Project Grant P0650273

RYAN WHITE TITLE III HIV CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING GRANTS - UNIVERSAL COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER (UCHC) RESPECTFULLY REQUESTS RWHAP PART C CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FUNDS TO TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS BY INTEGRATING BEHAVIORAL AND ORAL HEALTH SERVICES INTO PRIMARY CARE SETTINGS FOR RESIDENTS OF SOUTH LOS ANGELES AND PART OF EAST LOS ANGELES. REQUESTED FUNDING WILL ENABLE UCHC TO FOCUS ON ADDRESSING THE COMPLEX HEALTH NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS, WHO OFTEN EXPERIENCE SIGNIFICANT PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES. THE PROJECT WILL INVOLVE THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A COMPREHENSIVE MODEL OF CARE THAT INTEGRATES PRIMARY MEDICAL CARE, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, AND ORAL HEALTH SERVICES INTO ONE COHESIVE SYSTEM. THIS MODEL WILL EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY IDENTIFICATION AND INTERVENTION FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND ORAL HEALTH CONDITIONS, AS WELL AS THE NEED FOR ONGOING MANAGEMENT OF CHRONIC CONDITIONS. THE PROJECT WILL ALSO FOCUS ON IMPROVING ACCESS TO CARE FOR UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS, INCLUDING THOSE WHO FACE BARRIERS TO ACCESSING TRADITIONAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES. THIS WILL INVOLVE THE DEVELOPMENT OF INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES FOR OUTREACH, EDUCATION, AND ENGAGEMENT, AS WELL AS THE USE OF TELEHEALTH TECHNOLOGIES TO PROVIDE REMOTE CARE AND SUPPORT. OVERALL, THE HIV PRIMARY CARE WITH BEHAVIORAL AND ORAL HEALTH PROJECT WILL SEEK TO PROVIDE A MORE COMPREHENSIVE AND INTEGRATED APPROACH TO HIV CARE, ONE THAT PRIORITIZES THE OVERALL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS. BY ADDRESSING THE COMPLEX HEALTH NEEDS OF THIS POPULATION, THIS PROJECT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO IMPROVE HEALTH OUTCOMES, REDUCE HEALTH CARE COSTS, AND ULTIMATELY ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS.