Project Description  The Cúrate program is an intervention that attempts to improve the health outcomes among HIV+ Puerto Ricans with a history of substance abuse who are out of care and currently reside in New York City. (Harlem, Upper Manhattan and South Bronx).

Group Level Intervention  Development of Health Promoters/Promotores de Salud  This is a structured educational intervention that is delivered at the group level  It’s purpose is to educate Puerto Rican PLWA about the disease, stigma and the culturally specific barriers faced by this demographic when accessing health care

Intervention Components 1)Training and targeted outreach: 2)Linkage to care/navigation services: 3) Education and support:

Why we chose this intervention strategy? A review of the Literature suggests the urgent need to implement HIV education at the community level. This is also borne out in the rate of new HIV infections in this population. The surveillance data also suggest that this population would benefit from an intervention that links them to care.

How will the intervention educate members of this community and facilitate linkage and retention?

INTERVENTION DESCRIPTION H EALTH P ROMOTER R ECRUITMENT (1.0 FTE P EER T RAINER / S UPERVISOR,.50 FTE O UTREACH S UPERVISOR, IN - KIND D IRECTOR OF O UTREACH ) CSP Peer Training Cylces HU Primary CareHU El FaroSocial Marketing T RAINING OF H EALTH P ROMOTERS /P ROMO TORES DE S ALUD (1.0 FTE P EER T RAINER / S UPERVISOR ) Train 4-cohorts of 6-7 HIV+ individuals in care (recruit per cycle for attrition) Total of 25 Latino, HIV-positive Health Promoters 4 weeks; 12 sessions; 3 days a week; 3 hrs a day Plus Monthly Booster Trainings (group supervision) with Peer Trainer/ Supervisor T ARGETED C ASE F INDING BY H EALTH P ROMOTERS (25 P EERS, 1.0 FTE P EER T RAINER /S UPERVISOR,.50 FTE O UTREACH S UPERVISOR ) 3 times per week x 52 weeks, reach 1,200 people Health Promoters connect 2 out-of- care HIV+ each to LTC Health Promoter 1:1 supervision with Peer Trainer/ Supervisor (bi- weekly, peer development plan review) L INKAGE TO C ARE (.15 FTE PN P ROGRAM C OORDINATOR, 1/0 FTE P ATIENT N AVIGATOR ) ARTAS Intervention with 40 Out-of-Care HIV+ 5 sessions per client (200 sessions) with PN Connection to Support Services N AVIGATION S ERVICES (25 P EERS, 1.0 FTE P ATIENT N AVIGATOR ) Escorts by PN Pt. Call Center run by Peers/PN (appointment reminder/Reenga gement) Custimized Text Messaging to track medical visits R ETENTION IN C ARE (1.0 FTE P ATIENT N AVIGATOR, 25 P EERS, 1.0 FTE P EER T RAINER / S UPERVISOR ) Follow-up for a total of 4 medical visits (3-months) by Navigator Bi-monthly 1:1 engagement with Health Promoters Participation in 12-week Health Education/Social Support Series with Peer Trainer/ Supervisor (3 cycles, social activities, graduation) Internal/External Outreach Linkage Retention in Care

Venues

Health Education and Outreach by meeting people where they are at! Puerto Rican Festival, Bronx NY

The Bronx, NY

“El Barrio” Spanish Harlem, NY

Botánicas, Spanish Harlem

Intervention Staff John Molina BS MPA Program Coordinator  More than 10 years of experience in community health  Cúrate Program Coordinator  “Cúrate” creator  Developer of the anti- stigma campaign

Elizabeth Perez Medina MPH Peer Trainer/Supervisor Experience: HIV/AIDS international research and community health work  Cúrate Peer Training Sessions facilitator  Engage clients in HIV education and health education/risk reduction.  Oversees the retention in care component and follow up with client  Providing peers with ongoing health literacy information and activities in which they can increase their knowledge on HIV topics in order to impact the target population.

Awilda Serrano Outreach Supervisor  Over 12 years of experience as an outreach community worker in NYC  Responsible for the day-to-day management/ dissemination of outreach and marketing Strategies  Responsible for establishing new relationships with community partners and stakeholders

Questions?

Contact information: Cúrate Program: Phone: (212) ext Lenox Avenue, Lower Level New York, NY 10027