HIV, STI, Viral Hepatitis and Harm Reduction Digest
April 26, 2023
NACCHO News and Announcements
NACCHO is seeking a consultant to design and facilitate an in-person training/workshop approach in the DMV region with one EHE jurisdiction to assist them in developing a strategic plan and written processes. NACCHO will award up to $20,000 to hire a consultant to provide subject matter expertise, technical assistance, and strategic planning support to one EHE jurisdiction, and create materials to support scaling of model practices to other jurisdictions around the country. Ideal candidates should be expert in strategic planning, HIV care or prevention, health systems, and local health department infrastructure and systems. The consultant(s) must be located in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) region and/or be prepared to conduct multiple in-person meetings in the DMV region. Applications due Monday, May 8 by 5 PM EST. Please contact [email protected] with any questions.
NACCHO Releases Funding Opportunities to Evaluate Integration of STI & Harm Reduction Services
NACCHO is accepting applications for two related funding opportunities to support the evaluation of STI and harm reduction (HR) services. Applicants must already offer integrated STI and HR services. One application is intended to fund organizations that are primarily STI service providers while the other is intended to fund organizations that are primarily HR service providers. Applicants can request up to $50,000 and applications are due Friday, May 12th. NACCHO will also host an informational webinar on Wednesday, April 19th at 3 PM ET. Access additional information here.
Addressing Social Inequities and STI Disparities Webinar
Due to unforeseen circumstances, the webinar (Addressing Social Inequities and STI Disparities) has been rescheduled to Thursday, April 27th at 3pm EST. Webinar details and the new registration link can be found below:
Join the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) for a webinar, Addressing Social Inequities and STI Disparities, on Thursday, April 27th at 3pm EST as we discuss social inequities and STI disparities amongst Black gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM). We will be joined by Errol Fields, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., who has several years of experience in this area as he is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine within the Department of Pediatrics Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine and his clinical work focuses on primary and subspecialty care for adolescents and young adults, including gender affirming care, inclusive sexual and reproductive health care, and treatment and prevention of HIV and other STIs. During this webinar, Dr. Fields will specifically focus on syphilis and its disproportionate burden on the Black community, as well as how race and sexuality contribute to sexual health disparities, and strategies that can be employed to eliminate those disparities. Register here.
Subject Matter Expert Advisory Workgroups Application
NACCHO’s Subject Matter Expert Advisory Workgroups are a primary and recognized vehicle for identifying the opportunities and challenges facing local health departments (LHDs) and the field at large. NACCHO’s Subject Matter Expert Advisory Workgroups comprise members with expertise in local public health practice. The full list of workgroup descriptions can be found here.
Workgroup Members:
- Play an integral part in ensuring NACCHO’s policy and advocacy is grounded in the latest science and the day-to-day experience of local health departments
- Connect with peers and other subject matter experts in the field
- Gain exposure to innovative programmatic work at NACCHO and in other local health departments across the country
- Help craft policy statements, shape strategic messaging on key subject matter areas, review tools and Model Practices, and share perspectives on how local health departments are addressing key public health issues.
The application period will close April 28, 2023.
Syphilis and Drug User Health Webinar Series: “If You’re Not Seeing It Yet, You Will: Collaborating to Address Syphilis Among People Who Use Drugs”
NACCHO, in partnership with AIDS United, NASTAD, NCSD, and the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board, are conducting a five-part webinar series on Syphilis and Drug User health. The series provides an overview of recent trends in syphilis and congenital syphilis, with a focus on its connections to substance use and people who use drugs, as well as the key systems and stakeholders working at this intersection.
The remaining two webinars will be held on Tuesday, June 27, and Tuesday, July 25, 2023 from 3:00 to 4:30 PM ET. All recordings and registration links for this webinar series can be found on NASTAD’s “Syphilis and Drug User Health Webinar Series” resource page.
Please contact [email protected] for further questions.
Opioid Settlements, Harm Reduction, and Leveraging Local Health Department Expertise Webinar
Every US state is receiving some amount of money from Opioid Settlements. How this money is dispersed and spent varies widely, but in every state and locality there is an opportunity to support harm reduction efforts and local health departments (LHDs) are critical to ensure that evidence-based public health approaches are prioritized. NACCHO is partnering with Community Education Group (CEG) on a 3-part webinar series on Opioid Settlements across the country and how LHDs and their community partners can, and are, leveraging funds to support evidence-based syndemic strategies to reduce harms associated with opioid use and other drugs vulnerable to opioid contamination.
