ABSTRACT
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) has been an epidemic and affected millions of Americans for over 35 years. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1.1 million people in the United States (U.S.) are living with HIV today. About 14 percent of them do not know it and need testing. Change Happens’ Comprehensive High-Impact HIV Prevention Program – DTPR (Diagnose. Treat. Prevent. Respond.): Doing Together, Partnering for Results focuses on addressing the national HIV epidemic by reducing new infections, increasing access to care, and promoting health equity in accordance with Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America Initiative and CDC’s High-Impact Prevention approach. Change Happens’ will achieve this goal by enhancing the organization’s capacity to Diagnose and increased persons who are aware of their HIV status and increase integrated screenings; Treat and increase receipt of HIV medical care and ART for newly diagnosed and previously diagnosed HIV, not-in-care, and increase access to Partner Services; and Prevent increase access to PrEP and increase availability of condoms. Using a variety of strategies that include targeted testing, linkages to medical care and essential support services, responding to clusters and outbreaks, building collaborative partnerships, and evaluation, Change Happens will achieve the following long-term outcomes for the project:
• By June 30, 2026, new HIV infection in Houston, Texas will be reduced by 30%.
• By June 30, 2026, 50% of persons diagnosed with HIV in Houston, Texas will demonstrate improved health outcomes.
• By June 30, 2026, HIV health related disparities in Houston, Texas will be reduced by 25%.
• By June 30, 2026, death of persons with diagnosed HIV in Houston, Texas will decrease by 7.5%.
Change Happens is one of the largest, minority-founded organizations in Houston, Texas. Change Happens has been providing services to high-risk, vulnerable, and marginalized populations since 1989. The mission of Change Happens is "to empower people to help themselves.” For over twenty-years, the organization has conducted HIV prevention activities. Change Happens is uniquely positioned to provide comprehensive high-impact HIV prevention services because of the organization’s accessibility, history, and credibility in the community.