Project Grant P0647292

RYAN WHITE TITLE III HIV CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING GRANTS - THE RUTH M. ROTHSTEIN CORE CENTER (CORE CENTER) IS A CRITICAL PROVIDER OF PRIMARY MEDICAL AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) THROUGHOUT THE CHICAGO ELIGIBLE METROPOLITAN AREA (EMA). CORE CENTER IS PART OF THE COOK COUNTY HIV INTEGRATED PROGRAM (CCHIP) AND COOK COUNTY HEALTH (CCH), THE LARGEST SAFETY NET HEALTHCARE PROVIDER FOR CHICAGO AND COOK COUNTY. IN 2021, THE CORE CENTER PROVIDED 14,733 AMBULATORY VISITS TO 4,683 UNDUPLICATED CLIENTS AND 11,133 VISITS FOR MEDICAL SUBSPECIALTY CARE TO MORE THAN 3,300 CLIENTS. ACCORDING TO THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH (IDPH), THE BURDEN OF HIV/AIDS IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS IS MOST CONCENTRATED IN THE NINE-COUNTY CHICAGO EMA, WHICH INCLUDES THE CITY OF CHICAGO. AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2020, 80% OF ALL PLWHA IN ILLINOIS RESIDE IN THE CHICAGO EMA, WITH 66% IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO. THIS AREA IS ALSO HOME TO THE MAJORITY OF AFRICAN AMERICAN AND HISPANIC PLWHA: 84% OF AFRICAN AMERICAN PLWHA AND 88% OF HISPANIC PLWHA. THIS PROPOSAL SEEKS $150,000 FOR A ONE-YEAR INNOVATIVE PROJECT TO ENHANCE AND EXPAND OUR PEER NAVIGATOR PROGRAM AT CORE CENTER. THE AIM IS TO DEVELOP A VIRTUAL COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER (CHW) PROGRAM AND RECRUIT CLIENTS TO PARTICIPATE TO GAIN SKILLS TOWARD WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. THIS FUNDING WOULD ALLOW THE NEWLY FORMED "SEXUAL HEALTH AMBASSADOR PROGRAM EMPOWERED" INITIATIVE OR "S.H.A.P.E. PROGRAM TO EXPAND AND CONTINUE BEYOND ITS CURRENT SHORT-TERM ENDING THE HIV EPIDEMIC (EHE) FUNDING WHICH ENDS FEBRUARY 2022. S.H.A.P.E. IS A "YOUTH SEXUAL HEALTH AMBASSADOR PROGRAM" AIMED AT RECRUITING YOUNG MSM AND TRANSGENDER HIV POSITIVE PATIENTS OF COLOR WHO ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY HIV/AIDS. THE PROJECT GOALS ARE TO: TO POSITIVELY IMPACT THE OVERALL SEXUAL HEALTH OUTCOMES OF YOUNG ADULTS OF COLOR AGES 18-25 AS WE ENGAGE, EDUCATE, AND EMPOWER YOUTH TO ACCESS PRIMARY CARE, PREVENTIVE SEXUAL HEALTH SERVICES INCLUDED BY NOT LIMITED TO EDUCATION, SCREENING, AND TR EATMENT OF HIV AND OTHER STI'S. WITH THIS FUNDING, WE WILL MERGE OUR EXISTING PEER NAVIGATION PROGRAM WITH THE S.H.A.P.E. INITIATIVE TO FORM A NEW CHW PROGRAM.