Tuesday, April 23, 2024
4/23/2024
With almost four (4) decades providing HIV prevention and essential support services (PESS) and twenty-two (22) years providing or combining prevention and care to those affected or living with HIV, Care Resource is South Florida’s oldest HIV/AIDS community-based organization. Project OptYMiSM (Opportunities for HIV Prevention Targeting Young Men Identified as Having Sex with Men) will offer and evaluate a status neutral, comprehensive high-impact HIV prevention (HIP) program to address health disparities among the priority population of YMSM of color between the ages of 13 and 34 and their partners -regardless of age, gender, and race/ethnicity-, who face the most severe burden of HIV in the counties of Miami-Dade (MD) and Broward (B). Indeed, this high-priority population constitutes the largest single risk behavior category for new cases in the local Ryan White Program system of care, as consistently identified and targeted by all available state and local Jurisdictional HIV Prevention Plans. In 2019, the racial/ethnic distribution in both counties for YMSM ages 13-39 as a percentage of total diagnoses among MSM of all ages was as follows: Hispanic/Latino YMSM (46.4% in MD vs. 28.8% in B), Non-Hispanic Black/African American YMSM (12.0% in MD vs. 23.7% in B), Non-Hispanic White YMSM (5.2% in MD vs. 8.6% in B), Non-Hispanic Other YMSM (0.37% in MD vs. 1.78% in B). Project OptYMiSM will address the HIV National Strategic Plan, 2021-2025 (HIV Plan) and support the goals of the Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America (EHE) by implementing a status neutral, client-centered, culturally, and linguistically appropriate prevention program that will: a) Prevent new HIV infections; b) Improve HIV-related outcomes for people with HIV (PWH); c) Reduce HIV-related disparities and health inequities; and d) Promote health equity and achieve integrated, coordinated efforts to address the HIV epidemic. This will be achieved through the following HIP strategies and activities (to be met or exceeded after Year I): 1) Prioritized HIV Testing: a) Conduct 400 HIV tests (=300 among YMSM of color), resulting in the identification of at least 8 newly diagnosed YMSM of color and at least 9 previously diagnosed YMSM of color; 2) Status Neutral Comprehensive HIP (PESS and Prevention Services for Persons regardless of HIV status): a) Provide at least one (1) prevention and essential support service (PESS) to at least 90% (360) members of the YMSM of color target population; b) Conduct integrated screenings to at least 30% (120) YMSM of color; c) Distribute 18,000 condoms to all YMSM taking an HIV test or engaging in program outreach; d) Screen and refer 360 or 90% of participants for PrEP/nPEP; e) Link at least 90% (15) YMSM of color with HIV (newly diagnosed and previously diagnosed [not-in-care] to HIV medical care and treatment within 30 days; f) Refer 100% of YMSM newly diagnosed with HIV or qualifying STI to Partner Services; and g) Provide medication adherence services for HIV treatment and prevention to at least 360 (90%) of HIV-positive and at-risk HIV-negative YMSM of color. 3) Program Collaborations, Promotion, and Recruitment: a) Develop and maintain at least 2 MOUs for PESS; b) Conduct face-to-face and internet outreach among 600 and 924 YMSM of color, respectively; c) Enhance Care Resource’s existing CEG (Youth Advisory Board [YAB) by re cruiting and training 2 new Peer Health Advocates; d) Engage at least 34 YMSM of color through project’s designated safe space; screen at least 17 for social determinants of health (SDH) related barriers to HIV care and prevention, and refer to appropriate services; and e) Participate in both jurisdictions’ HIV Planning Group (HPG). Care Resource requests $350,000 a year to implement Project OptYMiSM in Miami-Dade and Broward, FL while serving more than 2,000 YMSM of color throughout the 5-year period of performance.
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).
