Ryan White Title III HIV Capacity Development and Planning Grants - Prism Health North Texas (PHNTX) seeks funding through the FY2025 Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part C Capacity Development grant (HRSA-25-049) under the category of HIV Care Innovation: Strategic Partnership. The proposed initiative will establish sustainable collaborations with non-traditional partners serving justice-involved individuals living with HIV (PLWH) in Dallas County. These individuals, who are disproportionately affected by HIV and face significant barriers to care, require targeted interventions to ensure timely linkage and re-engagement in comprehensive medical and support services. With over 24 years of experience in correctional health linkage, PHNTX will leverage its expertise to formalize referral networks between the Dallas County Jail, transitional housing providers, community-based healthcare organizations, and reentry service agencies. The project aims to develop a standardized, jail-based referral system for early HIV screening, pre-release planning, and immediate linkage to medical care, case management, and social support upon release. Additionally, PHNTX will implement training for jail and transitional housing staff on HIV care coordination, stigma reduction, and patient navigation to promote sustained care engagement. Justice-involved individuals experience high rates of housing instability, unemployment, mental health challenges, and substance misuse, which further impede their ability to maintain HIV treatment. PHNTX will expand partnerships with housing organizations, workforce development programs, and behavioral health providers to address these social determinants of health. A coalition of key stakeholders will be established to assess community needs, optimize resource allocation, and ensure ongoing coordination. The implementation plan includes hiring an outreach education coordinator, conducting a comprehensive community needs assessment, and strengthening referral processes to enhance access to care. PHNTX will utilize targeted outreach strategies to engage the focus population, increase provider awareness, and reduce structural barriers to healthcare access. Through these efforts, this initiative will improve linkage to and retention in HIV care, reduce health disparities, and promote long-term stability for justice-involved PLWH in Dallas County.
