Equitas Health is requesting Year 3 funding for Brothers In Unity (BIU) to provide HIV and STI testing, linkage to HIV care and biomedical prevention, and community-based testing in the Columbus, Ohio Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Dayton, Ohio Metropolitan Statistical Area. There are 8.2765 people living with HIV in these regions, which included 287 new HIV diagnoses in 2020. Even though Men who Have Sex with Men (MSM) only represent about 3.4% of the population, more than half of new HIV diagnoses are among MSM who form the priority population for BIU. At least 75% of participants will be Black, Hispanic, and/or Multi-racial as they experience the worst health inequities from HIV. In Year 3, four Prevention Specialists will complete 350 HIV tests, including 50 self-tests and 175 screenings for sexually transmitted infections (STI). The program will link at least 8 newly-diagnosed and 5 out of care individuals to HIV treatment. As a Ryan White provider, Equitas Health has a Rapid ART Initiation Protocol that enables lab-work, patient registration, and education within a few days and the first medical appointment within 30 days. Most patients have their first HIV appointment in one week. HIV positive individuals will participate in the Taking Care of Me video intervention that focuses on self-care, medication adherence, and disclosure. Brothers In Unity will use the Equitas Health Patient Management Program (PMP) as a medication adherence intervention. In the PMP, certified HIV specialist pharmacists meet with each new patient for a thorough medication adherence discussion with additional support at each refill. The PMP coordinator monitors refills and ensures that medications do not lapse. Everyone with a positive STI screen will be linked with a local health department, Equitas Health STI clinic, or other treatment resource. Individuals with positive gonorrhea or syphilis screens are linked to health departments for required reporting a
nd Partner Services. Patients with a negative HIV test are linked to PrEP/nPEP patient navigation services operated by Equitas Health. Prevention Specialists use patient navigation strategies to provide or link clients to essential support services such as health insurance and other financial supports, primary and behavioral healthcare, housing, social services, and community organizations. The project will distribute 45,000 condoms to individuals as a structural intervention to prevent HIV. Program outreach strategies will take advantage of deep-rooted community relationships and strong marketing department at Equitas Health to educate the community about services, decrease stigma, and recruit participants. The Brothers In Unity (BIU) group serves as the Community Engagement Group. BIU provides education and support, builds resilience and skills, and motivates gay, bisexual, and same-gender loving men of color to strengthen individual and community capacity for HIV and STI prevention. The group will participate in formal data gathering four times a year to inform program activities and progress. Incorporated in 1985, Equitas Health is a community health center with a mission to be a gateway to good health for people affected by HIV, members of the LGBTQ community, and anyone seeking a welcoming healthcare home. With 21 offices in 13 cities, annual projected 2022 revenues of $108,019,078, a staff of more than 575 (with more than 65 HIV prevention staff), and a strong grants management structure, the organization is committed to diversity and inclusion in our work to end the HIV epidemic while empowering people living with HIV to participate.