Special Projects of National Significance - Cooperative Agreements - Rates of mental health (MH) conditions are higher among both those at highest risk of acquiring Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and people with HIV (PWH). The range of MH conditions affecting PWH is expansive and includes, but is not limited to, anxiety disorders, mood disorders such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Co-existing MH conditions in PWH are associated with poorer outcomes at every step of the HIV care continuum. Further, MH conditions in PWH represent a barrier to retention in care and PWH who have MH conditions and substance use disorder have lower adherence to HIV medication, lower rates of viral suppression and higher mortality rates than those with HIV alone. The proposed project, Implementation Technical Assistance Provider: Targeted Access to Care, Knowledge, Linkage and Engagement for HIV/Mental Health (ITAP: TACKLE for HIV/Mental Health) hereafter referred to as ITAP TACKLE, focuses on evidence based strategies to support via tailored training and technical assistance a national cohort of ten implementation sites hereafter referred to as Implementation Site Partners (ISPs) to adapt and implement culturally responsive interventions to engage and retain in care those with both HIV and MH conditions. Further the proposed project will utilize evidence-based, innovative strategies to create and disseminate knowledge to facilitate replication of implementation of effective interventions within the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) community and beyond. Finally, the project will collaborate seamlessly and effectively with the awarded Evaluation Provider who will lead evaluation of intervention implementation utilizing implementation science frameworks employing multiple strategic communication strategies, program management tools, communication and program management software and an implementation science framework at the level of ITAP TACKLE to ensure effective co-leadership and success of the larger initiative. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES Overall project goals and objectives as linked to project requirements are summarized as follows: Objective 1, Goal is to: support a national cohort of ISPs to adapt and implement culturally responsive interventions to retain people with HIV/MH in care. Requirement 1.1, Select and adapt interventions designed to engage and retain the priority population in HIV primary care and MH services. Requirement 1.2, Select and issue subawards to up to 10 implementation sites. Requirement 1.3, Provide training and monitoring to implementation sites on intervention fidelity and adaptations. Monitor compliance with federal regulations. Objective 2, Goal is to: provide support or limited support to the awarded Evaluation Provider to evaluate the implementation of interventions using implementation science frameworks. Objective 3, Goal is to: create & disseminate multimedia materials to facilitate replication of effective interventions. Requirement 3.1, Develop a comprehensive communications and dissemination plan and create user-friendly multimedia replication materials. The assembled multidisciplinary, cross professional, team is comprehensively equipped to carry out the goals and objective of the ITAP TACKLE project. The proposed project will be led by the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth (HSC) an institution steeped in health professional excellence, training a student body to become excellent health care providers and scientists; engaging in research to understand health and disease; providing compassionate and culturally proficient health care, and engaging stakeholders from the communities it serves to provide health solutions and to influence thoughtful advances in health policy.
