Wednesday, January 15, 2025
1/15/2025
According to the Mississippi State Department of Health, in 2009, African Americans accounted for only 36.3% of the population; yet, they accounted for 72.6% of people living with HIV. Among these percentages, African American men who have sex with men (AAMSM), ages 18-39, accounted for 61.3% of the MSM living with HIV and 73.6% of all newly diagnosed cases of HIV disease statewide. A 2009 CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) also reveals that the number of new HIV infections among young African American men who have sex with men (YAAMSM) ages 17 to 25 years in the Jackson, MS MSA increased by 45% in 2006-2007. These data suggest that disparities in HIV are greatest among YAAMSM in the Jackson, MS MSA and that they are often burdened by poverty, stigma and discrimination, which contributes to risky sexual behaviors and higher HIV infection rates.In an effort to address these issues, MBK proposes to implement the Supportive and Healthy Youth Project (SHY) to build upon its existing services and partnerships to reduce HIV related morbidity, mortality and other health disparities among HIV-positive and high-risk HIV-negative YAAMSM, age 13-29, in the Jackson, MS MSA. The SHY Project is designed to (1) Formalize Additional Collaborations and Partnerships; (2) Enhance Program Promotion, Outreach, and Recruitment Activities; (3) Conduct Targeted HIV Testing; (4) Provide Comprehensive HIV Prevention for HIV-Positives Persons; (5) Provide Comprehensive HIV Prevention for High ?Risk HIV Negative-Person; and (6) Expand Condom Distribution to create a seamless process for accessing and utilizing HIV prevention, care, and treatment services in the Jackson, MS MSA.As a current recipient of the CDC PS11-1113: HIV prevention program, MBK is staffed with individuals who have worked with AAMSM enabling MBK to build a mutual respect and solidarity with the target populations while implementing and improving HIV case finding techniques, intervent ion recruitment, outreach, and patient navigation. To ensure effective approaches, MBK has used community advisory boards (CABs) and youth advisory boards (YABs) in many aspects of program development, implementation, and evaluation. To expand the capacity and sustainability of the YAB, select members will be chosen to participate in proposed The SHYouth Mentorship Program to foster leadership and strengthen their understanding of population health and methods while serving the AAMSM community via youth-centered community-based, public health practices. To further expand the impact and reach of The SHY Project, MBK will employ the services and resources of the Mississippi Integrated Center for Care and Supportive Services (MS-ICCS) to develop and implement project initiatives. The MS-ICCS is a formal partnership, funded by the Department of Human Service Office of Minority Health, between MBK, Open Arms Healthcare Center, Hinds Behavioral Health Services, and Mississippi in Action to offer a comprehensive service profile and systematic coordination to: (1) HIV care and treatment, (2) HIV prevention activities, (3) substance abuse/mental health, and (4) support and social services. Through this collaboration, MBK will be able to successfully provide the required and recommended HIV prevention and essential support services, reduce duplication of services, and maximize its funding potential. MBK will conduct performance monitoring of the proposed workplan activities, as well as analyses of the collected data, all with a specific focus on the goals, objectives, and outcomes (short and long-term) outlined in the FOA. The data collected will be used to determine whether the activities are being implemented as planned, and will help to identify strengths, weaknesses, and areas that may need improvement.
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).