TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute an agreement, and all necessary documents and any amendments changing the amount of the award or extending the grant term, with the California Department of Public Health Office of AIDS, to accept and expend grant funding in an amount not to exceed $5,765,194, for the provision of HIV/AIDS health care services, for the period of April 1, 2019 through March 31, 2024. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
For the past 31 years, the California Department of Public Health, Office of AIDS (State) has contracted with the City, through the City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department), to provide the HIV Care Program (HCP), formally known as the HIV Early Intervention Program. The HCP provides quality of life enhancement to those individuals infected with, and affected by, HIV. Integrated into the HCP services is the Minority AIDS Initiative (MAI), which provides additional funding to assist in preventing further transmission and reducing the impact of HIV/AIDS on racial and ethnic minorities. The State has combined funding for the HCP and MAI programs into a single grant.
The HCP provides comprehensive medical services including diagnostic testing, case management, health education, treatment coordination and advocacy, counseling and specialty referrals and other direct linkages to outside services as needed. The MAI portion of these services include treatment adherence, outreach, risk reduction and other services, which assist HIV infected individuals with overcoming barriers that prevent linkage to, and transition into, care. Additionally, the MAI brings individuals who have been newly diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, into medical care and assists those who fall out of care to overcome barriers and return to care. These funds also provide for enhanced partner counseling and referral services. Long Beach still maintains a high incidence and rate of HIV disease, which necessitates...
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