Systems Linkages and Care Initiative to High Risk Populations Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center

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This funding initiative will support one Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center (Center) to conduct a multi-site evaluation to assess innovative models of linkage to and retention in care. Populations of interest are 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. This 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 of hard-to-reach populations who have never been in care. Specifically, the Center will conduct a rigorous evaluation and provide technical assistance across Ryan White Part A and B organizations selected to implement innovative linkage and retention models, and gather process, outcome, and other relevant data on their effectiveness and costs. The Center also will coordinate publication and dissemination efforts, working with the selected organizations to compile lessons learned and successful, replicable models to be shared with the Ryan White community and other providers to improve access to and retention in HIV treatment for HIV positive persons who have never been in care.

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