Georgia continues to face a critical public health crisis with newly and previously diagnosed Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) cases; a reported 60,346 people living with HIV reside in the state’s public health districts. Fulton and DeKalb counties, with the highest prevalence rates, have been federally recognized as HIV high-burdened areas. Black/non-Hispanics and males have the highest rate of newly diagnosed HIV and are further affected by exceeding rates of chlamydia, gonorrhea syphilis and tuberculosis.
Recovery Consultants of Atlanta, Inc., (RCA), proposes to enhance, expand, and implement a comprehensive community-based high-impact HIV prevention program, R-CHIPP-II, in Fulton and DeKalb counties for individuals with the greatest risk of acquiring and transmitting HIV infection to reduce morbidity, mortality, and related health disparities aligned with the Jurisdictional Prevention Plan (JPP) and the National HIV/AIDS Strategy.
R-CHIPP-II will provide targeted HIV testing for 11,250 high risk individuals of which 75% will be Black/non-Hispanic, heterosexual females and males, ages 13-64 living in Fulton and Dekalb counties. The program will provide integrated screening for STIs, viral hepatitis, and TB, navigation services for linkage and reengagement to medical care, PrEP/nPep for high risk negatives, and connection with evidence-based prevention interventions, risk reduction, behavioral interventions and essential support services. RCA’s mobile medical unit will enhance the program’s capacity for outreach, venue-based, and large-scale HIV testing access. Through these multiple testing settings, the program will identify undiagnosed cases HIV+ and high-risk negatives who are the greatest risk of acquiring HIV. The program will provide 100% of clients free condoms and distribute more than 500,000 condoms through targeting testing events and its distribution sites across dual counties. The program aims to minimize barriers to testing and treatment for the target population disproportionately affect by the HIV epidemic. Through a focused HIV Awareness campaign, R-CHIPP_II will increase high risk communities’ understanding of HIV, efficacy of condom use, risk behaviors, and preventative methods to provide the greatest impact on public health, improve health for resident, and reduce the acquisition and transmission of HIV in its service delivery area.
At the end of the five-year performance period, RCA anticipates the following outcomes: 90% of individuals tested for HIV will reside in high-risk communities and become aware of their HIV status; 75% of persons tested will be high-risk Black/non-Hispanic heterosexuals, m/f, ages 13-64; 50 individuals tested will be newly diagnosed HIV+; 90% of individuals tested will receive one or more integrated screenings for STDs, viral hepatitis, or TB; 90% of individuals newly diagnosed HIV+ will be linked to HIV medical care/ART within 30 days of diagnosis; 90% of previously diagnosed HIV+ will be linked to HIV medical care/ART within 30 days of diagnosis; 100% newly and previously diagnosed HIV-positive persons referred for Partner Services; 100% high-risk and HRN will be referred to PrEP/nPEP; 90% of newly diagnosed HIV+ will be linked to one or more required/recommended prevention and essential support services; 90% of HRNs will be referred to one or more PESS; 90% of newly diagnosed HIV+ referred to a behavior intervention; and 100% of clients will have access to free condoms through testing venues or distribution centers.
RCA respectfully requests funding of $470,000 from the CDC to enhance and expand its comprehensive high-impact HIV prevention program for HIV high burdened communities in Fulton and DeKalb counties.