Young men's connection - substance use/HIV/STI/VH prevention project - samhsa nofo: SP-25-005

Prevention navigator project name: jwch young men's connection (YMC) project synopsis: the jwch YMC project's purpose is to provide substance use and HIV prevention services to racial and ethnic minority populations at high-risk for substance use disorders (suds) and HIV infection. This will be achieved through outreach, SUD and HIV prevention education, HIV/STI/viral hepatitis testing, referrals to SUD and HIV care and treatment services, education for providers on SUD and HIV care and treatment services, as well as prep/PEP, and community level prevention campaigns using community promise. Population: the priority population will be unstably housed african american/black and hispanic/latinx men having SEX with men (MSM0, of ages 18-35 who reside in SPA 4 (downtown LA to east hollywood) of LA county. Strategies and interventions: using the strategic prevention framework (SPF) model, jwch will use two community health workers to implement the following evidence-based interventions: (1) outreach (physical and virtual), (2) SUD/HIV prevention education, (3) education to SUD and HIV care and treatment providers, (4) referrals to SUD/HIV/STI care/treatment services, (5) HIV/STI/HEP testing, and (6) education campaigns using community promise, a communication campaign focused on reducing stigma related to SUD/HIV, to reach individuals of priority populations. Project goals: 1. To reduce substance use among the population of focus 2. To increase access and engagement in care and optimize health outcomes for racial and ethnic minorities at risk for SUD and HIV; 3. To reduce HIV-related health disparities by strengthening integration of care through case management; 4. To reduce new HIV infections, and provide treatment to persons with hepatitis b/c infections; 5. To address HIV through the ending the HIV epidemic in the U.S. Initiative and the national HIV/aids strategy with a key focus on increasing the number of people who are HIV positive who receive HIV-related health care.