MAI - high risk populations: BCCS project impact (individuals matter: people accessing care and treatment) - brandywine counseling and community services, INC. (BCCS) proposes to implement the project…

MAI - high risk populations: BCCS project impact (individuals matter: people accessing care and treatment) - brandywine counseling and community services, INC. (BCCS) proposes to implement the project impact (individuals matter: people accessing care and treatment), a comprehensive integrated program to enhance substance use disorder (SUD) treatment for racial/ethnic minorities at high risk for or HIV positive in new castle county, delaware especially black and hispanic individuals who represent 74% of all HIV infections in the county. Impact will serve 90 adults per year or 450 adults in five years. Population of focus: impact will serve 1) men who have SEX with men ages 18 and over; 2) GAY, bisexual, and transgender individuals; and 3) adult heterosexual women and men who are at risk for, or infected with, HIV and/or viral hepatitis and may also be challenged by substance use disorder (SUD) and CO-occurring mental health disorders (COD). Impact will place special emphasis on engaging and treating racial/ethnic minorities who are disproportionately affected by HIV/aids and viral hepatitis in delaware to reduce the impact of behavioral health problems, reduce risk and incidence of HIV, and increase access to treatment for these individuals. Strategies: impact includes an interconnected design of services to create a seamless transition at various stages of readiness to enter SUD treatment, related medical treatment, and related case management and recovery support services. Impact will engage clients via BCCS' SUD and medication assisted treatment (mat) programs, through relationships with aids-serving organizations (ASO) in delaware, as well as through "street-level" and web-based outreach strategies. All will be offered HIV, HCV, and HBV testing and linked to BCCS' on-site infectious disease and psychiatric clinics when appropriate. Additionally, impact will implement the community-friendly health recovery program (CHRP) - a four-session evidence-based intervention designed to reduce HIV risky behaviors among drug users in treatment. Goals: the overarching goal is to reduce SUD, COD's, HIV/aids, hepatitis and other related problems among racial/ethnic minority adults. Goal 1: increase access to and retention in treatment for behavioral health problems - at least 80% of clients will complete prescribed treatment/services. Goal 2: reduce new HIV and viral hepatitis infections - reduce client substance use especially injecting drug use by 75%. Goal 3: improve outcomes for behavioral health clients at risk of or living with HIV - at least 65% of impact clients will experience improved criminal justice, substance abuse, mental health, housing, educational, medical/health, social connectedness, employment, and behavioral/social consequences. Goal 4: increase recovery support services - retain a minimum of 70% of participants in aftercare/recovery support services for at least six (6) months. Goal 5: increase linkage to HIV/HEP medical care - at least 75% of HIV and/or HEP positive participants will adhere to both behavioral and medical treatment.