Covington Drive Decatur

HEALTH CENTER PROGRAM

RECOVERY CONSULTANTS OF ATLANTA CERTIFIED COMMUNITY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CLINIC - RECOVERY CONSULTANTS OF ATLANTA, INC. (RCA) PROPOSES AN ADVANCEMENT OF ITS CERTIFIED COMMUNITY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CLINIC (CCBHC) TO INCLUDE COMMUNITY-BASED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR UNDERSERVED CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN DEKALB AND FULTON COUNTIES, GEORGIA INCLUDING THOSE WITH CHRONIC HEALTH DISEASES, SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS (SMI), SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER (SUD), AND CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS (COD). RCA CURRENTLY PROVIDES EVIDENCE-BASED INTERVENTIONS TO ADULTS WITHIN THE SERVICE AREA INCLUDING PRIMARY AND PREVENTATIVE CARE, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, PEER SUPPORT, TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, AND RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES. THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH CORNERS OUTREACH, CBOS AND OTHER COMMUNITY LOCATIONS, RCA WILL EXTEND EVIDENCE-BASED INTERVENTIONS TO WHERE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ARE MOST COMFORTABLE, AND SERVICES ARE DESPERATELY NEEDED. WITHIN THESE COMMUNITY-BASED SETTINGS, RCA WILL PROVIDE OUTREACH, ENGAGEMENT, CASE MANAGEMENT, AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES TO METRO-ATLANTA CHILDREN AND FAMILIES FOR 100 INDIVIDUALS IN YEAR 1, 115 IN YEAR 2, 125 IN YEAR 3, AND 140 IN YEAR 4 FOR A TOTAL OF 480 INDIVIDUALS SERVED DURING THE GRANT PERIOD. THE GOALS OF THIS CCBHC ADVANCEMENT ARE TO: (1) PROVIDE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WITH ACCESS TO A FULLY INTEGRATED CARE TEAM INCLUDING CASE MANAGEMENT, PRIMARY CARE, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE, PEER SUPPORT, AND RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES; (2) CONTINUE TO OPERATE THE CCBHC PROGRAM IN COMPLIANCE WITH ALL CERTIFICATION CRITERIA; (3) PROVIDE PHYSICAL HEALTH CARE THROUGH SCREENING, MONITORING, AND FOLLOW-UP OF KEY HEALTH INDICATORS TO DECREASE HEALTH RISKS AND IMPROVE PHYSICAL HEALTH OUTCOMES OF THE POPULATION OF FOCUS; (4) PROVIDE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SCREENING, ASSESSMENT, DIAGNOSIS, AND DEVELOP RECOVERY-ORIENTED TREATMENT PLANS FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, SUD, AND COD; AND (5) DEMONSTRATE CONSISTENT, PERSON AND FAMILY-CENTERED APPROACH IN DELIVERY OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND PRIMARY CARE SERVICES.

FY 2024 BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICE EXPANSION - HEALTH CENTER PROGRAM GRANT NUMBER H80CS28959. RECOVERY CONSULTANTS OF ATLANTA, INC. (RCA) IS A FAITH-BASED 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATION SERVING THE GREATER ATLANTA PORTION OF DEKALB AND FULTON COUNTIES, GEORGIA. THE TWO COUNTIES ARE HOME TO 1,831,092 INDIVIDUALS; 40.05% ARE WHITE; 49.8% ARE BLACK/AFRICAN AMERICAN; 0.4% ARE AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE; 5.2% ARE ASIAN; 2.3% ARE HISPANIC OR LATINO; AND 9.05% ARE TWO OR MORE RACES. THE PROPOSED SERVICE AREA INCLUDES 30 ZIP CODES ACROSS DEKALB AND FULTON COUNTIES, GEORGIA, WITH TWO SITE LOCATIONS IN THE CITIES OF TUCKER AND DECATUR. RCA, ONE OF THE FIRST CERTIFIED COMMUNITY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CLINICS (CCBHC) IN GEORGIA AND THE ONLY CCBHC IN THE SOUTHEAST THAT ALSO OPERATES A FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTER (FQHC), PROPOSES A HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION (HRSA) PROJECT TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS RECEIVING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER (SUD) SERVICES, INCLUDING PATIENTS RECEIVING TREATMENT WITH MEDICATIONS FOR OPIOID USE DISORDER (MOUD). THIS PROJECT WILL EXPAND NEW SERVICES TO THE EXISTING SERVICE AREA AND INCLUDE: 1) ADDITION OF AN IN-HOUSE OPIOID TREATMENT PROGRAM TO COMPLEMENT EXISTING SUD TREATMENT SERVICES; AND 2) ADDITION OF BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR YOUTH, AGES 4-18 ALONGSIDE EXPANSION OF CLINIC WEEKEND AND AFTERNOON HOURS. RCA’S CLINICS ARE IN MENTAL HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL SHORTAGE AREAS (HPSAS) WITH A SCORE OF 17, INDICATING HIGH PRIORITY. DEKALB COUNTY HAS A RATIO OF 260:1 FOR MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS. RCA’S 2023 NEEDS ASSESSMENT SHOWED OVER 361,000 LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS IN THE SERVICE AREA, WITH ALMOST 63,000 RECEIVING HEALTH CENTER PROGRAM SERVICES IN 2022, LEAVING OVER 298,000 UNSERVED. MOST RCA PATIENTS ARE UNINSURED OR MEDICAID RECIPIENTS. ACCESS TO COMPREHENSIVE CARE REQUIRES BOTH FINANCIAL RESOURCES AND PROVIDER AVAILABILITY. RCA PROVIDES EXTENSIVE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR ADULTS BUT NOT YOUTH AND CURRENTLY REFERS PATIENTS TO EXTERNAL OPIOID PROGRAMS. IN-HOUSE MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT (MAT) WOULD BETTER SERVE PATIENTS. RCA PLANS TO SERVE AN ADDITIONAL 250 INDIVIDUALS. TO ACHIEVE THIS, RCA WILL HAVE FOUR DEDICATED STAFF MEMBERS TO ADDRESS PROVIDER SHORTAGES AND EXPAND SERVICES WHILE ALSO LEVERAGING IN-KIND STAFF: - PHYSICIAN: OVERSEE THE NEW MAT PROGRAM. - LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER: SUPPORT MENTAL/BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR YOUTH AND EXTEND CLINIC HOURS. - CASE MANAGER: SUPPORT MENTAL/BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR YOUTH AND EXTEND CLINIC HOURS. - CERTIFIED PEER SPECIALIST - MENTAL HEALTH (YOUTH-FOCUSED): SUPPORT MENTAL/BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR YOUTH. THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR WILL OVERSEE OPERATIONS AND DEVELOP AN OUTREACH AND MARKETING PLAN TO INCREASE REFERRALS AND SERVICE UTILIZATION. OUTREACH WILL INCLUDE RCA’S MOBILE UNIT AT SHELTERS, COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AND SCHOOLS, ENHANCED TELEHEALTH SERVICES, AND TRANSPORTATION OFFERINGS. TO IMPROVE PATIENT OUTCOMES, RCA WILL INTEGRATE ALL SERVICES, INCLUDING BEHAVIORAL AND PRIMARY CARE, INTO THE PHREESIA PATIENT ENGAGEMENT SYSTEM. THIS WILL PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE SET OF UDS MEASURES, ENABLING RCA TO EVALUATE DATA ON THE WHOLE PERSON, NOT JUST PRIMARY CARE.

