1. HIV Prevention Melinda Dang Health Sciences Scholar, 2018
Name, title, site details, service details, pictures average life expectancy for a homeless individual is between 42 and 52 years of age compared to 78 for the general population in the United States.
Introduction & Site Details
Methods
Safe on the Scene
For More Information
Care Alliance is a nonprofit community health center/federal qualified health center (FQHC) in Cleveland, OH that began in mid-1980s to address rapidly increasing homeless population.
FQHCs as a whole save $24 billion annually
High-quality, comprehensive mental and dental services, regardless of ability to pay
Services (sliding fee scale):
HIV/AIDS – over 4,000 identified cases in Cuyahoga County
Medical, mental/behavioral and dental
Chronic illnesses
Counseling and psychiatric treatment
Dentures are 44% of dental visits
Homeless – 4,000 people at any given time in Cleveland
Care Alliance Facebook: Youtube: Care Alliance Website: #EveryoneWelcome Safe on the Scene
#SafeontheScene #KnowingisSexy
Volunteers must be at least 18, have high school diploma, reliable transportation, and cultural humility and open-mindedness. Volunteer timeframes: Spring, Summer, and Fall Summer: May-late August/September Apply by early May, training is mid-May
Training
Patient confidentiality
HIV/AIDS, STIs, PrEP and PEP
Testing
Recruit individuals
Rapid-testing
Counseling
Discuss sexual behaviors
Collect data
Give them reminders
$4 million CDC-funded initiative intended to turn around HIV incidences in Cuyahoga County Target populations: African-American men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women, ages percent of all HIV cases in were among African American males ages Collaborators: Recovery Resources, Planned Parenthood, and Care Alliance
Estimated to serve over 30,000 during the five-year span. Progress can already be witnessed; in 2015, Care Alliance reported that they provided risk reduction counseling and HIV testing to 3,314 individuals!
Service Details
HIV Prevention Volunteer Team program May to July hours
Risk-reduction counseling
Rapid testing – free and confidential
Education sessions
Making & distributing risk reduction goodie bags
Walk-Ins and Outreach using Mobile Testing Unit
Clinics (Stokes and Central)
Walgreen’s for National HIV Awareness Days
LGBT Cleveland Community Center
Cleveland PRIDE
Promoted Safe on the Scene – we were among top 10 most visited/talked about booths!
Care Alliance block party
Hough neighborhood public housing party
Discussion
This experience was my first hands-on public health experience where I interacted with different communities. I am better equipped to serve those who are in public housing or experience homelessness, as well as those from the LGBTQ+ community. I gained skills including risk-reduction counseling, HIV testing, and public speaking.
Thank you to all those at Care Alliance and the various community partners in Cleveland! I learned so much.