Project Grant P0650238

RYAN WHITE TITLE III HIV CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING GRANTS - PROJECT TITLE: FY 2023 RWHAP PART C CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM ORGANIZATION NAME/ADDRESS: CENTRO DE SALUD DE LARES, INC. / PO BOX 379 LARES PR 00669 PROJECT DIRECTOR NAME: GONZALO MALDONADO CONTACT PHONE NUMBERS: VOICE-787-897-2727 (EXT. 1041/1043) EMAIL ADDRESS / WEBSITE: RW_CSL@HOTMAIL.COM / LARESSALUD.COM GRANT PROGRAM FUNDS REQUESTED: $133,800 GENERAL OVERVIEW OF HIV EPIDEMIOLOGY: CENTRO DE SALUD DE LARES, INC. HIV NETWORK IS COMPOSED OF 19 FEDERAL QUALIFIED COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS THAT PROVIDE PRIMARY HEALTH CARE SERVICES IN RURAL UNDERSERVED TOWNS THROUGHOUT THE MOUNTAINOUS CENTRAL REGION OF PUERTO RICO (LARES, QUEBRADILLAS, CAMUY, HATILLO, UTUADO, ADJUNTAS, CASTANER, CIALES, VEGA BAJA, BARRANQUITAS, COMERIO, COROZAL, NARANJITO, OROCOVIS, TOA ALTA, MOROVIS, CIDRA, SAN LORENZO, YABUCOA, HUMACAO, LAS PIEDRAS, PATILLAS, MAUNABO, SANTA ISABEL AND RINCON). AS REPORTED BY THE HIV/AIDS SURVEILLANCE OFFICE OF THE PUERTO RICO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2020 THERE WERE 1509 CASES OF PERSONS LIVING WITH HIV REPORTED IN THE TARGET AREA. 70 % WERE MEN AND 30 % WOMEN. FOLLOWING ARE THE NUMBER OF PLWH SERVED ANNUALLY BY CENTRO DE SALUD DE LARES, INC. RYAN WHITE PART C NETWORK FOR THE LAST 3 CALENDAR YEARS: YEAR 2020: 415 (MALE: 67% FEMALE: 33% TRANS:0.4%) YEAR 2021: 442 (MALE: 69 % FEMALE: 30% TRANS: 0.4%) YEAR 2022: 439 (MALE: 69 % FEMALE: 31% TRANS: 0.4%) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED PROJECT: THIS PROJECT WILL PROMOTE THE COORDINATION AND INTEGRATION OF HIV PRIMARY CARE AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. THE ACTIVITIES PROPOSED WILL SUPPORT PROGRESS ALONG THE HIV CARE CONTINUUM TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF PEOPLE WITH HIV POSITIVE DIAGNOSIS AND PREVENT NEW INFECTIONS. THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES WILL BE CARRIED OUT: - ORIENTATION TO PROVIDERS TO PROMOTE COORDINATION AND INTEGRATION OF PRIMARY CARE AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. - ACTIVITIES TO EDUCATE AND CREATE AWARENESS AMONG HIV POSITIVE INDIVIDUALS REGARDING THE IMPORTANCE OF PRIMARY CARE AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INTEGRATION FOR THE INDIVIDUAL WELL-BEING AND THE IMPROVEMENT OF HEALTH OUTCOMES. THE ACTIVITIES PROPOSED ARE INTENDED TO EXPAND AND ENHANCE ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY HIV PRIMARY CARE BY PROMOTING A CLOSE COLLABORATION IN A FULLY INTEGRATED SYSTEM: MENTAL HEALTH AND OTHER HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS SHARE THE SAME SITES, VISION, AND SYSTEMS. ALL PROVIDERS ARE ON THE SAME TEAM AND DEVELOPED AN IN-DEPTH UNDERSTANDING OF EACH OTHER'S ROLES AND AREAS OF EXPERTISE.