RCA-MAI - ABSTRACT. RECOVERY CONSULTANTS OF ATLANTA, INC. (RCA), PROPOSES A MINORITY AIDS INITIATIVE SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER TREATMENT FOR RACIAL/ETHNIC MINORITY POPULATIONS AT HIGH-RISK FOR HIV/AIDS (MAI) PROJECT (RCA-MAI). THIS PROJECT WILL ADDRESS HEALTH DISPARITIES AND INCREASE ENGAGEMENT IN CARE OF A POPULATION OF FOCUS (POF) WHO ARE RACIAL AND ETHNIC UNDERREPRESENTED ADULTS WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS (SUD) AND/OR CO-OCCURRING SUBSTANCE USE AND MENTAL DISORDERS (COD) WHO ARE AT RISK FOR OR ARE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS AND RECEIVE HIV/AIDS SERVICES/TREATMENT. AMONG THE POF ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY EXIST IN UNSTABLE HOUSING, BE CRIMINAL JUSTICE INVOLVED, AND/OR IDENTIFY AS LGBTQ, HETEROSEXUAL FEMALE, OR MALE. THE RCA-MAI WILL SERVE A GEOGRAPHIC CATCHMENT AREA COMPRISED OF ATLANTA COMMUNITIES IN DEKALB, FULTON, AND GWINNETT COUNTIES LISTED AMONG GEORGIA (GA)’S LOCALITIES HARDEST HIT BY THE HIV EPIDEMIC. NATIONALLY, GA RANKS FOURTH FOR THE TOTAL NUMBER OF NEW HIV INFECTIONS AND FIFTH FOR PLWH. AS THE TARGET POPULATION STRUGGLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH, SUD, OR COD AND LACK ACCESS TO BOTH MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION TREATMENT; THESE BARRIERS ARE EXACERBATED BY LIVING IN COMMUNITIES WITH INCREASED RISK FOR HIV. ACROSS THE CATCHMENT AREA, BLACK MALES AGES 20-29 REPRESENT THE PRIMARY DEMOGRAPHICS FOR HIGH PREVALENCE (80.1%) OF ALL NEW HIV DIAGNOSIS AND AMONG MALES AGE 30 AND OLDER THE HIGHEST PREVALENCE OF PLWH (78.1%). HIV INFECTION TRANSMISSION FOR NEW DIAGNOSIS AND PLWH HAS OCCURRED THROUGH MALE-TO-MALE (MSM) SEXUAL CONTACT OR SHARED USE OF CONTAMINATED DRUG-USE MATERIALS. WHILE FEMALES REPRESENTED LOWER PREVALENCE RATES FOR NEW HIV DIAGNOSIS AND PLWH; TRANSMISSION OF HIV IS ATTRIBUTED TO HETEROSEXUAL CONTACT. RCA RECOGNIZES THE NEED TO ADDRESS CRITICAL GAPS IN EARLY HIV TESTING, DIAGNOSIS, AND PREVENTION FOR A TARGET POPULATION WHO ALSO EXPERIENCE HEALTH DISPARITIES AND LACK ENGAGEMENT IN CARE FOR MENTAL HEALTH, SUD OR COD TREATMENT/CARE. THE AGENCY WILL HIRE AND PROVIDE EXTENSIVE TRAINING FOR A CREDENTIALED, INTERDISCIPLINARY 4-FTE PROJECT TEAM WHO WILL IMPLEMENT EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES FOR STRATEGIES AND INTERVENTIONS INCLUDING TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE, MOTIVATIONAL ENHANCEMENT THERAPY, PEER RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES, ANTI-RETROVIRAL TREATMENT AND ACCESS TO SERVICES, PRE-EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS AND POST-EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS. THE PROJECT TEAM WILL OFFER RAPID 4TH-GENERATION HIV TESTING AND RAPID HEPATITIS (B/C) TESTING, CONFIRMATORY TESTING AND FOLLOW-UP, THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS, INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT, AND RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES FOR 1200 PARTICIPANTS (200/Y1; 250/Y2; 250/Y3; 250/Y4; 250/Y5). PROGRAM GOALS INCLUDE (1) INCREASE CAPACITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE TO REACH, IDENTIFY, AND PROVIDE TREATMENT, RECOVERY, AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR RACIAL/ETHNIC UNDERREPRESENTED INDIVIDUALS WITH SUD OR COD WHO ARE AT RISK FOR OR ARE PLWH; (2) INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO LEARN THEIR HIV STATUS AND RECEIVE LINKAGE TO MEDICAL CARE WITHIN 30 DAYS; AND (3) EXPAND AVAILABILITY AND PROVISION OF RECOVERY-ORIENTED, TRAUMA-INFORMED, AND EQUITY-BASED HEALTH CARE FOR 1,200 RACIAL/ETHNIC UNDERREPRESENTED INDIVIDUALS WITH SUD AND COD AT RISK OF OR LIVING WITH HIV. RCA’S COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS (FQHC, HCH, CARF) WILL OFFER COMPREHENSIVE ONSITE SERVICES FOR RAPID HIV/HEPATITIS TESTING AND RISK EDUCATION; INTERNAL LINKAGE TO HIV/HEPATITIS CONFIRMATORY TESTING, SUD/COD ASSESSMENT/EVIDENCE-BASED TREATMENT, INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT WITH BENEFIT NAVIGATION, LINKAGE TO PEER SUPPORT, RECOVERY HOUSING, AND OTHER RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES. OTHER PROGRAM ACTIVITIES INCLUDE COMMUNITY OUTREACH TO UNDERREPRESENTED POPULATIONS USING THE RCA MOBILE MEDICAL UNIT AND A COMMUNICATION PLAN FOR SOCIAL MEDIA MESSAGES AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AT COMMUNITY EVENTS TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF HIV PREVENTION, SUD OR COD TREATMENT, AND AVAILABLE SUPPORT SERVICES. RCA RESPECTFULLY REQUESTS SAMHSA FUNDING OF $2,500,000 TO IMPLEMENT THE FIVE-YEAR RCA-MAI PROJECT.

