Project thrive (transforming health resources for inclusivity, vitality, and empowerment) - purpose: we are proud to share our innovative initiative, project thrive (transforming health resources…

Project thrive (transforming health resources for inclusivity, vitality, and empowerment) - purpose: we are proud to share our innovative initiative, project thrive (transforming health resources for inclusivity, vitality, and empowerment). Thrive represents our goal of creating a supportive and inclusive environment where black MSM and black trans women can access the resources they need to live healthy and empowered lives. The purpose of this project is to increase engagement in substance use/mental health treatment for racial and ethnic underrepresented individuals with substance use disorders (SUD) and/or CO-occurring substance use and mental disorders (COD) who are at risk for or are living with HIV/aids. We have positioned ourselves within a network of providers to ensure that our program participants receive culturally affirming HIV/aids prevention and treatment; primary medical care; and mental health & substance abuse treatment. Population to be served: fortunately, the project will ensure the delivery of treatment and enhanced access for our target population by licensed agencies in the community, this high impact prevention/care project will address the prevention/care needs of prioritized target populations in the ST. Louis metropolitan statistical area (that includes two missouri counties and ST. Clair county illinois or the metro-east region of southern illinois). These targeted populations encompass low-income communities of color with limited literacy skills and a variety of health disparities. Below is a full demographic profile of our population of focus: *sexual orientation, gender identity, & SEX: bmsm, black trans women, non-identified bmsm, BI- sexual black men, and bmsm/transgender women who have a substance uses disorders (suds) or CO- occurring disorders (COD) or who are HIV positive or at risk for HIV/aids. *age: 18 and up *race: the project will serve african american/blacks in east ST. Louis, ST. Clair county, illinois, and the metropolitan ST. Louis area. Ethnicity: the ethnicity of the population to be served is black-non-hispanic. *language: english is the language spoken by all the bmsm/trans women to be served by the project. Socioeconomic characteristics: east ST. Louis, areas of ST. Clair county, and various ST. Louis city and county regions to be served are economically devastated. Some areas received the "enterprise community" designation from HUD, an indicator of extreme poverty. Strategies/interventions: project staff are familiar with the use of recovery-oriented systems of care, trauma informed care, implementing EBP around behavioral health interventions and CDC HIV prevention/care interventions. Recruitment through social network strategies (SNS) will be conducted to ensure that the targeted population is reached in sufficient numbers throughout the funding period. The project evaluator will collect and analyze data, including the gpra and the consumer outcome study, and provide periodic feedback to help monitor and improve outcomes. Project goals: the goals of the project are to increase access and availability of services to 12635 participants over the 5-year project. Goal 1. Provide at least 300 gipra screenings for substance use and/or CO-occurring substance use and mental health disorders and active internal or external referrals to all appropriate programming. Goal 2 provide CDC approved comprehensive health screenings and linkage to care services to 2490 targeted project participants. Goal 3. Provide 2345 behavioral interventions and linkage of treatment services for targeted project participants. Goal 4: provide condom distribution services to 7500 project participants. Measurable objectives: provide screenings for CO-occurring conditions to at least 300 participants over 5-year project. 80% of participants will receive follow up assessments. 90% of participants with a mental health/substance abuse diagnoses will be connected to treatment services. Overall, goal is 50% of all treatment referrals to successfully complete mental health/substance abuse treatment.