Carol Tobias, MMHS¹, Serena Rajabiun, MPH¹, Steven Finch, MS¹, Rowland Yancey, MA¹, Howard J. Cabral, PhD², and Tom Mackie, BA¹. (1) School of Public Health, Boston University, 374 Congress Street Suite 502, Boston, MA 02210, 617-426-4447, rajabiun@bu.edu, (2) Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany St, Talbot Bldg, Boston, MA 02118

Background: The primary objective of this initiative was to evaluate seventeen (17) targeted outreach interventions identifying, engaging and retaining people living with HIV/AIDS in care. Outreach interventions varied by program model: eleven (11) community-based outreach programs, four (4) clinic-based programs, and two (2) agency linkage programs. Method: Both aggregate program and client level data were collected. Aggregate data included seropositivity rates, percentage of newly identified HIV-positive who kept first medical appointment, and the percentage of HIV-positive individuals enrolled in care who stayed in care. Client level data included socio-demographic information, engagement in medical care, health status, and barriers to care. Results: In community-based outreach programs, 6-88% newly identified HIV-positive individuals made and kept their first appointment, 7-49% were sporadic users (missed 3 or more appointments), and 4-22% of clients were lost to follow-up. Client level data showed that the programs served poor minority populations (61% African American 23% Hispanic, 78% with income under $10,000). Fifty-six percent of clients had a history of incarceration, 36% experienced homelessness, 34% reported a history of injection drug use, and 44% reported having a serious mental health problem. Twenty-four percent (24%) reported seeing a doctor fewer than 2 times in the past 6 months. Conclusions: Community-based outreach interventions play an important role in identifying and reaching HIV-positive populations, especially those persons with a history of mental illness, substance abuse and homelessness, but are not always successful at bringing people into care. Phase 2 programs will focus on enhanced strategies to bring and keep people in care through specific interventions to address the needs of these hard to reach populations.

Learning Objectives:

• 1)Evaluate community-based outreach models to identify and bring HIV-infected individuals into care
• 2)Identify the challenges to bringing and keeping populations in care
• 3)Describe new strategies to improve the effectiveness of community-based outreach programs

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Community Outreach

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.