Friday, August 19, 2022
8/19/2022
Metropolitan Charities d.b.a. Metro Inclusive Health "METRO", a Council on Accreditation (COA)-accredited provider with 28 years of experience and a proven track record for successfully serving HIV-positive and high-risk HIV-negative clients (via CDC PS15-1502) since 2015, proposes its five-year Comprehensive High-Impact HIV Prevention (HIP) project in accordance with the Ending the HIV Epidemic Initiative (EHE): A Plan for America and CDC Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention (DHAP) Strategic Plan. Considered one of Florida’s premiere community-based organizations, METRO achieved HRSA Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike (FQHC-LA) status in April 2020 and continually strives to promote healthy environments for all and to foster diversity within the community as a whole. The organization’s strategic plan and HIV continuum of care are dedicated to providing the highest standards and quality of services to all infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. METRO provides services to over 30,600 individuals annually and reaches tens of thousands more through education, prevention and wellness activities and local events. METRO remains committed to serving those most in need to help populations that often are “abandoned,” forgotten, or ignored. “We feel this sets us well apart from other service organizations and moves us forward for the next generation of health care,” writes METRO’s Chief Executive Officer. Fueled by this purposeful vision over the past 28 years, METRO expanded its HIV continuum of care to provide the best, holistic and empathetic care possible. Thus, the HIP project directly aligns with METRO’s vision of a world free of HIV and AIDS and mobilizes its mission to provide premier HIV services and other health and wellness programs to enhance quality of life. METRO will utilize the High-Impact Prevention project for HIV-positive and high-risk HIV-negative persons for the purpose of implementing comprehensive HIV prevention programs to reduce morbidity, mortality, and related health disparities by diagnosing HIV as early as possible; treating HIV quickly and effectively; preventing new HIV cases; and responding quickly to HIV clusters and prevent new cases among people with and at greatest risk for acquiring HIV, including Blacks/African Americans; Hispanics/Latinos; all races/ethnicities of gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM); people who inject drugs (PWIDs); and transgender persons 18 years of age and older. engagement and retention in effective behavioral health interventions for those residing in communities most at-risk in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties (Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater-FL MSA). Immediate access and linkage into care is a unique and culturally competent feature of METRO’s HIP project, based on its one-stop shop Model of Care, featured in the accompanying figure. METRO connects HIV positive and high-risk negative individuals to services at the time they receive their test results. Individuals who are newly diagnosed are scheduled for an eligibility appointment and receive a medical appointment when they come to our offices to receive their confirmatory test results. METRO’s service delivery includes sexual health prevention education; medical and behavioral case management; mental health and substance abuse counseling (trauma-informed & culturally appropriate); psychiatric care; social and support groups; ART, PrEP and nPEP, medical treatment adherence; and medical education about diabetes, nutrition, hypertension, heart disease, etc., through wellness consultations provided by RNs and other staff. HIP participants have access to all of METRO’s comprehensive services based on participant need.
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).
