Enhancing STI and Sexual Health Clinic Infrastructure (ESSHCI)

Background
The purpose of this NOFO is to strengthen clinic infrastructure and expand access to comprehensive sexual health services. The existing infrastructure of STI specialty clinics is insufficient to address the STI epidemic in the United States, including reducing STI and other related infection morbidity and disparities. The NOFO aims to increase clinic capacity to provide quality comprehensive sexual health services and increase access to quality, stigma-free STI care and comprehensive sexual health services, especially among applicant-identified priority populations.

Syndemics are epidemics that interact with each other and by that interaction increase their adverse effects on the health of communities that face systemic, structural, and other inequities. Holistic, coordinated care is a hallmark of the syndemic approach. Activities under ESSHCI will expand access to STI prevention and other sexual health services supporting a syndemic approach that is essential to providing patients comprehensive sexual health care in clinic settings where they routinely receive care.

Grant Details
The NOFO supports clinics to foster community engagement and strategic partnerships to support expansion of sexual health services, strengthen clinic infrastructure and provision of sexual health services, and conduct short-term activities to expand access to STI prevention and other sexual health services supporting a syndemic approach. The recipients must achieve increased community involvement in clinic-level planning for provision of comprehensive sexual health services, increased engagement with public health partners addressing the STI epidemic, increased clinic capacity to provide quality comprehensive sexual health services, increased access to quality, stigma-free STI care and comprehensive sexual health services, especially among priority populations affected by STIs.

Improved patient clinic experience, increased identification of new STIs by clinics, and increased linkage to public health partners for prevention and care services for co-occurring conditions.

Eligibility Requirements
Open Competition

Period of Performance
The total period of performance funding is $50,000,000 over 5 years. The average one-year award amount will be $300,000 - $500,000. The award amount is dependent on the amount of funding available and which strategies are funded.

Grant Value
$50,000,000 total period of performance funding with an average one-year award amount of $300,000 - $500,000.

Place of Performance
High burden and underserved areas in the United States.