Ryan White Title III HIV Capacity Development and Planning Grants - Project Title: Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part C Capacity Development Program Project Category: HIV Care Innovation Project Director Name: Jolene Joseph Contact Phone Number: 513-483-3080 Contact Email Address: jolenej@healthcare-connection.org Website: www.healthcare-connection.org Address: 1401 Steffen Ave City & State: Cincinnati, OH 45215 Funding Request: $150,000 The HealthCare Connection (THCC), previously known as the Lincoln Heights Health Center, was the first Community Health Center in the state of Ohio. It opened in 1967 with six volunteers and a $10,000 grant from the City of Lincoln Heights, allowing medical care to be provided to underserved city residents. Since then, THCC has continued to grow and serve underserved populations, including minorities, in northern Hamilton County, Ohio with Cincinnati being the major city within the county, operating 9 sites including 4 school-based health centers to provide care to populations experiencing social determinants of health (SDOH). THCC is committed to providing quality, cost-effective healthcare services to the low-income and indigent populations within the service area that are negatively impacted by SDOH factors and who would otherwise be unable to afford or access healthcare services. THCC has a long-standing history of serving the areas minority populations, with over 60% of THCC patients in 2023 identifying as a minority group and with 28% of patient best served in a language other than English. THCC has a reputation as a trusted healthcare provider where all patients, regardless of ability to pay for services, have the same, equitable access to care. THCC will utilize assistance from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) to enhance its ability to adapt to the evolving healthcare landscape and improve access to top-notch HIV primary care for underserved and low-income individuals living with HIV. Additionally, understanding the value in providing complementary, integrated medical care services, THCCC will leverage a partnership with HRSA through RWHAP programming to create an innovative approach to linking oral health and behavioral health practices, provided at the health center, for early identification and referral to HIV primary care programming at the health center. By educating staff, expanding access to HIV identification outside of primary care, and the establishment of a consistent, patient-centered referral workflow, those at-risk or HIV+ have a direct link to HIV/AIDS programming directly in the community. THCC will strive to achieve the following goals: - Develop polices and procedures to facilitate a caring and factual response to HIV+ test results - Develop a protocol for rapid screen followed by more-in-depth HIV testing - Train staff to understand best practices for trauma-informed care to relaying HIV+ results to a patient - Clarify workflow, responsibilities and documentation - Create a sustainable tracking process for HIV+ results, linkage to care, behavioral health services, etc. By the end of project funding, THCC will have expanded its organizational capacity to reach more patients throughout the northern Hamilton County community, targeting at-risk populations and ensuring these populations are aware of the services offered by THCC. THCC will create a foundational sustainability plan that will be achieved through quality improvement activities, that will establish a plan for the continuous growth and expansion of programming beyond grant funding, serving the identified patient population for years to come.
