Saturday, April 26, 2025
4/26/2025
Supplement - The North Jersey AIDS Alliance dba North Jersey Community Research Initiative (NJCRI) will address the national HIV epidemic by reducing new infections, increasing access to care, and promoting health equity. Through this funding, NJCRI will enhance its capacity to increase HIV testing and referrals to Partner Services, link persons with HIV to HIV medical care and ART, provide/refer prevention/essential services for persons with HIV and persons at risk for acquiring HIV, and increase program monitoring and accountability. NJCRI will provide a range of strategies and activities to achieve the project period outcomes, including 3 evidence-based program strategies. NJCRI has adapted programming and protocols to ensure safety of clients and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic, and will incorporate those protocols into the proposed program as appropriate. NJCRI’s Comprehensive HIV Prevention Core Program will consist of the following activities: Diagnose: Targeted HIV Testing for 1,000 clients annually, Provide Integrated Screenings for 800 clients annually, Conduct 6 Large Scale Testing Events; Treat: Linkage to HIV Medical Care for at least 90% of newly diagnosed HIV persons and those not in care, incorporating STEPS to Care, Re-engagement, Partner Services Referral for 100% of newly diagnosed persons, Medication Adherence programming, including Stay Connected; Prevent: Referrals to PrEP and nPEP for 90% of clients, d-up! for 400 clients annually, Condom Distribution, reaching 10,000 persons from the TP annually; Respond: Support for Health Department Cluster Detection and Response Activities. NJCRI’s Operational Program will consist of Program Promotion, Outreach, and Recruitment; Community Advisory Board (CAB); and HIV Planning Group (HPG). The specific service area in which NJCRI plans to deliver its program is the Newark EMA, with a focus on high-need areas in Essex and Union counties, including Newark, Irvington, Elizabeth, and East Orange. The service area is disproportionately affected by HIV and is where people with and at greatest risk for HIV reside and frequent. NJCRI’s target population for service delivery is gay, bisexual, and other MSM, primarily Blacks/African-Americans and Hispanics/Latinos, ages 16 and older. The agency is targeting this population and service area because rates of HIV/AIDS are the highest in New Jersey and far exceed national rates. NJCRI will collaborate with other organizations that have an established history of working with and recruiting members of the target population at greatest risk for HIV acquisition or transmission; some of NJCRI’s many collaborative relationships include, but are not limited to: The Lennard Clinic, Renaissance House, Covenant House, Restoration Center, CURA, Family Medical Group, Saint Michael’s Medical Center, Rutgers Univ. Hospital, East Orange General Hospital, Newark Beth Israel hospital, Newark Community Health Center, Robert Wood Johnson Medical Center, The Harbor, Hyacinth Foundation, Proceed, Kintock Group, and LGBTQ Rain Foundation. NJCRI will enhance existing and establish new formalized collaborative partnerships, supported by detail specific service agreements, with medical providers and essential support service providers to maximize reach, increase coordination and collaboration, and support the provision of comprehensive HIV prevention services (e.g., retention in care, viral load suppression). NJCRI is not formally partnering with any other agencies for the proposed program. NJCRI expects to achieve the following short-term outcomes. Diagnose: Increased persons who are aware of their HIV status; Increased receipt of integrated screenings. Treat: Increased receipt of HIV medical care and ART among persons with newly diagnosed HIV; Increased receipt of HIV medical care and ART among persons with previously diagnosed HIV, not-in-care; Increased access to Partner Services. Prevent: Increased access to PrEP; Increased availability of condoms.
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).