BHCC is a certified 501(c) 3 not-for-profit federally qualified community health center. Since its inception in 1972 by local Puerto Rican community members, our mission statement, remains the same-- “provides a broad range of health, education and human services to improve the quality of life of the culturally diverse community it serves. BHCC has been providing HIV care for close to two decades and has been a Ryan White Program provider since the early 1990’s. All services are available to all regardless of race, ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, political affiliation and without regard for ability to pay.” In 2019, Miami Dade County (MDC) had the highest prevalence of HIV diagnoses in the state and the highest count but the 4th highest prevalence of PLWH. MDC has the highest rates the top area for new HIV diagnoses in the country, shouldering the national burden for this disease. (The HIV Epidemic in Miami-Dade County in 2018)
The purpose is to address the HIV epidemic by reducing new infections, increasing access to care, and promoting health equity. BHCC will address the public health problem by enhancing: 1) current targeted HIV testing aimed at reaching persons who are at greatest risk for HIV and who are unaware of their HIV status; 2) Integrated Screening for STD and hepatitis C; 3) Program promotion, outreach, and recruitment; 4) partner services; 5) current referral services of HIV-negative persons to PrEP/nPEP; 6) access to essential support services; 7) current referral of HIV-negative persons and persons with HIV to risk reduction behavioral interventions; and; 8) local health departments with cluster response activities. BHCC will begin proving telehealth and medication adherence programming specifically for at risk HIV persons.
The goal is reducing new infections, increasing access to care, and promoting health equity in accordance with the Ending the HIV Epidemic. The following outcomes by the end of the project period: 1) Increase persons who are aware of their HIV status by increasing the number tested by 57% annually (baseline of 4,000 outreach HIV tests) to 7,000 tests annually; and identify 140, or 2% of persons tested, with newly diagnosed HIV annually. 2) Improve the current integrated screening process by implementing an STD and Hepatitis C integrated screening with 5,000 people screened annually and 150 testing panels performed. 3) Increased receipt of HIV medical care and ART among persons with newly diagnosed HIV to 100% of eligible patients. 4) Increased receipt of HIV medical care and ART among persons with previously diagnosed HIV, not-in-care to 100% of eligible patients. 5) Increased access to Partner Services to 100% of eligible patients. 6) Increase access to medical care and essential support services by providing telehealth services to 100% of patients with HIV. 7) Increase access to medication adherence services persons 100% of patients with HIV. 8)Increased access to PrEP and nPEP to 100% of eligible patients. 9) Increase referral of HIV-negative persons and persons with HIV to risk reduction behavioral interventions to 100% of eligible patients. 10) Increased availability of condoms by distributing 7000 condoms annually. 11) Increased engagement with Miami Dade Health Department (MDHD) and partners through streamlined communication and data sharing. 12) 100% of newly identified clusters will receive same-day response and patients will be linked to care within 48 hours. 13) Increased access to care and viral load suppression for persons with HIV; 14) Improved response to HIV transmission clusters and outbreaks.