Kaiser Community Based HIV Test + Treat Initiative

Kaiser Community-Based HIV Test and Treat Initiative was developed in 2013 to support sites around the country to implement and evaluate innovative models of HIV linkage to care for vulnerable minority and underserved populations living with HIV. This initiative aims to improve early identification of new HIV cases and to increase the HIV care acquisition and maintenance of newly diagnosed individuals in minority communities disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic.

Seven Community Based Organizations (CBOs) have been supported to conduct this work with HIV-infected individuals who are MSM, transgender, substance using, prison releasees, low income minority, and/or rural residents. The cross-site evaluation will identify populations that can be reached via a community HIV test and treat approach, with regard to HIV risk profiles and vulnerabilities attached to HIV linkage to care. 

Recruitment of HIV infected individuals via community rather than clinical outreach efforts is slow, but yields populations contending with substantial social and health risks that likely impede their HIV care acquisition. Data collection is ongoing, but analysis of baseline data will describe a) participant social risks related to poverty, homelessness, incarcerated in the past year; b) sexual risks including unprotected sex/multiple partners and a history of sex trade involvement, c) substance use, and d) HIV care, including past 12 month visit and use of ART if need clinically indicated.

Community-based projects engaging in innovative programmatic approaches have the potential to increase HIV testing among populations at risk for HIV and provide immediate linkage to care for those newly diagnosed.