PROJECT ABSTRACT
Project Title: Bienestar Por Vida
BIENESTAR Human Services is applying for CDC funding, proposing to provide Comprehensive High Impact HIV Prevention programming to Latinx MSM in Los Angeles County in five Services Planning Areas: SPAs 2, 3, 4, 7 and 8 BIENESTAR’S goal in this project is to provide an array of services that will contribute to the end of the HIV Epidemic
Target Populations and Needs to be Addressed: The targeted minority at-risk populations for Comprehensive High Impact Prevention—MSM of color—are at increasing risk and vulnerability for HIV, have low access to HIV medical treatment and support services and suffer stigmatization. Factors associated with delayed entry into care are: limited access to providers, poverty and inability to pay for health care, lack of family/social support, lack of health insurance, lack of knowledge about HIV, stigma, language differences, concerns about confidentiality, immigration status and cultural beliefs and practices.
Outcomes: Bienestar por Vida proposes to implement the most cost-effective and scalable interventions targeted to the areas and “social geographies” of those populations most heavily affected by HIV to:
-Increase number of persons who are aware of their HIV status
-Increase integrated screenings delivered
-Increase levels of ART/HIV medical care among newly diagnosed HIV-positive persons
-Increase levels of ART/HIV medical care among previously diagnosed HIV-positive persons, not-in-care
-Increase access to Partner Services
-Increase referrals to PrEP and nPep and number of PrEP prescriptions for those at high HIV risk
-Increase availability of condoms
-Participate in LAC DPH and community collaborations to detect and address new HIV clusters
Our innovations in striving to accomplish these outcomes are 1) extensive and creative use of telehealth, virtual care and e-prescribing; 2) Use of incentives to achieving program milestones; 3) enhance adherence to HIV care by use of strength based case management with our existing ARTAS program; and 4) extensive use of peer support.
Methods: Bienestar por Vida as proposed will be an integrated system of high impact prevention, will collaborate with community HIV medical organizations, will connect with hard-to-reach minority populations for access to care and support and will use proven prevention measures: condom distribution, HIV testing and linkage to care, medications (ART, nPEP and PrEP), access to condoms, prevention programs targeted at people with HIV and their partners and to people at high risk for HIV infection, mental health and substance use disorder treatment, access to sterile needles and integrated screening and treatment for STIs, viral hepatitis and TB. The program will utilize EBP models: Community PROMISE, SBIRT, ARTAS, SBCM, peer support and SSP. The target population will receive culturally and linguistically appropriate services that emphasize program domains: Diagnose, Treat, Prevent and Respond.