RCA R-CHIPP II - PS21-2102 - GEORGIA CONTINUES TO FACE A CRITICAL PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS WITH NEWLY AND PREVIOUSLY DIAGNOSED HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS (HIV) CASES; A REPORTED 60,346 PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV RESIDE IN THE STATE’S PUBLIC HEALTH DISTRICTS. FULTON AND DEKALB COUNTIES, WITH THE HIGHEST PREVALENCE RATES, HAVE BEEN FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED AS HIV HIGH-BURDENED AREAS. BLACK/NON-HISPANICS AND MALES HAVE THE HIGHEST RATE OF NEWLY DIAGNOSED HIV AND ARE FURTHER AFFECTED BY EXCEEDING RATES OF CHLAMYDIA, GONORRHEA SYPHILIS AND TUBERCULOSIS. RECOVERY CONSULTANTS OF ATLANTA, INC., (RCA), PROPOSES TO ENHANCE, EXPAND, AND IMPLEMENT A COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY-BASED HIGH-IMPACT HIV PREVENTION PROGRAM, R-CHIPP-II, IN FULTON AND DEKALB COUNTIES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH THE GREATEST RISK OF ACQUIRING AND TRANSMITTING HIV INFECTION TO REDUCE MORBIDITY, MORTALITY, AND RELATED HEALTH DISPARITIES ALIGNED WITH THE JURISDICTIONAL PREVENTION PLAN (JPP) AND THE NATIONAL HIV/AIDS STRATEGY. R-CHIPP-II WILL PROVIDE TARGETED HIV TESTING FOR 11,250 HIGH RISK INDIVIDUALS OF WHICH 75% WILL BE BLACK/NON-HISPANIC, HETEROSEXUAL FEMALES AND MALES, AGES 13-64 LIVING IN FULTON AND DEKALB COUNTIES. THE PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE INTEGRATED SCREENING FOR STIS, VIRAL HEPATITIS, AND TB, NAVIGATION SERVICES FOR LINKAGE AND REENGAGEMENT TO MEDICAL CARE, PREP/NPEP FOR HIGH RISK NEGATIVES, AND CONNECTION WITH EVIDENCE-BASED PREVENTION INTERVENTIONS, RISK REDUCTION, BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS AND ESSENTIAL SUPPORT SERVICES. RCA’S MOBILE MEDICAL UNIT WILL ENHANCE THE PROGRAM’S CAPACITY FOR OUTREACH, VENUE-BASED, AND LARGE-SCALE HIV TESTING ACCESS. THROUGH THESE MULTIPLE TESTING SETTINGS, THE PROGRAM WILL IDENTIFY UNDIAGNOSED CASES HIV+ AND HIGH-RISK NEGATIVES WHO ARE THE GREATEST RISK OF ACQUIRING HIV. THE PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE 100% OF CLIENTS FREE CONDOMS AND DISTRIBUTE MORE THAN 500,000 CONDOMS THROUGH TARGETING TESTING EVENTS AND ITS DISTRIBUTION SITES ACROSS DUAL COUNTIES. THE PROGRAM AIMS TO MINIMIZE BARRIERS TO TESTING AND TREATMENT FOR THE TARGET POPULATION DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT BY THE HIV EPIDEMIC. THROUGH A FOCUSED HIV AWARENESS CAMPAIGN, R-CHIPP_II WILL INCREASE HIGH RISK COMMUNITIES’ UNDERSTANDING OF HIV, EFFICACY OF CONDOM USE, RISK BEHAVIORS, AND PREVENTATIVE METHODS TO PROVIDE THE GREATEST IMPACT ON PUBLIC HEALTH, IMPROVE HEALTH FOR RESIDENT, AND REDUCE THE ACQUISITION AND TRANSMISSION OF HIV IN ITS SERVICE DELIVERY AREA. AT THE END OF THE FIVE-YEAR PERFORMANCE PERIOD, RCA ANTICIPATES THE FOLLOWING OUTCOMES: 90% OF INDIVIDUALS TESTED FOR HIV WILL RESIDE IN HIGH-RISK COMMUNITIES AND BECOME AWARE OF THEIR HIV STATUS; 75% OF PERSONS TESTED WILL BE HIGH-RISK BLACK/NON-HISPANIC HETEROSEXUALS, M/F, AGES 13-64; 50 INDIVIDUALS TESTED WILL BE NEWLY DIAGNOSED HIV+; 90% OF INDIVIDUALS TESTED WILL RECEIVE ONE OR MORE INTEGRATED SCREENINGS FOR STDS, VIRAL HEPATITIS, OR TB; 90% OF INDIVIDUALS NEWLY DIAGNOSED HIV+ WILL BE LINKED TO HIV MEDICAL CARE/ART WITHIN 30 DAYS OF DIAGNOSIS; 90% OF PREVIOUSLY DIAGNOSED HIV+ WILL BE LINKED TO HIV MEDICAL CARE/ART WITHIN 30 DAYS OF DIAGNOSIS; 100% NEWLY AND PREVIOUSLY DIAGNOSED HIV-POSITIVE PERSONS REFERRED FOR PARTNER SERVICES; 100% HIGH-RISK AND HRN WILL BE REFERRED TO PREP/NPEP; 90% OF NEWLY DIAGNOSED HIV+ WILL BE LINKED TO ONE OR MORE REQUIRED/RECOMMENDED PREVENTION AND ESSENTIAL SUPPORT SERVICES; 90% OF HRNS WILL BE REFERRED TO ONE OR MORE PESS; 90% OF NEWLY DIAGNOSED HIV+ REFERRED TO A BEHAVIOR INTERVENTION; AND 100% OF CLIENTS WILL HAVE ACCESS TO FREE CONDOMS THROUGH TESTING VENUES OR DISTRIBUTION CENTERS. RCA RESPECTFULLY REQUESTS FUNDING OF $470,000 FROM THE CDC TO ENHANCE AND EXPAND ITS COMPREHENSIVE HIGH-IMPACT HIV PREVENTION PROGRAM FOR HIV HIGH BURDENED COMMUNITIES IN FULTON AND DEKALB COUNTIES.

