HIV, STI, Viral Hepatitis, and Harm Reduction Digest
February 3, 2022
Highlights of the Week
National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (February 7th)
Black communities have made great progress in reducing HIV. Yet racism, discrimination, and mistrust in the health care system may affect whether Black people seek or receive HIV prevention services. These issues may also reduce the likelihood of engaging in HIV treatment and care. To continue to reduce the burden of HIV and other health risks, people need adequate housing and transportation, employment, access to culturally competent health services that are free of stigma and discrimination, and more.
Together, when we work to overcome structural barriers to HIV testing, prevention, and treatment and to stop HIV stigma, we help reduce HIV-related disparities and health inequities in Black communities.
Join NACCHO’s HIV, STI, & Viral Hepatitis Sentinel Network
The Sentinel Network is an opportunity to shape national technical assistance & engage with colleagues nationwide. Members engage in topics such as HIV, STI, & Viral Hepatitis programs, partnerships, needs, challenges, etc. Sign up here or visit our website for more information.
Job Opportunities
Director of HSH and Harm Reduction
The Director will oversee HIV, Viral Hepatitis, and Harm Reduction projects of the HIV, STI, Viral Hepatitis and Harm Reduction portfolio at NACCHO. With the Senior Director, they are responsible for developing the strategic direction for this work, integrating these activities within the unit portfolio and across the organization, and ensuring results.
The Sr. Program Assistant is an administrative role. They are responsible for providing professional support to the functional work of a programmatic team(s), including project coordination (organizing, complex scheduling, event logistics), financial support (contracting, processing payment requests), and basic research, analysis, and writing.
NACCHO Announcements
NACCHO Releases an STD Registry – Guide to Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinics in the United States
NACCHO has developed an STD Registry, a searchable tool for locating STD clinics and services. We encourage any clinic devoted to examining and treating STDS and/or clinics that have staff and service hours dedicated to STDs to register. Please use the following submission form to add your site to the registry.
Now Available: NACCHO and NCSD Webinar on the 340B Drug Pricing Program
On January 25, 2022, NACCHO and National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD), hosted a webinar exploring 340B Drug Pricing Program. Watch the webinar to learn how the 340B Drug Pricing Program can support health department operations such as saving money, generating revenue, and expanding sexual health services. You can access the slides, recording, and transcript on the HSH homepage. Please feel free to pass these along to colleagues who may be interested!
CHECK IT OUT! - NACCHO Releases National Scan of Congenital Syphilis Prevention and Control Efforts
NACCHO has collected information on congenital syphilis prevention and control interventions/activities across the United States. This effort focused on gathering information on any interventions/activities across the entire spectrum of prevention of syphilis. The searchable compendium of the collected responses is available to increase peer-to-peer collaboration and improve congenital syphilis prevention efforts. In addition to looking at what other jurisdictions have tried regarding congenital syphilis prevention, you can enter information on your local interventions/activities.
NACCHO is expanding our work to address the syndemic of STIs, HIV, viral hepatitis, and substance use disorders and is interested in learning more about the status of STI and harm reduction service integration and barriers and opportunities related to integrating and linking these services. Please complete the brief survey above to provide information about your organization’s experience with integrating and/or establishing linkages between these services.
For more information or to submit general questions, please email Kat Kelley at [email protected] , Senior Program Analyst, HIV, STI, & Viral Hepatitis.
NACCHO is pleased to offer a funding opportunity for a skilled facilitator to aid the six (6) Overdose Response Strategy (ORS) sites in strategic planning related to (1) developing and expanding public health and public safety partnerships and effectively engaging people with lived experience and (2) project implementation and sustainability through both in-person and virtual meetings. One award of up to $75,000 is available. View the Request for Proposals for full details about this project. Applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 PM Eastern, February 11, 2022. Applicants may pose individual questions to NACCHO at any point during the application process by e-mailing Audrey Eisemann.
HIV, STI, Viral Hepatitis, and Harm Reduction Resources and News
What is the State of LGBTQ Health? Take the Inaugural Survey!
The National Coalition for LGBTQ Health’s Inaugural State of LGBTQ Health National Survey™ assesses the healthcare landscape for LGBTQ patient populations. This survey covers intersectional topics in LGBTQ health including clinical/behavioral health, stigma, social justice, housing/homelessness, health disparities among communities of color, and COVID-19. The insights you provide by completing this brief yet comprehensive survey will help inform ongoing advocacy, education, research, and training activities that support LGBTQ health care. Your input also will help determine the theme for the Coalition’s 20th Annual National LGBTQ Health Awareness Week to be held March 21-25, 2022.
