Aligned with local and national Ending the HIV Epidemic plans, AltaMed’s PS21-2102 services will deliver a comprehensive, high-impact HIV prevention model targeting Latinx MSM in Los Angeles County. Services will be driven by tailored outreach to and engagement of specific LA Latinx MSM subcultures and ethnic groups not previously targeted:
(i) Indigenous people of Oaxaca, Mexico;
(ii) Salvadoran immigrant community;
(iii) Queer, punk rock culture; and
(iv) Gay Vaquero community.
With an aim towards implementing the community-level PROMISE risk-reduction intervention for each group, AltaMed will recruit and train peer advocates from among current influencers and gatekeepers within these groups. Proposed services also include targeted HIV counseling and testing, pilot implementation of integrated Hepatitis C rapid testing, linkage-to-HIV care, and prevention and essential support services to optimize health outcomes. High-risk, HIV-negative persons will be offered STD screening and treatment, pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP/PEP), and risk-reduction supports. Each year, AltaMed will test 600 Latinx MSM and identify 8 new positives within the proposed Central, Hollywood-Wilshire, and Long Beach Health Districts. All are identified by DHSP as transmission hotspots and are areas in which subpopulations live and congregate.
By the end of the five-year project period, AltaMed will achieve the following measurable outcomes:
• Conduct at least 2,700 HIV tests among high-risk Latinx MSM;
• Identify at least 36 unaware HIV-positive Latinx MSM (at least 8 per year, except Y1);
• Provide integrated HCV rapid testing at 5% of testing events;
• Link a minimum of 90% of newly-diagnosed (32) HIV-positive MSM to HIV medical care;
• Re-engage 100% of Latinx MSM previously diagnosed with HIV infection into care within 30 days of recent HIV positive test;
• Provide medication adherence services to 100% of those assessed as needing treatment support;
• Refer 100% of HIV-positive Latinx MSM to Partner Services;
• Refer 100% of HIV-positive Latinx MSM to Medical Care Coordination (MCC) and essential support services;
• 25% of high-risk negative Latinx MSM will be referred to PrEP or PEP; and
• Distribute 76,000 condoms over 5 years.
The proposed program also will leverage AltaMed’s enterprise-wide integration of HIV prevention with its primary care services and its on-site pharmacies, as well as enhance ongoing prevention efforts supported by the CDC (PS17-1704), State of California Office of AIDS, and by Los Angeles County DPH Division of HIV and STD Programs.