FY 2021 ENDING THE HIV EPIDEMIC - PRIMARY CARE HIV PREVENTION

RCA PREVENTION NAVIGATOR PROJECT - RECOVERY CONSULTANTS OF ATLANTA, INC., (RCA) WILL IMPLEMENT A PREVENTION NAVIGATOR PROJECT TO EXPAND RAPID HIV INITIATIVES FOR MINORITIES AT THE HIGHEST RISK FOR SUBSTANCE MISUSE (SU) AND HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS (HIV) INFECTION. THE PROJECT WILL INCLUDE A HIV PREVENTION AWARENESS CAMPAIGN AND TECHNICAL TRAINING FOR SU TREATMENT PROVIDERS ABOUT HIV PREVENTION/CLINICAL CARE FOR THEIR CLIENTS. RCA WILL TARGET HIV PREVENTION SERVICES TO ADULTS, AGES 18 AND OLDER, HETEROSEXUALS, MEN SLEEPING WITH MEN (MSM) AND DRUG USERS (INCLUDING INJECTION USERS) AT THE HIGHEST RISK FOR HIV INFECTION AND TRANSMISSION LIVING IN FULTON AND DEKALB COUNTIES IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA. KEY GOVERNMENT AGENCIES HAVE INCLUDED BOTH COUNTIES AMONG THOSE HARDEST HIT BY THE HIV EPIDEMIC. RCA’S PROJECT WILL IMPLEMENT PREVENTION STRATEGIES FOR HIV TESTING AND LINKAGE, HIV PREVENTION AWARENESS AND PROVIDER TRAINING. THE PROJECT WILL OFFER RAPID HIV SCREENING/TESTING THROUGH THREE ACCESS POINTS 1) VIA MOBILE VAN VISITS TO HIGH RISK NEIGHBORHOODS, 2) AT FAITH-BASED AND COMMUNITY PARTNER SITES AND 3) AT THE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER. A LEAD NAVIGATOR WILL USE ARTAS INTERVENTIONS TO LINK HIV POSITIVE CLIENTS TO MEDICAL CARE AND LINK HIV NEGATIVE CLIENTS WITH PREP INTERVENTIONS AND PREVENTION EDUCATION. CLIENTS WILL HAVE ASSISTANCE FROM THE OUTREACH AND ENROLLMENT SPECIALIST TO REGISTER FOR HEALTH INSURANCE TO COVER TREATMENT AND CARE. RCA WILL INTEGRATE PEER SUPPORT FROM A CERTIFIED ADDICTION RECOVERY EMPOWERMENT SPECIALIST (CARES) WHO WILL USE PERSONAL STORIES OF RECOVERY TO MOTIVATE CLIENTS TO STAY IN TREATMENT AND FOLLOW MEDICATION ADHERENCE. A HEALTH COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST WILL DESIGN A HIV AWARENESS CAMPAIGN AND IMPLEMENT WEEKLY SOCIAL MEDIA POSTINGS AND REGULAR USE OF TRADITIONAL PRINT AND BROADCAST MEDIUMS. THE CENTRAL MESSAGING WILL FOCUS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF HIV SCREENING/TESTING, RISKS FOR HIV TRANSMISSION/INFECTION AND PREVENTION STRATEGIES. RCA WILL SPONSOR SEMI-ANNUAL TRAINING FOR SU TREATMENT PROVIDERS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF HIV TESTING AND CRITICAL CARE FOR THEIR SU CLIENTS WHO RECEIVE HIV POSITIVE RESULTS. THE PROJECT GOALS ARE 1) EXPANDING SITES AND FREQUENCY OF RAPID HIV TESTING; 2) LINKING CLIENTS WITH HIV MEDICAL CARE (STARTING/STAYING IN TREATMENT), ATTAINING VIRAL SUPPRESSION, AND SERVICES FOR PARTNERS WHO ARE SU OR HAVE UNPROTECTED SEX; (3) OFFERING SEMI-ANNUAL TRAINING TO DEVELOP SU TREATMENT PROVIDERS WITH KNOWLEDGE FOR VITAL HIV INTERVENTION, TREATMENT, AND SUPPLEMENTAL CARE; AND (4) AN AWARENESS CAMPAIGN THROUGH SCHEDULED SOCIAL MEDIA AND PRINT COMMUNICATIONS TARGETED TO THE POF ABOUT THE HEALTH RISKS OF SU AND HIV TRANSMISSION. RCA’S PREVENTION NAVIGATOR PROJECT WILL MEASURE ITS PERFORMANCE BY PROVIDING RAPID HIV SCREENING/TESTING FOR 360 INDIVIDUALS PER YEAR, 1,800 OVER THE LIFETIME OF THE PROJECT AND RETAIN 90% OF HIV POSITIVE CLIENTS IN MEDICAL TREATMENT.

