Monday, March 17, 2025
3/17/2025
Frederiksted Health Care, Inc. (FHC) is a federally qualified health center located and operating on the island of St. Croix, Virgin Islands - a U.S. territory with a population slightly over 50,000 (US Census, 2020 Live). The island is composed of three population precincts: Frederiksted-on the West shore; Christiansted-on the North shore; and, Kingshill-in the middle island area. Established as a non-profit community-based organization in the year 2000, FHC has been the only provider with a CDC Comprehensive High-Impact HIV Prevention program since the year 2015 with satellite locations throughout all precincts on the island. The CDC high-impact prevention grant funding opportunity PS21-2102 will allow FHC to continue to significantly expand Outreach, Testing & Counseling, and effort toward Prevention with Positives, and High-Risk Negatives. Currently operating under grant PS15-1502, our program reaches an average of 2,000 Outreach encounters per year, performing over 600 or more tests targeted to highest risk populations. All newly diagnosed are linked to care within 30 days, and we have successfully linked 85 HIV+ cases which are actively enrolled in care. The territory is multicultural with a diverse mix of religious, racial, and ethnic groups. A large majority of our residents identify as Black (79.9%), followed by 11.6% White and 8.5% other. One in five residents identify as Hispanics, and three in four Hispanics (76.4%) report they are of Black race. Our islands are also poor, an estimated 46.6% of USVI residents live below the 200 percent of Federal Poverty Level. The primary target population to be served under PS21-2102 will encompass all races, ethnicities, and gender; high risk heterosexual including IDU and Non-IDU, ages 13-65+. Prevention services for the program will align in accordance with the Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) activities to Diagnose, Treat, Prevent, and Respond. The program's focus is on reducin g new infections, increasing access to care, and promoting health equity. Funding will enhance FHC's capacity to: increase HIV testing and referrals to Partner Services, link person with HIV to HIV medical care and ART, refer HIV-negative persons to PrEP and nPEP, provide/refer prevention/essential services, including SSPs for persons with HIV and persons at risk for acquiring HIV, provide condom distribution, support the territory's health department, and increase program monitoring and accountability.
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).