Montana will use a syndemic approach to providing person-centered HIV Prevention services throughout this project. Partnerships with local and tribal health jurisdictions, contractors, other DPHHS and local programs, and the HIV Prevention Group (HPG) will ensure that the appropriate stakeholder input is used to guide HIV prevention efforts. Some of the primary focuses of this project include increasing access to HIV screening, supporting rapid initiation of HIV care, increasing access to PrEP and PEP services, and increasing workforce capacity to provide HIV prevention services through education and trainings.
Montana’s HIV surveillance efforts will allow identification of new HIV diagnoses with rapid linkage to care. Data will be used to identify and respond to HIV clusters and outbreaks. As a low morbidity state, all clusters identified through lab, Ryan White, medical provider, and local health jurisdiction reports as well as analysis of sequencing data receive priority for rapid response. By ensuring accurate and actionable data, HIV prevention activities will be targeted to the populations most at risk in Montana. Surveillance and prevention data will be used for analysis in annual surveillance snapshots and the comprehensive epidemiological profile.