FY 2021 ENDING THE HIV EPIDEMIC - PRIMARY CARE HIV PREVENTION

HEALTH CENTER PROGRAM

FY 2023 EXPANDING COVID-19 VACCINATION

HEALTH CENTER PROGRAM

HEALTH CENTER PROGRAM

RCA-MAI - ABSTRACT. RECOVERY CONSULTANTS OF ATLANTA, INC. (RCA), PROPOSES A MINORITY AIDS INITIATIVE SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER TREATMENT FOR RACIAL/ETHNIC MINORITY POPULATIONS AT HIGH-RISK FOR HIV/AIDS (MAI) PROJECT (RCA-MAI). THIS PROJECT WILL ADDRESS HEALTH DISPARITIES AND INCREASE ENGAGEMENT IN CARE OF A POPULATION OF FOCUS (POF) WHO ARE RACIAL AND ETHNIC UNDERREPRESENTED ADULTS WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS (SUD) AND/OR CO-OCCURRING SUBSTANCE USE AND MENTAL DISORDERS (COD) WHO ARE AT RISK FOR OR ARE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS AND RECEIVE HIV/AIDS SERVICES/TREATMENT. AMONG THE POF ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY EXIST IN UNSTABLE HOUSING, BE CRIMINAL JUSTICE INVOLVED, AND/OR IDENTIFY AS LGBTQ, HETEROSEXUAL FEMALE, OR MALE. THE RCA-MAI WILL SERVE A GEOGRAPHIC CATCHMENT AREA COMPRISED OF ATLANTA COMMUNITIES IN DEKALB, FULTON, AND GWINNETT COUNTIES LISTED AMONG GEORGIA (GA)’S LOCALITIES HARDEST HIT BY THE HIV EPIDEMIC. NATIONALLY, GA RANKS FOURTH FOR THE TOTAL NUMBER OF NEW HIV INFECTIONS AND FIFTH FOR PLWH. AS THE TARGET POPULATION STRUGGLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH, SUD, OR COD AND LACK ACCESS TO BOTH MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION TREATMENT; THESE BARRIERS ARE EXACERBATED BY LIVING IN COMMUNITIES WITH INCREASED RISK FOR HIV. ACROSS THE CATCHMENT AREA, BLACK MALES AGES 20-29 REPRESENT THE PRIMARY DEMOGRAPHICS FOR HIGH PREVALENCE (80.1%) OF ALL NEW HIV DIAGNOSIS AND AMONG MALES AGE 30 AND OLDER THE HIGHEST PREVALENCE OF PLWH (78.1%). HIV INFECTION TRANSMISSION FOR NEW DIAGNOSIS AND PLWH HAS OCCURRED THROUGH MALE-TO-MALE (MSM) SEXUAL CONTACT OR SHARED USE OF CONTAMINATED DRUG-USE MATERIALS. WHILE FEMALES REPRESENTED LOWER PREVALENCE RATES FOR NEW HIV DIAGNOSIS AND PLWH; TRANSMISSION OF HIV IS ATTRIBUTED TO HETEROSEXUAL CONTACT. RCA RECOGNIZES THE NEED TO ADDRESS CRITICAL GAPS IN EARLY HIV TESTING, DIAGNOSIS, AND PREVENTION FOR A TARGET POPULATION WHO ALSO EXPERIENCE HEALTH DISPARITIES AND LACK ENGAGEMENT IN CARE FOR MENTAL HEALTH, SUD OR COD TREATMENT/CARE. THE AGENCY WILL HIRE AND PROVIDE EXTENSIVE TRAINING FOR A CREDENTIALED, INTERDISCIPLINARY 4-FTE PROJECT TEAM WHO WILL IMPLEMENT EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES FOR STRATEGIES AND INTERVENTIONS INCLUDING TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE, MOTIVATIONAL ENHANCEMENT THERAPY, PEER RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES, ANTI-RETROVIRAL TREATMENT AND ACCESS TO SERVICES, PRE-EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS AND POST-EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS. THE PROJECT TEAM WILL OFFER RAPID 4TH-GENERATION HIV TESTING AND RAPID HEPATITIS (B/C) TESTING, CONFIRMATORY TESTING AND FOLLOW-UP, THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS, INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT, AND RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES FOR 1200 PARTICIPANTS (200/Y1; 250/Y2; 250/Y3; 250/Y4; 250/Y5). PROGRAM GOALS INCLUDE (1) INCREASE CAPACITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE TO REACH, IDENTIFY, AND PROVIDE TREATMENT, RECOVERY, AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR RACIAL/ETHNIC UNDERREPRESENTED INDIVIDUALS WITH SUD OR COD WHO ARE AT RISK FOR OR ARE PLWH; (2) INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO LEARN THEIR HIV STATUS AND RECEIVE LINKAGE TO MEDICAL CARE WITHIN 30 DAYS; AND (3) EXPAND AVAILABILITY AND PROVISION OF RECOVERY-ORIENTED, TRAUMA-INFORMED, AND EQUITY-BASED HEALTH CARE FOR 1,200 RACIAL/ETHNIC UNDERREPRESENTED INDIVIDUALS WITH SUD AND COD AT RISK OF OR LIVING WITH HIV. RCA’S COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS (FQHC, HCH, CARF) WILL OFFER COMPREHENSIVE ONSITE SERVICES FOR RAPID HIV/HEPATITIS TESTING AND RISK EDUCATION; INTERNAL LINKAGE TO HIV/HEPATITIS CONFIRMATORY TESTING, SUD/COD ASSESSMENT/EVIDENCE-BASED TREATMENT, INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT WITH BENEFIT NAVIGATION, LINKAGE TO PEER SUPPORT, RECOVERY HOUSING, AND OTHER RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES. OTHER PROGRAM ACTIVITIES INCLUDE COMMUNITY OUTREACH TO UNDERREPRESENTED POPULATIONS USING THE RCA MOBILE MEDICAL UNIT AND A COMMUNICATION PLAN FOR SOCIAL MEDIA MESSAGES AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AT COMMUNITY EVENTS TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF HIV PREVENTION, SUD OR COD TREATMENT, AND AVAILABLE SUPPORT SERVICES. RCA RESPECTFULLY REQUESTS SAMHSA FUNDING OF $2,500,000 TO IMPLEMENT THE FIVE-YEAR RCA-MAI PROJECT.

