Self-empowerment and engagement to resources (SEER) - title: FY 2023 minority aids initiative: the substance use and human immunodeficiency virus prevention navigator program for racial/ethnic…

Self-empowerment and engagement to resources (SEER) - title: FY 2023 minority aids initiative: the substance use and human immunodeficiency virus prevention navigator program for racial/ethnic minorities. Project period start: september 30, 2023. Proactive community services (PCS) will implement the self-empowerment through engagement with resources (SEER) program with direct service partners (DSP): south suburban council on alcoholism and substance abuse, kirby rehabilitation, chicagoland infectious disease, SAJ family practice, and the PCS greater metropolitan area providers (GMAP), a cadre of medical psychosocial and essential service providers. The program will provide prevention and care services to populations at high-risk for substance use disorders (SUDS) and HIV infection. The program targets ethnic and racial communities residing in cook county, illinois ages 18+, with a focus on transgender, cisgender, and gender nonconforming (GNC) african american men and women. The program will use a syndemic approach to increase engagement with resources and reduce SUDS, HIV, viral hepatitis, and other blood-borne diseases, which are disproportionately high among african americans in cook county, especially in the communities of men who have SEX with men (MSM) AKA same-gender loving men (SGLM), and women -cisgender and transgender, these communities have been historically marginalized and systematically experience greater obstacles accessing medical, mental health treatment, or care services based on race, age, geographic location, socioeconomic status, justice involvement, sexual orientation, or gender identity. SEER direct service partners (DSP) will coordinate substance use, mental health, and medical services to annually provide 500 black intergenerational men and women -CIS-gender or transgender, and gender nonconforming (GNC) individuals with HIV, HCV, and STI testing/screening services, including health education, screenings and assessment, harm reduction, treatment and supportive services, and safer SEX and safer consumption biomedical tools. During year one, SEER partners will focus on communities in the south and southwest districts, and in subsequent years, the program will replicate year one best practices to expand and serve underserved county communities, especially persons with limited english proficiency. Individuals at the intersections of systemic racism, medical syndemic, and SUDS require services tailored to their unique physical, mental, and social needs. SEER partners will collaborate with interdisciplinary members of the PCS greater metropolitan area providers (GMAP) to provide culturally competent, client-centered services using community outreach, peer support specialists, and wrap (wellness recovery action planning). The goals of the SEER include facilitating entry into treatment and care for those with or at risk for HIV, HCV, stis, and SUDS by annually serving 500 unduplicated cook county residents: disseminating educational materials, providing HIV, STI, and HCV screenings, linking to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PREP) or npep (250 total) treatment: outpatient and residential drug treatment to 21 participants the first year and 26 participants each year thereafter (125 total); group level intervention to 25 participants the first year and 50 participants each year thereafter (225 total); and the GMAP network for medical psychosocial and essential services (600 total); and retaining clients in care. The long-term community impact is decreasing substance use, risky sexual behaviors, and mental health problems; and increasing adherence to treatment protocols and medications; and improving quality of life-related to home, health, community, economic stability, and purpose. SEER partners will employ a comprehensive strategy of engagement, education, assessment, and evidence-based practices, including individual and group-level interventions, individualized client service plans, and linkages to treatment and care.