FDA Approves First Long-Acting Injectable PrEP
Food and Drug Administration approved the first long-acting injectable treatment for HIV prevention. Apretude (cabotegravir extended-release injectable suspension) is approved for use in “at-risk adults and adolescents weighing at least 35 kilograms (77 pounds) for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to reduce the risk of sexually acquired HIV. Policymakers anticipate that the availability of a long-acting injectable option will increase PrEP uptake and adherence.
CDC’s Division of STD Prevention Launches Evaluation and Program Improvement Scholars
The Division of Sexual Transmitted Diseases Prevention (DSTDP), Program Development and Quality Improvement Branch (PDQIB), at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is pleased to offer the Evaluation and Program Improvement Scholars (EPIS) Program to a fourth cohort of interested STD Programs. This program is made possible through partnerships between the National Network of Public Health Institutes (NNPHI), National Coalition of STD Directors, and the Rocky Mountain Public Health Training Center (RMPHTC). Under DSTDP’s cooperative agreement to support STD prevention and control (PS 19-1901 STD PCHD), STD programs are expected to conduct data-driven planning, analysis, monitoring, and evaluation for program improvement under Strategy Area V. The EPIS program is designed to support successful implementation of Strategy 17. Access the application here.
Register for NASTAD’s 2022 Southern Syringe Services Program (SSP) Institute
NASTAD will be holding the virtual Southern Syringe Services Programs (SSP) and Drug User Health Institute on the afternoons of February 23-24, 2022, from 12:00-4:30 PM ET. At the Institute, NASTAD will discuss challenges, successes, and priorities for creating and sustaining effective programs and creating relationships with people who use drugs through innovative partnerships and collaborations.
Navigating the Harm Reduction Funding Landscape: A Guide for State, Federal, and Private Funding was designed specifically for community-based harm reduction programs and Syringe Services Programs (SSPs) and provides an overview of navigating the funding landscape and fulfilling the requirements laid out in grant proposals and their application processes. The resource addresses current and newly implemented programs and provides useful tools to assist programs in leveraging funding, diversifying streams of funding, tips on grant writing, and an overview of common grant application elements.
Ending the HIV Epidemic Mentorship Program: Mentors Wanted
NASTAD is seeking mentors to support health department staff new to the HIV field or Ending the HIV Epidemic work to meet high mentee demand! Mentors at all levels and backgrounds are welcomed as part of this peer-to-peer learning opportunity. Click the link above to learn more about expectations of mentors and mentees and access a mentor application to match your skillset with mentee groups. Please consider sharing your knowledge of health systems and HIV with up-and-coming health department employees and contact Darion Banister at [email protected] with questions.
AIDS United, with funding from ViiV Healthcare, will provide grant support through the Conexiones Positivas: Positive Connections Initiative, which provides low barrier grant funds to organizations supporting Hispanic/Latinx gay, bisexual and transgender men who are from communities most affected by and vulnerable to HIV. The initiative’s strategies will focus on three areas: increasing grassroots mobilization of people with HIV; identifying and developing leaders with HIV; and increasing meaningful involvement of people with HIV in their organization. Awards will go to six to eight grantee organizations. Ongoing funding is based on successful achievement of stated goals and subject to future funds appropriated by ViiV and AIDS United.
In the News
Virginia and Alaska Improve Access to Hepatitis C Treatment for Medicaid Patients - HEP
New Guidelines Could Change the Way OB/GYNs Talk to Patients About Birth Control – The Washington Post
Federal Prisons Add More Protections, Access to Healthcare for Transgender Inmates – The Hill
Webinars
Addressing Social Determinants of Health through a Status-Neutral Lens
February 8 at 2:00pm ET
Hosted by: NASTAD
Building Bridges for Post-Release Linkages to Care and Services after Incarceration
February 10 at 12:00pm ET
Hosted by HRSA
Harm Reduction Vending Machine Q&A session
February 11 at 1pm ET
Hosted by: Caracole
NASTAD’s 2022 Southern Syringe Services Program (SSP) Institute
February 22-23 at 12:00pm ET
Hosted: NASTAD
Community-Based Approaches for Enhancing Population Health Practices
March 17 at 1:00pm ET
Hosted: Division of STD Prevention
Inaugural Program Innovation Science Series
