Monday, May 19, 2025
5/19/2025
Southwest Center Ways to Scale Up Prevention (SWC WSUP) Project - Southwest Center Ways to Scale Up Prevention (SWC WSUP) project will provide affirming, stigma- and discrimination-free HIV and STI prevention and linkage to care services for four (4) priority populations and three (3) groups of interest disproportionately impacted by the syndemic of HIV/STIs and facing health disparities in Maricopa County, AZ, a designated Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. (EHE) Priority Jurisdiction. Historically and holistically Southwest Center’s outpatient sexual health clinic and experienced staff continue to address the syndemic of HIV/STI, viral hepatitis, high-risk substance use, and SDOH that impact health disparities/inequities faced by our priority populations and groups of interest as follows: 1) MSM, especially of color; 2) Youth (ages 13 to 34), especially of color; 3) Gender expansive persons (e.g., transgender, nonbinary, two-spirit, etc.); 4) Individuals who use/have used substances/drugs; and Groups of Interest A) Persons of color; B) Persons experiencing mental health challenges; and C) Persons experiencing housing instability/homelessness. Our project utilizes evidence-based/ evidence-informed (EB/EI) approaches to address barriers to access for HIV/STI prevention care services. With a duel-prong approach for Strategy A activities to strengthen clinic infrastructure and B activities designed to foster strategic partnerships, SWC identified five (5) gaps 1) Care Team Meetings, 2) Patient Experience Coach, 3) EMR Infrastructure, 4) Case Management, and 5) Transportation. SWC WSUP project short-term (ST), intermediate-term (IT), and long-term (LT) outcomes are: ST1- Enhanced adoption of optimal sexual health services and clinic models for the provision of quality STI-related clinical care. ST2- Increased understanding of and responsiveness to patients’ experiences, satisfaction, and needs. ST3- Increased identification of new HIV and STI infections and of persons with HIV who are out of care or not virally suppressed. ST4- Increased persons eligible for PrEP who were prescribed PrEP at the clinic. ST5- Increased collaboration and engagement with local partners and community members to inform sexual health service delivery, especially priority populations affected by the HIV/STI syndemic. IT1- Increased rapid linkage to HIV medical care for persons newly diagnosed with HIV in a sexual health clinic. IT2- Increased receipt of recommended, timely STI prevention/treatment interventions for patients and partners. IT3- Increased receipt of rapid antiretroviral therapy (ART) in sexual health clinics for persons with newly diagnosed HIV. IT4- Sustained community partnerships to inform strategic EHE planning and activity implementation. IT5- Increased clinic capacity to provide affirming, stigma- and discrimination-free HIV prevention, linkage to care services. IT6- Improved patient flow, increased patient volume and ability to serve patients more efficiently, including timely testing and treatment. IT7- Increased PrEP adherence and persistence. IT8- Increased re-engagement to care for persons with HIV who are out of care or not virally suppressed. LT1- Increased delivery and uptake of stigma-free, quality comprehensive sexual health services. LT2- Increased viral suppression among persons with HIV. LT3- Reduced new HIV and STI infections. LT4- Reduced HIV/STI disparities including racial, ethnic, gender, and sexual orientation disparities. By utilizing EB/EI approaches to HIV/STI prevention care, we will improve clinic efficiency, enhance express services, improve client-centered whole-person care, expand EMR with Press Ganey patient experience platform, and implement a reciprocal referral system to further facilitate timely, compassionate care. To guide Year 1 efforts, our Work Plan will use Strategy A and B activities as we collaborate with the CDC to refine our SWC WSUP Work Plan as it progresses to ensure project efforts utilize a syndemic approach to address HIV/STIs in Maricopa County.
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).