Please join us on Tuesday, May 9th from 2-3pm ET, for an overview of opioid settlements nationwide and how funds may be used to support harm reduction efforts. Link to register: https://naccho.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_cIBPDbmeSr-u7NC4b7-5mQ
Two weeks later, on Tuesday, May 23rd from 2-3pm ET, NACCHO and CEG will host the first of three Opioid Settlement Office Hours for LHDs and their harm reduction partners to discuss settlement challenges and receive technical assistance. Link to register: https://naccho.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ujpY6_bTSvKUBR8LH7wV0Q
Details on future webinar and office hours to come.
Please contact [email protected] with any questions. Recording will be available to those who register following webinar.
HIV, STI, and Hepatitis Resources and News
“Enhancing STI and Sexual Health Clinic Infrastructure” Notice of Funding Opportunity
A new CDC notice of funding entitled, “Enhancing STI and Sexual Health Clinic Infrastructure” was released with the intentions of fostering engagement and partnerships to support sexual health services, improving clinic infrastructure, and conducting short-term projects to expand STI prevention services via a syndemic approach. Public and nonprofit entities that are providers of clinical services in this service area, or plan to provide the funds to providers of clinical services in this service area are eligible and encouraged to apply.
Click here for the solicitation for this cooperative agreement.
STI/HIV Modules Now Available on APhA Website
The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) has published links to free STI/HIV training modules for pharmacists developed by NACCHO and the National STD/HIV Prevention Training Centers with support from CDC. Local health departments should share these resources with pharmacy partners.
To get access, individuals must register on the APhA website and add the modules to their cart. They are available for continuing pharmacy education credits, as well. You can access them for free at the links below and you can search for them on APhA’s website.
Module 1 - Intro and Sexual Health Discussions with Patients: https://ebusiness.pharmacist.com/PersonifyEbusiness/Shop-APhA/Product-Details/productId/358962283
Module 2 - Creating an Environment of Equitable Care: https://ebusiness.pharmacist.com/PersonifyEbusiness/Shop-APhA/Product-Details/productId/358962285
Module 3 - STI Diagnosis and Testing: https://ebusiness.pharmacist.com/PersonifyEbusiness/Shop-APhA/Product-Details/productId/359679502
Module 4 - HIV Testing for Non-Traditional Settings: https://ebusiness.pharmacist.com/PersonifyEbusiness/Shop-APhA/Product-Details/productId/359679512
Module 5 - STI Treatment: https://ebusiness.pharmacist.com/PersonifyEbusiness/Shop-APhA/Product-Details/productId/359679515
Module 6 - HIV PEP, PrEP, and Prevention: https://ebusiness.pharmacist.com/PersonifyEbusiness/Shop-APhA/Product-Details/productId/359679525
UPenn Study Regarding PrEP Use in EHE Jurisdictions
The Social Action Lab at the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) has reached out to NASTAD for help in their outreach efforts regarding a study exploring strategies to improve PrEP use across EHE jurisdictions. Their research team gathering information from health departments across EHE counties regarding jurisdictional policy variation, structural determinants of health, and policy implementation factors. Data will be provided through an online survey and participants can receive $200 in exchange for their time. If you are interested in participating, please contact [email protected] to learn more and to receive the link to the survey.
UPenn rural EHE research study
Additionally, UPenn is offering a “last call” for health department staff to be participants and researchers in a NIH-funded research study in rural EHE jurisdictions. The study is part of the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative targeting regions with heavy rural HIV burden. It is designed to assess methods to improve digital capacity to message community members and provide remote HIV services. Your participation would include six meetings over a period of six months. Your region will benefit by increasing technical capacity and you will be invited to participate in research publications resulting from the project. If you’d like to learn more about the study, please email [email protected].
CDC Develops New Widget to Assist Patients in Finding Nearby Hepatitis C Treatment
Too few people diagnosed with hepatitis C are getting the life-saving treatment they need. CDC has developed a widget to assist patients in finding nearby hepatitis C treatment.
Health care providers and organizations that offer health care and health education services to people who are infected with hepatitis C can:
- Inform people that hepatitis C can be cured and tell them about the Hepatitis C Treatment Locator Widget as a tool to find treatment providers in their area.
- Host the Hepatitis C Treatment Locator Widget on your website. Easily download the widget code from the National Prevention Information Network’s (NPIN) Widget Library.
