Thursday, April 10, 2025
4/10/2025
Ryan White Title III HIV Capacity Development and Planning Grants - Empowerment Resource Center submits this grant application for capacity building support of rapid ART Initiation services under the HIV Care Innovation Category for its EmpowerLink Program under HRSA Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part C Capacity Development Program (NOFO HRSA-22-019). Under this proposal, Empowerment Resource Center (ERC) will update its EmpowerLink protocols to incorporate a new, evidence-based model of rapid ART initiation, develop internal work flows to minimize the likelihood of losing clients to care, and build capacity to implement the Stay Connect medication adherence intervention for newly diagnosed PLWH. The EmpowerLink Program is designed to reduce the number of new HIV infections, increase access to HIV care, improve health outcomes among people infected and affected by HIV, and reduce HIV-related health inequities in the ERC catchment area. EmpowerLink spans the HIV care continuum from HIV screening, testing, and diagnoses to retention in HIV Care. Originally, ERC did not provide rapid ART initiation or stabilization through EmpowerLink. The EmpowerLink program utilizes the ARTAS Linkage to Case Management evidence-based behavioral intervention and PrEP/nPEP evidence-based biomedical interventions to assist clients with developing individualized, documentable goals to enroll and remain in HIV prevention therapy and HIV primary care. This program has proven success and is desperately needed. Clients received active referral to Ryan White partners and local health departments, who would provide initiate ART therapy. Much of ERC’s funding is related to HIV prevention; ERC is funded to provide HIV testing, counseling, and care linkages by the CDC, Georgia Department of Public Health, several foundations, and the Boards of Health for Fulton, DeKalb, Clayton, Cobb, Douglas, Gwinnett, Newton, and Rockdale counties. With the sheer number of positive clients identified each year, ERC program staff saw many clients lost to care. The COVID-19 pandemic only exacerbated the problem as health departments shifted resources to address the coronavirus, and HIV care wait-lists grew. In 2020, ERC shifted it model for care linkages and begum providing rapid ART initiation its in-house Comprehensive Intervention Clinic. ERC maintains the human resources and clinical infrastructure to provide rapid linkage to care and Anti-Retroviral Therapy. ERC conducts exams, order labs, prescribe ART medications fulfilled through its on-site 340B contract pharmacy, mail medications to clients’ homes, and provide medication adherence counseling and health education to newly- and previously-diagnosed people living with HIV (PLWH), in efforts to reinforce the importance of remaining in care, adhering to medical regimens, achieving viral suppression, and maintaining good health. Unfortunately, ERC policies and procedures still reflect the old model of referring clients to external providers. ? Legal Name: Empowerment Resource Center, Inc. is located at 230 Peachtree Street NW, Suite 1800, Atlanta GA (Fulton County). Former legal name HIV/AIDS Empowerment Resource Center for Young Women, Inc. ? ERC is a not-for-profit, community-based organization with a valid IRS 501(C)(3) status. ? Services will be provided on-site at the ERC Comprehensive Intervention Clinic. ? Tanesha Taylor, BA will serve as the EmpowerLink Program Director. ? Dr. Paul Donnan will serve as the ERC Medical Director. ? Jacqueline Brown is the Chief Executive Officer and will serve as Principle Investigator.
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).