Special projects of national significance - minority HIV/aids fund - dallas county health and human services (DCHHS) will use this funding opportunity to enhance the retention and RE-engagement of…

Special projects of national significance - minority HIV/aids fund - dallas county health and human services (DCHHS) will use this funding opportunity to enhance the retention and RE-engagement of individuals living with HIV in dallas county with a specific focus on the priority populations, including african american MSM, hispanic MSM, african american and hispanic heterosexual women who engage in SEX with men, transgender women, and persons who inject drugs (PWID). With this funding opportunity, DCHHS aims to establish a dedicated medical team to provide comprehensive care for individuals living with HIV. The new team will focus on educating patients about their diagnosis, the importance of medication adherence, and the benefits of maintaining their treatment to live a healthy life. Patients will be referred to this new team through a warm handoff from the SHC, the EHE component a team, or the STI/HIV division. To support these efforts, we will onboard a nurse practitioner/physician assistant to provide direct medical care and two caseworkers II to assist clients with care coordination and access to necessary social services programs. Additionally, we will develop personalized treatment plans and facilitate referrals to the recovery resource council for specialized care for mental health and substance abuse. Our strategy includes incentivizing patient engagement by offering rewards for attending three follow-up appointments, thus promoting adherence to HIV care. Additionally, we will utilize labcorp for accurate and efficient testing. The primary goal of our project is to enhance engagement and retention in HIV care among racial and ethnic minority groups who are currently out of care. To achieve this, we will leverage the comprehensive service offerings available at the sexual health clinic (SHC), ensuring that newly diagnosed individuals and those who have missed appointments receive prompt and continuous care. We will extend clinic hours and deploy mobile medical units to reach underserved communities, in creasing accessibility and facilitating timely care. DCHHS is requesting $2.6 million in funding over four years -- $500,000 in year 1, $700,000 in year 2, $700,000 in year 3, and $700,000 in year 4.