Hyacinth aids foundation seeks funding to implement a targeted testing and high impact prevention project under the CDC funding opportunity announcement (RFA-PS21-2102). - hyacinth aids foundation…

Hyacinth aids foundation seeks funding to implement a targeted testing and high impact prevention project under the CDC funding opportunity announcement (RFA-PS21-2102). - hyacinth aids foundation is new jersey?s first and largest aids service organization. Founded in 1985, hyacinth?s six regional offices located in new jersey?s densely populated urban centers provide critical support services to people living with HIV and aids. Hyacinth aids foundation seeks funding to implement a targeted testing and high impact prevention project under the CDC funding opportunity announcement (RFA-PS21-2102). The proposed target population is african american men and women, ages 30-64 of the newark eligible metropolitan statistical area (EMA) at high risk for HIV and most likely to be HIV-positive and undiagnosed or out of care (SEX workers, drug users, men who have SEX with men, transgender persons, EX-offenders, homeless and/or mentally ILL). Hyacinth is a current grantee under CDC?s PS15-1502. Funding through PS21-2102 would allow hyacinth to continue and expand its current program. Since 2015, hyacinth?s current program, thrive, has tested 6,168 individuals (87% within target population), identified 85 HIV positive individuals and distributed 484,403 condoms. The initiative will identify, recruit, and engage HIV positive african-american adults who are at high-risk of acquiring HIV. Hyacinth is currently funded under PS15-1502 and has experience reaching the target population. Under this FOA, hyacinth will reach african american men and women ages 30-65 in essex county NJ. 75% of persons tested will be within the target population. The existing three full time testing and linkage to care (TLC) navigators will conduct 1000 HIV tests to annually identify 8 undiagnosed HIV-positive persons, 8 previously diagnosed that are out of care HIV-positive persons, and 984 high-risk negative (HRN) persons. One part time HIV navigator will conduct outreach with the mobile testing van and recruit individuals for testing. HIV-positive persons will be linked to medical care, partner services, prevention and essential supportive servic ES including housing, mental health and substance abuse treatment. High- risk negative persons will be referred and linked to STI (sexually transmitted infection), viral hepatitis and TB screenings, as well as recommended essential services including, HIP interventions, housing, behavioral health care, prep and npep. All TLC navigators are trained and have experience working with thrive and the target population in essex county. To accomplish this, the initiative will leverage 4 programmatic strategies: 1) easy access to HIV screening and testing through community-based venue testing; 2) peer promotion and social marketing to address misinformation about HIV and to counter the social stigma that is a barrier to testing and prevention; 3) incentivized testing; and 4) referral and navigation services to essential supportive services. Promotion, outreach, and recruitment efforts for the proposed initiative will ensure public awareness of program services through the following key strategically coordinated and culturally competent program components: 1) a community-level evidence-based peer advocate program (promise); 2) social networking strategies (SNS; 3) partner services-; 4) a comprehensive social marketing campaign; 5) internet outreach and 6) street outreach.