Mpower aims to decrease HIV and viral hepatitis transmission and substance use by providing education, interventions, HIV and hepatitis testing and referral for care, and treatment for substance use d…

Mpower aims to decrease HIV and viral hepatitis transmission and substance use by providing education, interventions, HIV and hepatitis testing and referral for care, and treatment for substance use d - test positive aware network (tpan) and its partners, southwood interventions (southwood), haymarket, and howard brown health (HBH) propose the manifesting positive outcomes through wellness, education, and recovery (mpower) program to increase entry into care and treatment for african-american men who have SEX with (MSM) (25 to 45) and african-american women (18-40) in chicago, IL who use substances and have or are at risk for HIV. Mpower aims to decrease HIV and viral hepatitis transmission and substance use by providing education, interventions, HIV and hepatitis testing and referral for care, and treatment for substance use disorders (SUD) and/or CO-occurring substance use and mental health disorders (COD). Mpower will address the unmet needs of chicago's underserved population. Rates of substance abuse and HIV among the african-american (black) population in chicago, illinois (part of cook county) are alarming. The population of focus for mpower is black MSM (60%) and black women who have SEX with men (40%) who have or are at risk for HIV infection and have SUD or COD. These populations have systematically experienced greater obstacles to health based on their race, sexual orientation, age, geographic location, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Mpower focuses on primary and secondary HIV prevention by addressing the needs of members in this population who are at risk for HIV as well as those already infected. This population requires services tailored to their specific physical, mental, and social needs. Tpan, southwood, HBH, and haymarket will use their experience providing culturally competent services to the target population to reach the program goals. The goals of mpower include facilitating entry into treatment for those with or at risk for HIV infection, SUD, and COD by; providing educational materials to 550 participants each year (2,750 total); providing outpatient and residential drug treatment to 18 participants the first year and 36 participants each year thereafter (162 total); delivering a group level intervention to 38 participants the first year and 75 participants each year thereafter (338 total); retaining participants in treatment; providing HIV testing (700 total); providing hepatitis testing (340 total); preventing HIV spread by providing pre-exposure prophylaxis (prep) referrals (180 total); decreasing substance use and risky sexual behaviors; increasing adherence to HIV medications; decreasing mental health problems; and improving quality of life measures related to housing, employment, and support recovery. Mpower will reach these goals by employing a comprehensive strategy of outreach, education, assessment, case management, referrals for prep, group level intervention, and treatment.