Systems Linkages and Care Initiative to High Risk Populations Demonstration Sites

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This Initiative will provide assistance to grantee organizations funded under Part B of the Ryan White program to develop innovative models of linkage to and retention in HIV care. Populations of interest are limited to those persons who are at high risk for and/or infected with HIV but are unaware of their HIV status; are aware of their HIV infection but have never been referred to care; or are aware but have refused referral to care. It is estimated that up to one-quarter of the one million HIV-positive persons in the United States are unaware of their infection, and another quarter who are diagnosed with HIV infection choose to remain outside of care for a variety of reasons. Applicant organizations must demonstrate a high incidence of new HIV cases in their respective service area, and their ability to access the target population(s) who are out of care. They must also demonstrate how they will leverage existing resources to work with key partners and stakeholders across the public health system and community to identify and conduct counseling and testing of the HIV infected and out of care population. The initiative will promote the development of innovative strategies that successfully integrate different components of the public health system such as surveillance, counseling and testing, in the implementation of new and effective systems of linkages and retention into quality HIV care for hard-to-reach populations who have never been in care. Funded organizations will be required to participate in a 4-year comprehensive multi-site evaluation to identify and document successful models for purposes of dissemination and replication at the national level.

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