H79SP083264

The Crossroads Project - US Helping Us, People Into Living, Inc. (US Helping Us), one of the oldest and largest minority AIDS-service organizations in Washington, DC, dedicated to the HIV prevention, treatment and care of highly marginalized populations, respectfully submits this funding application entitled, The Crossroads Project, in response to the FY2022 Substance Abuse and HIV Prevention Navigator Program for Racial/Ethnic Minorities Cooperative Agreement (short title: Prevention Navigator) released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

The Crossroads Project, an evidence-based, patient navigation program designed to serve approximately 2,500 unduplicated Washington, DC area residents and to address the intersecting epidemics of substance use disorders (SUD) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among Black, gay, bisexual, other men who have sex with men (MSM), transwomen (TW), and other LGBTQ+ individuals without stable housing.

UHU requests $1,250,000 for five years that would fund a Project Director (PD), a lead patient navigator, and an evaluator, in addition to a registered nurse and case manager, to increase the capacity of its mobile medical unit. If funded, UHU would also provide SUD counseling through contracted mental health professionals and a patient navigator/peer outreach worker to help ensure outreach efforts are tailored to and reach priority populations.

By the end of the 5-year grant period, 2,500 Black MSM, TW, and unstably housed or unhoused LGBTQ+ individuals in the Washington DC area will have experienced increased access to culturally appropriate and evidence-based services that help reduce the co-occurring epidemics of HIV, viral hepatitis, and SUD.

In the U.S., Black MSM and TW and other racial, ethnic, and sexual minorities are at the nexus of the SUD and HIV epidemics, and comprehensive, evidence-based interventions and services proposed herein are urgently needed.

Of note, Washington, DC, and the greater surrounds, is an ideal location for the proposed project given its estimated 1 in 13 risk for an individual to acquire HIV in their lifetime, which is the highest in the nation (and Prince George's County, an adjacent suburb, has the highest rate of new infections in the state of Maryland). In addition, 1 in 2 Black MSM are likely to acquire HIV in their lifetime.

Of equal importance, US Helping Us will perform process and outcome evaluations, using a mixed-methods approach containing qualitative and quantitative data collection elements, on all aspects of the Crossroads Project and will develop a sustainability plan to ensure the continuance of the project beyond grant funding.

US Helping Us-People Into Living

SAMHSA WAS GIVEN THE AUTHORITY TO ADDRESS PRIORITY SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT, PREVENTION AND MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF REGIONAL AND NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE THROUGH ASSISTANCE (GRANTS AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS) TO STATES, POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS OF STATES, INDIAN TRIBES AND TRIBAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND OTHER PUBLIC OR NONPROFIT PRIVATE ENTITIES. UNDER THESE SECTIONS, CSAT, CMHS AND CSAP SEEK TO EXPAND THE AVAILABILITY OF EFFECTIVE SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT AND RECOVERY SERVICES AVAILABLE TO AMERICANS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF THOSE AFFECTED BY ALCOHOL AND DRUG ADDITIONS, AND TO REDUCE THE IMPACT OF ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE ON INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, COMMUNITIES AND SOCIETIES AND TO ADDRESS PRIORITY MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF REGIONAL AND NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE AND ASSIST CHILDREN IN DEALING WITH VIOLENCE AND TRAUMATIC EVENTS THROUGH BY FUNDING GRANT AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT PROJECTS. GRANTS AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS MAY BE FOR (1) KNOWLEDGE AND DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATION PROJECTS FOR TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION AND THE CONDUCT OR SUPPORT OF EVALUATIONS OF SUCH PROJECTS, (2) TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, (3) TARGETED CAPACITY RESPONSE PROGRAMS (4) SYSTEMS CHANGE GRANTS INCLUDING STATEWIDE FAMILY NETWORK GRANTS AND CLIENT-ORIENTED AND CONSUMER RUN SELF-HELP ACTIVITIES AND (5) PROGRAMS TO FOSTER HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN, (6) COORDINATION AND INTEGRATION OF PRIMARY CARE SERVICES INTO PUBLICLY-FUNDED COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS AND OTHER COMMUNITY-BASED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SETTINGS

93.243 - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Projects of Regional and National Significance

Division of Grants Management [HHS - SAMHSA]

Washington, District Of Columbia 200101646 United States

Single Zip Code

Substance Abuse and HIV Prevention Navigator Program for Racial/Ethnic Minorities (SP-22-002)

Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 300% from $250,000 to $1,000,000.