U1S50032

Special Projects of National Significance - Minority HIV/AIDS Fund - In response to funding opportunity HRSA-23-127, "A Status Neutral Approach to Improve HIV Prevention and Health Outcomes for Racial and Ethnic Minorities – Evaluation and Technical Assistance Provider (ETAP)", JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. (JSI), aims to advance the development, implementation, evaluation, and dissemination of status neutral approaches to reduce disparities, prevent new HIV infections, and improve health outcomes for communities disproportionately affected by HIV and related syndemics.

In partnership with the National Association of City and County Health Officials (NACCHO), HealthDataViz, and Steven Young, JSI will work collaboratively with the four implementation sites, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB), and other stakeholders to conduct a comprehensive multi-site evaluation with an emphasis on meeting the needs of racial and ethnic minority subpopulations; build capacity among Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) Part A jurisdictions to develop and operationalize status neutral frameworks; and identify and disseminate successful models, practices, and lessons learned to the broader RWHAP and HIV services community.

Guided by JSI's Person-Centered Care (PCC) framework, the ETAP team proposes a responsive, flexible, data-informed approach to identify, prioritize, and tailor evaluation and TA activities at system, service delivery, and client levels, and across six domains: 1) Leadership and Governance; 2) Workforce Environment and Development; 3) Monitoring, Learning, and Accountability; 4) Policy and Financing; 5) Service Design and Delivery; and 6) Point of Care Access and Experience.

JSI's highly experienced evaluation team will apply implementation science research methods and develop a multi-site evaluation plan to assess effectiveness, best practices, and lessons learned. Throughout the project, JSI will engage the implementation sites in the development and refinement of evaluation activities, tools, and protocols, and work with them to collect and submit service delivery and client level data. JSI will produce data visualizations and dashboards, and provide assistance to sites on data-informed programmatic decision-making to support implementation of the status neutral approach and continuous quality improvement.

JSI will assess TA needs (i.e., develop landscape analyses, administer an implementation readiness staging tool, conduct site visits); develop TA plans that align with the PCC domains; and deliver in-person and distance-based TA to guide infrastructure development and plan, map, coordinate, and implement status neutral services. JSI will leverage its vast technical expertise related to integrated HIV prevention and care systems, syndemic service delivery, health systems strengthening, and social determinants of health to respond to evolving TA needs throughout the project, and will engage expert consultants with lived experience and specialized skills or content expertise to enhance TA offerings.

JSI will also develop and maintain a web portal and data repository system to host the multi-site evaluation data and TA resources, and support dissemination. JSI will coordinate with HRSA HAB to develop and operationalize a plan to disseminate project findings, successful models, practices, and lessons learned from the development, implementation, and outcomes of the four implementation sites' status neutral activities through various JSI and NACCHO channels. Additionally, JSI will draw upon our longstanding, trusting relationships with other national partner organizations to extend the reach and impact of project tools, resources, and findings that will support the effective implementation of status neutral approaches.

Finally, JSI will work with sites to support submission to publications, the RWHAP Best Practices Compilation, and conferences to expand the evidence base for status neutral approaches serving priority populations.

JSI Research & Training Institute

NOT APPLICABLE

93.928 - Special Projects of National Significance

HRSA Office of Federal Assistance Management (OFAM) [HHS - HRSA]

Atlanta, Georgia United States

City-Wide

A Status Neutral Approach to Improve HIV Prevention and Health Outcomes for Racial and Ethnic Minorities – Evaluation and Technical Assistance Provider (ETAP) (HRSA-23-127)

Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 208% from $2,650,000 to $8,150,000.