Project Grant H79FG000766

MENTAL HEALTH & SUBSTANCE USE SERVICES FOR LONG-TERM SURVIVORS OF HIV/AIDS PROJECT - SAN FRANCISCO AIDS FOUNDATION (SFAF) WILL INTEGRATE MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE SERVICES INTO ESTABLISHED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMMING FOR LONG TERM SURVIVORS OF HIV/AIDS. THIS PROJECT WILL FOCUS ON BLACK/AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNTIES, TRANSGENDER COMMUNITIES, AND PEOPLE WHO USE DRUGS (PWUD). STONEWALL PROJECT, SFAF'S EXISTING STATE-CERTIFIED ALCOHOL AND DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAM, WILL PARTNER WITH EXISTING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM STAFF TO DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE SERVICES. THIS PARTNERSHIP WILL EXPAND AVAILABLE SERVICES FOR LONG TERM SURVIVORS OF HIV/AIDS AND AS A RESULT, SFAF WILL PROVIDE A CONTINUUM OF CARE THAT INCLUDES MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT, AND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES. THIS PROJECT SEEKS TO REDUCE ISOLATION, AND SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE NEEDS, MEANINGFULLY ENGAGE LONG TERM SURVIVORS IN COMMUNITY BUILDING EFFORTS, AND STABILIZE SAFETY NETWORKS FOR THESE PRIORITY COMMUNITIES. SFAF WILL REDUCE SOCIAL ISOLATION AMONG LONG TERM SURVIVORS OF HIV/AIDS AND THEIR NETWORKS BY INCREASING UTILIZATION OF PSYCHOSOCIAL GROUPS AND EVENTS. SFAF WILL DECREASE HARMS ASSOCIATED WITH SUBSTANCE MISUSE AMONG LONG TERM SURVIVORS OF HIV/AIDS AND THEIR NETWORKS BY INCREASING ACCESS TO A CONTINUUM OF SUBSTANCE USE SERVICES. 150 LONG TERM SURVIVORS WILL BE ENGAGED IN THE 12-MONTH PROJECT THROUGH GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL LEVEL INTERVENTIONS, INCLUDING PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT GROUPS, SUBSTANCE USE EDUCATIONAL GROUPS, SOCIAL SUPPORT AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENTS, SUBSTANCE USE COUNSELING, AND HIV AND AGING CASE MANAGEMENT. SFAF HAS IDENTIFIED LONG TERM SURVIVORS OF HIV/AIDS-WITH SPECIFIC FOCUS ON BLACK/AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES, TRANSGENDER COMMUNITIES, AND PEOPLE WHO USE DRUGS-AS UNDER-RESOURCED POPULATIONS WITH AN UNMET NEED FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT SERVICES.