FY 2021 ENDING THE HIV EPIDEMIC - PRIMARY CARE HIV PREVENTION

RCA R-CHIPP II - PS21-2102 - GEORGIA CONTINUES TO FACE A CRITICAL PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS WITH NEWLY AND PREVIOUSLY DIAGNOSED HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS (HIV) CASES; A REPORTED 60,346 PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV RESIDE IN THE STATE’S PUBLIC HEALTH DISTRICTS. FULTON AND DEKALB COUNTIES, WITH THE HIGHEST PREVALENCE RATES, HAVE BEEN FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED AS HIV HIGH-BURDENED AREAS. BLACK/NON-HISPANICS AND MALES HAVE THE HIGHEST RATE OF NEWLY DIAGNOSED HIV AND ARE FURTHER AFFECTED BY EXCEEDING RATES OF CHLAMYDIA, GONORRHEA SYPHILIS AND TUBERCULOSIS. RECOVERY CONSULTANTS OF ATLANTA, INC., (RCA), PROPOSES TO ENHANCE, EXPAND, AND IMPLEMENT A COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY-BASED HIGH-IMPACT HIV PREVENTION PROGRAM, R-CHIPP-II, IN FULTON AND DEKALB COUNTIES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH THE GREATEST RISK OF ACQUIRING AND TRANSMITTING HIV INFECTION TO REDUCE MORBIDITY, MORTALITY, AND RELATED HEALTH DISPARITIES ALIGNED WITH THE JURISDICTIONAL PREVENTION PLAN (JPP) AND THE NATIONAL HIV/AIDS STRATEGY. R-CHIPP-II WILL PROVIDE TARGETED HIV TESTING FOR 11,250 HIGH RISK INDIVIDUALS OF WHICH 75% WILL BE BLACK/NON-HISPANIC, HETEROSEXUAL FEMALES AND MALES, AGES 13-64 LIVING IN FULTON AND DEKALB COUNTIES. THE PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE INTEGRATED SCREENING FOR STIS, VIRAL HEPATITIS, AND TB, NAVIGATION SERVICES FOR LINKAGE AND REENGAGEMENT TO MEDICAL CARE, PREP/NPEP FOR HIGH RISK NEGATIVES, AND CONNECTION WITH EVIDENCE-BASED PREVENTION INTERVENTIONS, RISK REDUCTION, BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS AND ESSENTIAL SUPPORT SERVICES. RCA’S MOBILE MEDICAL UNIT WILL ENHANCE THE PROGRAM’S CAPACITY FOR OUTREACH, VENUE-BASED, AND LARGE-SCALE HIV TESTING ACCESS. THROUGH THESE MULTIPLE TESTING SETTINGS, THE PROGRAM WILL IDENTIFY UNDIAGNOSED CASES HIV+ AND HIGH-RISK NEGATIVES WHO ARE THE GREATEST RISK OF ACQUIRING HIV. THE PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE 100% OF CLIENTS FREE CONDOMS AND DISTRIBUTE MORE THAN 500,000 CONDOMS THROUGH TARGETING TESTING EVENTS AND ITS DISTRIBUTION SITES ACROSS DUAL COUNTIES. THE PROGRAM AIMS TO MINIMIZE BARRIERS TO TESTING AND TREATMENT FOR THE TARGET POPULATION DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT BY THE HIV EPIDEMIC. THROUGH A FOCUSED HIV AWARENESS CAMPAIGN, R-CHIPP_II WILL INCREASE HIGH RISK COMMUNITIES’ UNDERSTANDING OF HIV, EFFICACY OF CONDOM USE, RISK BEHAVIORS, AND PREVENTATIVE METHODS TO PROVIDE THE GREATEST IMPACT ON PUBLIC HEALTH, IMPROVE HEALTH FOR RESIDENT, AND REDUCE THE ACQUISITION AND TRANSMISSION OF HIV IN ITS SERVICE DELIVERY AREA. AT THE END OF THE FIVE-YEAR PERFORMANCE PERIOD, RCA ANTICIPATES THE FOLLOWING OUTCOMES: 90% OF INDIVIDUALS TESTED FOR HIV WILL RESIDE IN HIGH-RISK COMMUNITIES AND BECOME AWARE OF THEIR HIV STATUS; 75% OF PERSONS TESTED WILL BE HIGH-RISK BLACK/NON-HISPANIC HETEROSEXUALS, M/F, AGES 13-64; 50 INDIVIDUALS TESTED WILL BE NEWLY DIAGNOSED HIV+; 90% OF INDIVIDUALS TESTED WILL RECEIVE ONE OR MORE INTEGRATED SCREENINGS FOR STDS, VIRAL HEPATITIS, OR TB; 90% OF INDIVIDUALS NEWLY DIAGNOSED HIV+ WILL BE LINKED TO HIV MEDICAL CARE/ART WITHIN 30 DAYS OF DIAGNOSIS; 90% OF PREVIOUSLY DIAGNOSED HIV+ WILL BE LINKED TO HIV MEDICAL CARE/ART WITHIN 30 DAYS OF DIAGNOSIS; 100% NEWLY AND PREVIOUSLY DIAGNOSED HIV-POSITIVE PERSONS REFERRED FOR PARTNER SERVICES; 100% HIGH-RISK AND HRN WILL BE REFERRED TO PREP/NPEP; 90% OF NEWLY DIAGNOSED HIV+ WILL BE LINKED TO ONE OR MORE REQUIRED/RECOMMENDED PREVENTION AND ESSENTIAL SUPPORT SERVICES; 90% OF HRNS WILL BE REFERRED TO ONE OR MORE PESS; 90% OF NEWLY DIAGNOSED HIV+ REFERRED TO A BEHAVIOR INTERVENTION; AND 100% OF CLIENTS WILL HAVE ACCESS TO FREE CONDOMS THROUGH TESTING VENUES OR DISTRIBUTION CENTERS. RCA RESPECTFULLY REQUESTS FUNDING OF $470,000 FROM THE CDC TO ENHANCE AND EXPAND ITS COMPREHENSIVE HIGH-IMPACT HIV PREVENTION PROGRAM FOR HIV HIGH BURDENED COMMUNITIES IN FULTON AND DEKALB COUNTIES.

