Project Grant H79TI085169

THE THRIVE PROJECT - GUIDING RIGHT, INC. (GRI) IS PROPOSING A PROGRAM, TREATMENT, REFERRALS, INTERVENTIONS, AND EDUCATION (THRIVE) TO PREVENT AND REDUCE SUBSTANCE ABUSE/MISUSE AND TRANSMISSION OF HIV/AIDS AMONG RACIAL/ETHNIC MINORITIES AT INCREASED RISK FOR HIV/AIDS. GRI WILL ADDRESS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DISPARITIES AMONG AT-RISK POPULATIONS BY INCREASING ACCESS TO PREVENTION AND TREATMENT SERVICES, INCREASING SERVICE USE, AND IMPROVING OUTCOMES AMONG PARTICIPANTS THROUGH THE USE OF COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS. GRI WILL IMPLEMENT A RANGE OF PROGRAM STRATEGIES THAT COMBINE EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES, PATIENT NAVIGATION, AND FOLLOW-UP SERVICES FOCUSED ON SUBSTANCE ABUSE/MISUSE AND HIV/AIDS PREVENTION PROGRAMMING FOR THE POPULATION OF FOCUS. THE AGENCY WILL UTILIZE ITS SUCCESSFUL 23 YEAR HISTORY OF PROVIDING HIV SERVICE AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES TO MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS AT HIGH RISK FOR HIV, MENTAL DISORDERS, AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDERS. GRI IS AN IDEAL CANDIDATE FOR FUNDING BECAUSE THE AGENCY IS A COMMUNITY BASED PROVIDER THAT CAN PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY BASED SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND HIV PREVENTION AND NAVIGATION STRATEGIES; THE AGENCY IS HIGHLY SKILLED AT PROVIDING INTEGRATED CARE AND SERVICES THAT BUILD RAPPORT AND TRUST WITH HARD-TO-REACH POPULATIONS - INCLUDING CHRONIC SUBSTANCE USERS, AS WELL AS MINORITY POPULATIONS AT RISK FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DISORDERS AND HIV.