Monday, March 17, 2025
3/17/2025
<p>Project Abstract – PS21-2102 Applicant Name: Palmetto AIDS Life Support Services Address: 2638 Two Notch Rd., Ste. 108, Columbia SC 29204 Principle Investigator Name: Carmen Hampton Julious, CEO Phone Number: 803-779-7257 E-Mail Address: carmen.julious@palss.org Web Site Address: www.palss.org Service area and Target Population - The service area for the proposed project will be Richland, Lexington and Fairfield Counties in the South Carolina Midlands. All three counties are adjacent and lie within the Columbia Metropolitan Area. Richland County has the greatest concentration of people living with HIV/AIDS in the state, as well as the highest AIDS mortality rate. The service area population of African American men who have sex with men (AA MSM) has the highest incidence and prevalence rates for HIV in the state. AA MSM will be the target population for this proposal. African Americans in SC are disproportionately affected by poverty and are more likely to be uninsured than the general population. HIV stigma and lack of accurate information about HIV prevention and treatment among the target population contribute to risk of transmission in the service area. Applicant Organization - PALSS is an AIDS services organization which was founded in Columbia SC in1985 to fight the HIV epidemic. PALSS provides culturally competent outreach and conducts evidence based programs to deliver HIV prevention education, testing and linkage to care for high risk populations. PALSS is a Ryan White Part B sub-recipient and contracts with the state of SC to provide a broad spectrum of services including: outreach, HIV and Substance Abuse Prevention education, HIV rapid testing and integrated testing for STDs and viral hepatitis, and confirmatory testing. PALSS utilizes ARTAS to link newly diagnosed and previously diagnosed people living with HIV/AIDS to care within 30 days of diagnosis or contact, respectively. PALSS provides outpatient m edical care including treatment and referral for infectious disease care, 340B pharmacy services, ADAP, assistance enrolling in pharmaceutical charitable giving programs, mental health services and substance abuse counseling. PALSS’ treatment adherence services include medical and non-medical case management, emergency financial assistance, enrollment assistance for insurance coverage through the Health Care Marketplace and social benefit programs, food bank, health education/risk reduction, housing services, linguistic services, medical transportation services, psychosocial support services, and treatment adherence counseling. Purpose - PALSS will establish a cooperative agreement with the CDC to develop and implement high-impact HIV prevention programs that will meet the requirements of the Comprehensive HIV Prevention Core Program to diagnose, treat, prevent and respond to HIV in the service area, as well as the Operational Program requirements for program promotion, outreach and recruitment, community engagement group, and formalized collaborations and partnerships. The purpose of these activities will be to conduct a targeted program to reduce new infections; increase access to care to improve health outcomes of PLWHA; and to reduce HIV related health disparities and health inequalities in the service area. Fulfillment of the goals and objectives of this initiative will be achieved through the expansion and enhancement of PALSS current activities, utilization of technical assistance provided by the CDC, and the adoption of new methods recommended by the CDC in response to the evolution of the epidemic and the introduction of effective new practices over the course of the project period.</p>
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).