RECOVERY CONSULTANTS OF ATLANTA CERTIFIED COMMUNITY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CLINIC - RECOVERY CONSULTANTS OF ATLANTA, INC. (RCA) PROPOSES AN ADVANCEMENT OF ITS CERTIFIED COMMUNITY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CLINIC (CCBHC) TO INCLUDE COMMUNITY-BASED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR UNDERSERVED CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN DEKALB AND FULTON COUNTIES, GEORGIA INCLUDING THOSE WITH CHRONIC HEALTH DISEASES, SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS (SMI), SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER (SUD), AND CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS (COD). RCA CURRENTLY PROVIDES EVIDENCE-BASED INTERVENTIONS TO ADULTS WITHIN THE SERVICE AREA INCLUDING PRIMARY AND PREVENTATIVE CARE, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, PEER SUPPORT, TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, AND RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES. THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH CORNERS OUTREACH, CBOS AND OTHER COMMUNITY LOCATIONS, RCA WILL EXTEND EVIDENCE-BASED INTERVENTIONS TO WHERE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ARE MOST COMFORTABLE, AND SERVICES ARE DESPERATELY NEEDED. WITHIN THESE COMMUNITY-BASED SETTINGS, RCA WILL PROVIDE OUTREACH, ENGAGEMENT, CASE MANAGEMENT, AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES TO METRO-ATLANTA CHILDREN AND FAMILIES FOR 100 INDIVIDUALS IN YEAR 1, 115 IN YEAR 2, 125 IN YEAR 3, AND 140 IN YEAR 4 FOR A TOTAL OF 480 INDIVIDUALS SERVED DURING THE GRANT PERIOD. THE GOALS OF THIS CCBHC ADVANCEMENT ARE TO: (1) PROVIDE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WITH ACCESS TO A FULLY INTEGRATED CARE TEAM INCLUDING CASE MANAGEMENT, PRIMARY CARE, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE, PEER SUPPORT, AND RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES; (2) CONTINUE TO OPERATE THE CCBHC PROGRAM IN COMPLIANCE WITH ALL CERTIFICATION CRITERIA; (3) PROVIDE PHYSICAL HEALTH CARE THROUGH SCREENING, MONITORING, AND FOLLOW-UP OF KEY HEALTH INDICATORS TO DECREASE HEALTH RISKS AND IMPROVE PHYSICAL HEALTH OUTCOMES OF THE POPULATION OF FOCUS; (4) PROVIDE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SCREENING, ASSESSMENT, DIAGNOSIS, AND DEVELOP RECOVERY-ORIENTED TREATMENT PLANS FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, SUD, AND COD; AND (5) DEMONSTRATE CONSISTENT, PERSON AND FAMILY-CENTERED APPROACH IN DELIVERY OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND PRIMARY CARE SERVICES.

FY 2021 ENDING THE HIV EPIDEMIC - PRIMARY CARE HIV PREVENTION

HEALTH CENTER INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT