Nashville CARES CDC HIV project - the nashville metropolitan statistical area (MSA) has seen a recent rise in new HIV infections, where stark HIV-health disparities persist among racial and sexual…

Nashville CARES CDC HIV project - the nashville metropolitan statistical area (MSA) has seen a recent rise in new HIV infections, where stark HIV-health disparities persist among racial and sexual minorities. In the MSA, african americans (AA) comprise 48% of all new HIV diagnoses and 48% of all HIV-related deaths while only accounting for 27% of the population; male-to-male sexual contact claims a steady 80% of new infections, and of the estimated 949 people who are HIV positive but unaware of their status, 48% are AA men who have SEX with men (AAMSM). Though the united states ending the HIV epidemic plan charges the nation to achieve 95% viral suppression among all people with HIV (as a treatment as prevention method), only 46% of people with HIV in the MSA have achieved viral suppression (with 54% still able to transmit the virus). These data highlight the urgent need to scale up HIV prevention and treatment services in the MSA.nashville CARES (CARES) is the largest community-based HIV services organization in the state and has been providing services throughout the MSA for 35 years. Each year, CARES serves approximately 60,000 people and assists them to become tested and know their HIV status, prevent HIV infection or manage their HIV infection for optimized health, and support their friends and family who are HIV positive. CARES recently launched the my house clinic?a medical facility designed to be a ?one-stop center? Providing medical and supportive services under one roof for same-gender-loving men and same-gender-loving men of color. The clinic provides confidential HIV testing, counseling services, screenings for sexually transmitted infections (STIS), pre-exposure prophylaxis (PREP) and prescriptions for individuals at high-risk for exposure to HIV, and rapid initiation of antiretroviral therapy for individuals with HIV. Under this CDC comprehensive high-impact HIV prevention projects for cbos funding opportunity, CARES will enhance and expand services for HIV-positiv E (HIV+) and high-risk HIV-negative (HRN) persons. Our proposal focuses its efforts on persons at greatest risk of acquiring and transmitting HIV infection in the MSA which are AAMSM and MSM. To diagnose HIV, CARES will enhance and expand comprehensive targeted and integrated testing and screening for HIV, HCV and other STIS by providing on-site services and services through a mobile unit and home- and community- based services, and will utilize social networking strategies, and personalized cognitive counseling. To treat HIV, CARES will provide rapid initiation of HIV care, artas, stay connected, and prevention and essential support services to enhance and expand linkage to HIV medical care, RE-engagement in care for those lost-to-care, partner service referrals, medication adherence. To prevent HIV, CARES will provide referrals for PREP/npep, condom distribution, prevention and essential support services, and risk reduction/behavioral interventions, using patient navigators, prevention education, D-up! Intervention, on-demand testing, and the my house mobile application. To respond to HIV clusters, and improve outcomes along the HIV continuum of care, CARES will work with state and local health departments and other service providers to refer all newly diagnosed individuals for partner services and assist the local health departments in providing wrap-around services.through these proposed mechanisms, CARES intends to respond to HIV diagnoses quickly, reduce new infections, increase access and linkage to care, and optimize treatment for people with HIV. CARES aims to focus this high impact prevention project to reduce HIV-health disparities among AAMSM and MSM who are most vulnerable for HIV disease progression and transmission in the MSA.