Sunday, May 11, 2025
5/11/2025
Ryan White Title III HIV Capacity Development and Planning Grants - In 1985, a group of concerned citizens in Lafayette, Louisiana founded the 501(c)3 non-profit organization Lafayette C.A.R.E.S., which stood for Concern for AIDS Research, Education, and Support. The agency’s mission was to meet the needs of persons living with HIV (PLWH) residing in Lafayette Parish and provide education and services to prevent the spread of HIV. In the early 1990s, Lafayette C.A.R.E.S. expanded services to include the surrounding parishes (Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, St. Martin, St. Landry, and Vermilion) and added prevention programs targeting populations at risk of becoming infected with HIV. In 1995, the organization changed its name to Acadiana C.A.R.E.S. to better reflect the geographic area served. In the 2000s, housing and addiction recovery programs were added, allowing the agency to address key factors impacting the overall health of PLWH and the vulnerability of persons at risk for HIV. Now stylized AcadianaCares, the agency expanded its approach to addressing the HIV epidemic by opening the Gay Men’s Wellness Center in 2012. In 2016, the Wellness Center was expanded into a primary care medical clinic referred to as AcadianaCares Community Health and Wellness Center (CHWC). In 2019, the CHWC was awarded FQHC look-alike designation. AcadianaCares is dedicated to transforming vulnerable communities by improving access to HIV support, housing, primary health care, and substance use recovery through a client-driven, holistic approach to healthy living. The agency has found the greatest success in a holistic, long-term, patient-centered approach that addresses these underlying factors. The agency aims to provide high quality and affordable health care to individuals in medically underserved communities with compassion and respect. Infrastructure development through telemedicine is an opportunity for the agency to extend its reach to patients currently struggling to maintain appropriate health care or attend their mental health appointments. Telemedicine alleviates patient stress of having to negotiate transportation and provides comfort in settings regardless of their geographic location. As a result, linkage to care, retention in care, and no-show rates are expected to improve. AcadianaCares is requesting $150,000 to purchase equipment and software in order to expand its telemedicine program. Telemedicine services targeting patients living with HIV may be offered in coordination with LabCorp satellite sites located in rural health clinics or rural hospital within the target area. Through newly established collaborative agreements with at least two of the 49 rural health clinics and rural hospitals in the target area, agency practitioners will be able to meet virtually with each patient in order to complete mental health appointments, HIV-related medical assessments, and prescribe medications. Providers may also consult with infectious disease doctors and other specialty providers through telecommunications in order to better serve the target population. Telemedicine services will lead to better overall health care for patients living with HIV who reside in the rural areas surrounding the agency’s home in Lafayette Parish. This will increase access to HIV care and mental health services, thus increasing retainage in care for all patients. Telehealth and virtual communication services will allow patients to receive consistent stigma-free quality care and outcomes regardless of geographic location, and reduce unnecessary emergency room and urgent care visits. Patients will receive quality evidence-based care without the burden of finding transportation, thereby increasing appointment adherence.
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).