One goal of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy is to re-engage and retain people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) into care. Racial and ethnic minorities with mental health, substance abuse, or housing needs are at particularly high risk of non-engagement in HIV care. The SPNS Minority AIDS Initiative is a 2-year study examining the use of peers to re-engage and retain such high-risk PLWHA into medical and social services. Three demonstration clinical sites in Brooklyn, NY, Miami, FL, and San Juan, PR, are implementing programs in which peers are employed as part of the health care team. Peers are trained to find and outreach to out of care PLWHA, ensure newly diagnosed individuals are engaged in care, conduct educational sessions, provide emotional support, help prepare for and accompany patients to appointments, and debrief after visits. Sites will present their peer program activities, challenges, and successes.
Learning Objectives: