Thursday, November 21, 2024
11/21/2024
To advance progress towards ending the HIV epidemic (EHE), the Health Council of Southeast Florida (HCSEF), a regional health planning council and established HIV service provider, proposes to conduct comprehensive high-impact HIV prevention services in Palm Beach County, Florida through its innovative Community Health Advocacy (CHA) model to complement, leverage and extend the reach of existing efforts. Palm Beach County is significantly impacted by the HIV epidemic, and as such is one of only 48 counties in the nation identified as Phase 1 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for the EHE initiative. Local HIV surveillance data (2019) indicates that 8,259 of residents were living with HIV, with 248 new cases reported that year. Of these new diagnoses, 66.6% were through heterosexual contact. Further, significant racial and ethnic HIV-related health disparities exist in our community. Through a data-driven process, informed by the latest available HIV surveillance data, and the priorities established by the local/state HIV Integrated Plan and EHE Plan, HCSEF selected high-risk heterosexuals (Black/African-American and Hispanic/Latino) as the proposed target population for this comprehensive HIV prevention program. HCSEF, with a 38-year history of serving the HIV community, will address systems and community-levels gaps, which contribute to new infections and impact all phases of the HIV Care Continuum, across the four pillars of EHE. Acknowledging the social determinants of health and applying a health equity lens, HCSEF’s approach includes mobile, integrated, community-based services delivered by staff who share lived-experience with the communities served, to effectively increase increase identification of HIV diagnoses, improve linkages to PreP/nPEP services, and increase consistency in care for people with HIV. Proposed services includes innovations, and responsive adaptations, including virtual/telehealth strategies, particularly relevant during the COVID-19 epidemic. Our CHA model, built on the foundation of the evidence-supported Community Health Worker approach, includes the following three overarching pillars: We go where the people are; We minimize barriers; We value lived experience. By implementing integrated, strategically developed, program components HCSEF seeks to achieve the following short term/intermediate outcomes, aligned with the four pillars of EHE: Diagnose: • Increased number of individuals who are aware of their HIV status • Increased receipt of integrated screening Treat: • Increased receipt of HIV medical care and ART for newly-diagnosed PWH • Increased access to Partner Services Prevent: • Increase linkage, access to and utilization of PreP/nPEP • Increase availability, accessibility and utilization of condoms • Decrease high-risk behaviors among HIV-negative individuals and PWH Response: • Increased community-level support for HIV cluster detection and response efforts • Increased awareness/reduced stigma in communities most impacted by HIV Overall long-term objectives include: reduced new HIV infections; improved health outcomes for PWH; reduced HIV-related health disparities ; reduced mortality among PWH. HCSEF is aware that achieving these outcomes is only possible by collaborating with a wide spectrum community and system partners. Further, residents, community members and stakeholders will be formally engaged in the planning process, through the establishment of a Community Engagement Group to guide key decisions. Similarly, HCSEF will actively and engage local and statewide HIV planning groups. . The comprehensive high-impact HIV prevention program will be monitored and evaluated by an external independent consultant, to assess process, outcome and impact measures, across all program components, to maximize our impact and support out advancement towards ending the HIV epidemic.
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).
