Friday, April 4, 2025
4/4/2025
Ryan White Title III HIV Capacity Development and Planning Grants - Name: Centro de Salud de la Comunidad de San Ysidro, Inc. (dba, San Ysidro Health) Address: 1601 Precision Park Lane, San Diego, CA 92173 Project Director: Fatima Munoz Contact: 619-662-4100 ext. 2933 (Phone) | fatima.munoz@syhealth.org (Email) Website: www.syhealth.org Grant Program Fund Requested: FY2023 Ryan White Part C Capacity Development Funding Request Category: HIV Care Innovation (Gender-affirming Care) Funding Amount Requested: $150,000 for one year Summary of Proposed Activity and Impact: San Ysidro Health’s (SYHealth) proposed Gender-affirming Care Enhancement (GACE) project aims to provide a more inclusive, welcoming, and safe healthcare environment for LGBTQ+ patients in Federally Qualified Health Center settings. The GACE project specifically addresses data collection of patients’ sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI); documentation of SOGI in the electronic health record (EHR) system, particularly at the point in time when patients first enter SYHealth’s system of care (e.g., registration); and optimizing EHR functionalities to support gender-affirming care and practices. All of these activities will coincide with SYHealth’s upcoming EHR transition from the NextGen to EPIC system, an organizational initiative anticipated to bring forth transformational changes to clinical, administrative, and operational practices throughout the health center. GACE activities focus on “technical” and “practice” enhancements within SYHealth’s system of care. Technical enhancements pertain to gender-affirming customizations within the soon-to-be launched EPIC EHR system. Practice enhancements focus on reviewing and updating SYHealth forms to ensure that they reflect gender-affirming language, correct usage of names and pronouns, etc. A GACE Skills Training program will also be delivered to staff, focusing on increasing LGBTQ+ knowledge, communication skills, and other relevant skills to support gender-affirming practices in the performance of staff’s day-to-day responsibilities. This training is also consistent with the required Stigma & Discrimination education required under HRSA-23-052. GACE is anticipated to result in gender-affirming EHR functionalities and health center forms, as well as increased staff knowledge and confidence to integrate gender-affirming skills/strategies during their service delivery. GACE activities will also positively impact SYHealth’s HIV & LGBTQ+ continuum of care for LGBTQ+ patients, such as promoting complete and accurate medical records for LGBTQ+ patients. GACE will also reduce instances of negative/triggering experiences for patients, which will increase their confidence in SYHealth’s system of care. For HIV-positive patients, this will promote care retention, medication adherence, and ultimately, viral suppression. For those vulnerable to HIV, this confidence will encourage regular HIV testing, acceptance of PrEP, and timely access to HIV medical care if they test positive.
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).