- Add a clinic to the database using the online request form.
Hepatitis C can be cured. Add the Hepatitis C Treatment Locator Widget to your website today to help your community find treatment. There is still significant work ahead of us to reduce barriers to treatment; we encourage you to share this new resource widely among patients, colleagues, and public health partners. Thank you for your commitment to ensuring access to hepatitis C treatment for all and closing the hepatitis C treatment gap.
Learn more about CDC widgets and prevention resources.
Upcoming Opportunities
Universal Adult Hepatitis B Recommendations Are Here
May 1, 2023 at 3 ET
Best Practices For Implementing Universal Screening and Vaccination
Adult hepatitis B guidelines from screening and vaccination have shifted from risk-based to universal. What does it look like in practice? Join us for the second part of our webinar series as panelists provide best practices on how they have been able to implement universal screening and vaccination within their communities, challenges they have faced and the findings of a brand new Call-to-Action to eliminate hepatitis B through the new universal recommendations.
Ending the HIV Epidemic Quarterly Stakeholder Webinar
Wednesday, May 3, 2023
1:00-2:30 p.m. (ET)
*This session will be audio recorded & slides will be available for those unable to attend*
To register, please click here.
Summary
Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. (EHE), is a bold national plan that aims to reduce the number of new HIV transmissions in the United States.
Audience
This public-facing webinar will deliver information surrounding innovative housing solutions information to:
- Federal staff whose agencies/programs/offices are engaged in implementing the Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. initiative.
- Funded recipients, sub-recipients, and health care workers that qualify as EHE jurisdictions.
- Public health and health care service providers including but not limited to local health departments, community-based organizations, sexually transmitted infection clinics, community health centers, Title X clinics, and substance use disorder treatment providers who want to learn more about the EHE initiative.
Objectives
The United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health will host the Ending the HIV Epidemic Initiative stakeholder webinar designed to:
- Highlight innovative methods of housing collaborations
- Highlight ways to improve HIV diagnosis, care, and prevention outcomes for individuals living with HIV
- Provide an opportunity for questions and answers from major community members and government officials
Hear from your Peers Panel Session: Strategies for Successful Integrated HIV Prevention and Care Plan Monitoring and Evaluation
Join Integrated HIV/AIDS Planning Technical Assistance Center on Wednesday, May 10, 2023 at 2:00pm ET for our next Hear from your Peers panel session. Panelists will discuss their approaches to monitoring and evaluating their jurisdiction’s Integrated HIV Prevention and Care Plan (IP), including strategies for monitoring IP progress, solutions for gathering and tracking data to inform evaluation, and how they will provide updates to stakeholders about IP implementation and progress.
Date: Wednesday, May 10th, 2023 @ 2:00pm ET
Hepatitis C Virus: Barriers to Treatment and Community-focused Primary Care
Thursday, May 11, 2023
3:30 - 4:30 PM ET
In partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American Liver Foundation (ALF) is hosting a webinar for their robust network of liver specialists and public health providers.
During the call, presenters will share recent data indicating that too many Americans remain unaware of their hepatitis C infection and curative treatment continues to be delayed. Presenters will also discuss adult screening recommendations and strategies for addressing gaps in viral hepatitis care.
Webinar Information
Featured Panelists:
Carolyn Wester, MD, MPH: Director, Division of Viral Hepatitis, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Andrew Seaman, MD: Associate Professor of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Vermont Medical Director of Hepatitis and HIV Services
Behnoosh Momin, DrPH, MS, MPH: Health Scientist, Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Katie Jones, MPH: Manager of the Comprehensive Cancer Control Program at the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa HHS)
Date:
Thursday, May 11, 2023 from 3:30 - 4:30 PM EST
Registration Page: https://liverfoundation.org/events/cdc-hep-c-medical-program/
(Please register to receive the Zoom Link)
STD Engage is returning to an in-person format in New Orleans, LA on May 16-18! Discounted hotel room rates are available when you register, but they’re going fast, so don’t wait. Register Now.
Best Practices for Implementing Universal Adult HBV Screening and Vaccination Webinar
Please join Hep B United on Monday, May 1st at 3:00 pm ET for a webinar on how to implement the new universal adult hepatitis B screening and vaccination guidelines!
Panelists will provide best practices on their efforts to implement universal screening and vaccination within their communities, challenges they have faced, and the findings of a brand new Call-to-Action to eliminate hepatitis B through the new universal recommendations.
