Fostering Collaboration Across Ryan White HIV/AIDS Programs (RWHAPs) to Engage People with HIV in Care

The goal of Fostering Collaboration Across Ryan White HIV/AIDS Programs (RWHAPs) to Engage People with HIV in Care is to strengthen collaboration between RWHAP Parts in specific jurisdictions through an objective process with a focus on the ending the HIV epidemic in that jurisdiction. Through this project RWHAP recipients will develop actions tailored to the specific needs of the out-of-care population(s) in their specific communities, enhance existing collaborations and build new ones that maximize resources, and strengthen the overall systems of care. In support of reaching goals that jurisdictions have set through their Integrated HIV Prevention and Care Plan, including the Statewide Coordinated Statement of Need (SCSN), local ending the HIV epidemic work and other planning efforts, this project will fund one technical assistance (TA) provider to plan and coordinate a state convening of Ryan White HIV/AIDS Programs Parts A, B C, D, and Part F-AIDS Education and Training Centers (AETCs) in eight states to develop an action plan to reach people with HIV who are not engaged in HIV care. The TA provider will develop a comprehensive asset map of resources and potential new partners for each state that can be leveraged to address the out-of-care population. The TA provider will organize and facilitate meetings with all the RWHAP Parts in each state using a tailored approach to best meet the needs of local recipients; this may include virtual preparatory meetings in addition to the in-person statewide meeting. Key state-level officials, such as the state health officers, will be invited to participate in the state-wide meetings to engage their support. With the assistance of the TA provider, participants will develop an action plan with concrete steps to reach people with HIV that are out of care and engage them in sustained HIV care. States will be identified based on unmet need data with a focus on states that are not receiving Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. initiative (EHE) funds. Addressing unmet need for care and treatment and increasing viral suppression helps to reduce HIV transmission as people who are virally suppressed cannot transmit HIV to their sexual partners. This is important as 87 percent of new HIV infections come from people with HIV who have not yet been successfully engaged in care.