yorkers compared to white New Yorkers, as well as higher in neighborhoods with a high level of poverty compared to neighborhoods with lower levels of poverty. Transgender, gender non-conforming, and non-binary (TGNCNB) individuals experience chronic health conditions, as well as a higher rate of health concerns related to HIV, STIs, substance use, and mental health, compared with the general population, and transgender women, particularly those experiencing poverty and who are women of color, have a high prevalence of HIV and STIs in NYC. Because of socioeconomic and sociopolitical barriers often faced by TGNCNB individuals in health care settings and in the world at large, illness may go undiagnosed and untreated and quality care may feel out of reach. One way to address this is to integrate gender-affirming care into health settings. Gender-affirming care may include hormone therapy and gender-affirming surgeries, but it can also be accomplished by ensuring clinicians and staff are knowledgeable and comfortable asking about pronouns, reconciling name differences on documents, and taking medical history in an informed, respectful, and non-judgmental manner. NYC DOHMH sexual health clinics, run by the Bureau of Public Health Clinics (BPHC), are well-placed to help identify and rectify problems TGNCNB people might face in accessing care because they see large numbers of uninsured clients, have a public mission, and are identified as sites where patients can get both immediate care and referrals to other services. BPHC clinics are in neighborhoods that experience excess burdens of health inequities. The catchment area is neighborhoods surrounding the clinics and specifically TGNCNB and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities. Due to the importance of integrating gender-affirming care with existing HIV/STI services, we would like to introduce low- to no-cost hormone therapy in our Corona Clinic and increase our capacity to better serve TGNCNB patients systemwide. This application includes Strategies A and B only. Strategy A activities include a partnership with a known community-based organization and the development of a request for proposals to partner with a vendor to conduct formative research to inform Strategy B activities. For Strategy B, BPHC will amend protocols and procedures to improve clinic flow, identify areas of improvement in quality service delivery, and develop and deliver appropriate training and technical assistance with clinic staff. Strategy B activities aim to improve upon the available services and patient experience by enhancing clinical services to include hormone therapy in at least one clinic, increase the cultural capacity of our clinic workforce to better serve TGNCNB patients in all BPHC sexual health clinics, and create and distribute marketing materials to raise awareness of available sexual health services for TGNCNB New Yorkers. Expected outcomes include increased community engagement with community members and organizations who identify with or are a trusted entity among the TGNCNB community; increased engagement with public health partners addressing the STI epidemic; increased access to low or no-cost comprehensive sexual health services for TGNCNB individuals; increase in sexual health patients who identify as TGNCNB and receive screening for STI and HIV; increase in access to PrEP among TGNCNB individuals; improved patient experience; and decreased STI disparities
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).