Community project funding/congressionally directed spending - non-construction - introduction entre hermanos is the only social service organization within the state of washington with the combination…

Community project funding/congressionally directed spending - non-construction - introduction entre hermanos is the only social service organization within the state of washington with the combination of culturally sensitive, affirming, linguistically relevant wraparound supports to address disproportionate HIV diagnosis rates within the latinx lgbtq+ community. The lgbtq+ latinx community faces inequitable access to care because of intersecting forms of oppression, and may have difficulty accessing services at latinx organizations, lgbtq+ organizations, or government organizations because of their sexual orientation, cultural identity, or immigration status. This is particularly challenging in rural areas, where there are fewer service providers and lgbtq+ latinx individuals face significant stigma and barriers. With your funding, we will bring linguistically and culturally competent, affirming services to an underserved area of the state. An award under hrsa's rural health category will fund a new rural location for entre hermanos to launch HIV support services with network building and condom distribution in rural yakima county as a first step to more comprehensive lgbtq+ affirming care and safe places in the region. Work plan by july 31, 2025, we will launch a satellite location in rural southeast yakima county to provide HIV prevention activities focused on the lgbtq+ latinx community and case management for latinx people living with HIV. We will offer condom distribution, HIV testing, referrals to services, and outreach and education with an emphasis on those who identify as lgbtq+ and men who have SEX with men to begin to build a constituency. Our project goal is to help lgbtq+ latinx residents in the rural areas between yakima and the TRI-cities overcome the barriers to healthcare they face and promote better health through comprehensive prevention and care services intended to reduce HIV infections and maintain connections that keep clients engaged and responsive to medical treatment when needed. Over the course of one year, we will meet the following objectives at our new rural yakima program: -conduct focus groups to engage yakima county community in designing adaptations of entre hermanos services that are right for them to inform our community-led program design -begin reaching 3,000 people weekly with HIV prevention messages through expansion of our spanish-language radio show to add a secondary broadcast on an eastern washington radio channel -secure a building in a small city (e.g. granger) from which to base our services -begin conversations with local medical providers about offering lgbtq+ friendly care for clients who test positive for HIV -reach 50 people a month with HIV prevention and health messages through partnerships with transgender performers at lgbtq-friendly entertainment shows in yakima to start to build awareness for upcoming services -start providing health education and HIV prevention services at our location and/or in community spaces -create plan for partnerships with at least one local medical provider for lgbtq-friendly care -evaluation of program expansion and program refinements at end of year at the end of the year, we will have set the foundation for a fully functioning HIV prevention program targeting the unique needs of the lgbtq+ latinx community in rural washington. After this program design and launch, we will add services like HIV testing, prep enrollment, building local partnerships so community members can access lgbtq-affirming treatment options for clients who may test positive and need local medical care. Progress on these indicators will set the stage for further expansion, including adding medical and non-medical case managers to support clients who test positive and additional health and well-being programming specific to lgbtq+ latinx clients. Equipment we will not be purchasing any equipment over $5,000 for this project.