GAY MEN’S HEALTH CRISIS

GMHC is a not-for-profit, volunteer-supported and community- based organization committed to leading the fight against AIDS on a national platform. We provide prevention and care services to men, women and families that are living with, or affected by HIV/AIDS in New York City. We also advocate scientific, evidence-based public health solutions for hundreds of thousands worldwide. Our mission: GMHC fights to end the AIDS epidemic and uplifts the lives of all affected.

L.I.N.K. II (Leaders in Networking and Knowledge) Project MSM who identify as Puerto Rican Social Networking Strategy

Background Context and Need HIV/AIDS in New York City Needs in Puerto Rican community Past successes How is this project unique and innovative? Background Information LINK 1 Best Practices

Identify hard-to-reach high risk Puerto Rican MSM and to promote HIV Testing. Increase the number of high risk Puerto Rican MSM who are aware of their status Promote HIV preventative services amongst HIV Negative MSM Immediately identify engage newly diagnosed HIV Puerto Rican MSM in medical and supportive services Identify structural, financial, personal and cultural barriers in order to improve retention in care amongst HIV positive Puerto Rican MSM Monitor health outcomes of HIV Positive Puerto Rican MSM successfully retained in care

Linkage to Care Model Partnership with Mount Sinai Hospital Care Coordination Consumer Advisory Board

Mt. Sinai Hospital Accepting Referrals Reporting clinical data to GMHC and HRSA Publication and dissemination of outcomes.

Service Delivery Setting Geffen Testing Center Mobile Testing Unit Mt. Sinai Medical Health Center Puerto Rican MSM High Sexual Risk in NYC PR MSMs Unaware of their HIV Status PR MSMs aware of HIV Infection but out of care Services and Activities HIV Counseling and Testing Enlistment and Training of Recruiters Care Coordination Services

Staffing Recruitment Coordinator Client Navigation Specialist Data Entry Specialist (p/t) Recruitment Strategies Enlisting HIV Positive recruiters from GMHC existing Puerto Rican client pool. Recruit from existing community partners organizations

Enrollment & Linkage To Care Strategy Recruitment and coaching Linkage Navigation Retention Strategy Client follow ups Client Navigation Check-ins Client Strategies Recruitment of gate keepers in the target Linkage to care Supportive Services

Stigma Reduction Strategy Recruitment Coordinator Location of Services Learn from Evaluation

Goals & Objectives Assess efficacy of program delivery and the impact of LINK II’s services for Puerto Rican MSM Gauge progress toward project’s goals Qualitative evaluation will focus on understanding barriers to care for Puerto Rican MSM IRB GMHC internal IRB Mount Sinai IRB Methodology Gather data from notes Client chart review Assessment & re-assessment Face-to-face interviews

Participants Recruitment Incentives Participation Data Collection Electronic Health Record Three points of data collection for quantitative data Face-to-face interviews Audio Computer Assisted Self-Interviewing (ACASI) Data Analysis Approaches Qualitative analysis Performance monitoring reports Dissemination of Key Findings Articles Presentations

Start-Up Activities Staff Recruitment Kick-off Meeting w/ Mt. Sinai Staff attending SNS trainings Initiation of Demonstration Project Ready to roll! Evaluation Planning and Implementation Qualitative Quantitative Key Programmatic Milestones Monthly deliverables Assessments & re-assessments

Hannah Hirschland Assistant Director, Health Informatics Department (212) Pedro Rodriguez Recruitment Coordinator, David Geffen Center for HIV Prevention (212) Kalyaní A. S á nchez Assistant Director, David Geffen Center for HIV Prevention (212)