It supports efforts to share, develop & test innovative solutions for people in rural communities, who are aging with HIV or long-term survivors, among racial & ethnic minorities & LGBTQ+ populations.
Through the “$500,000 Rural HIV and Aging Challenge,” the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) OASH Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy (OIDP) in partnership with the Administration for Community Living (ACL), is seeking innovative and effective solutions for addressing the needs of people in rural communities aging with HIV or long-term survivors, particularly among racial and ethnic minorities and LGBTQ+ populations.
This effort aligns with other HHS activities, including: (1) HHS Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. (EHE) strategies to prevent new HIV transmissions and treat people with HIV and (2) Minority HIV/AIDS Funds intent to reduce new HIV infections, improve HIV-related health outcomes, and to reduce HIV-related health disparities for racial and ethnic minority populations.
HIV-positive individuals residing in rural areas have 1.39 greater odds of a late HIV diagnosis. Rural residents may be more likely to be diagnosed late because they experience less perceived risk, and increased stigma, along with fear of loss of confidentiality, lower education, poverty, and oftentimes, reduced access to screening services and health care. (Trepka MJ, Fennie KP, Sheehan DM, Lutfi K, Maddox L, Lieb S. Late HIV diagnosis: Differences by rural/urban residence, Florida, 2007-2011. AIDS Patient Care STDS. 2014;28(4):188-197. doi:10.1089/apc.2013.0362).
People over the age of 50 currently make up more than half of those living with HIV in the United States, and this number is growing. Older adults with HIV in rural communities are a diverse population with unique needs that will continue to evolve as they age.
Purpose
OIDP and ACL will partner to create the $500,000 Rural HIV and Aging Challenge. This challenge is a competition to identify innovative and effective pilot solutions that address the needs of people in rural communities, who are aging with HIV or long-term survivors. Specifically, those solutions may include, but are not limited to: enhancing Community Based Organizations (CBOs) in rural communities; increasing engagement of people in rural communities, self-advocates, people aging with HIV, or long-term survivors; or increasing mobilization of resources needed in the rural community.
This Challenge supports efforts to share, develop and test innovative and effective solutions for people in rural communities, who are aging with HIV or long-term survivors, with a focus on racial and ethnic minorities and LGBTQ+ populations. Specifically, those solutions may include:
- identifying HIV and aging service integration interventions including, but not limited to, addressing poverty, access to health care services, and education that improve health outcomes;
- reducing socio economic barriers and improve access to mental health services particularly in rural communities;
- addressing social determinants of health, particularly wellness through physical activity, nutrition and others that improve overall quality of life;
- reducing health inequities for people in rural communities, who are aging with HIV or long-term survivors, particularly among racial and ethnic minorities and LGBTQ+ populations;
- promoting and providing health education and training; or
- evaluating scalability of existing solutions.
Overview of Phases
The $500,000 Rural HIV and Aging Challenge has two phases. The participants selected to receive a prize for Phase 1 may compete for consideration to receive a prize in Phase 2.
Phase 1 — Design of Concept
Participants will develop concepts for pilot solutions to address the needs of people in rural communities, who are aging with HIV or long-term survivors, particularly among racial and ethnic minorities and LGBTQ+ populations.
- Up to 10 winners may be selected to each receive a prize of up to $15,000.
Phase 2 — Development of Solution and small-scale testing
The participants selected to receive a prize for Phase 1 may compete for consideration to receive a prize in Phase 2.
In Phase 2, participants will create fully-developed solutions for rural communities by, but not limited to: enhancing Community Based Organizations (CBOs) in rural communities; increasing engagement of people in rural communities, self-advocates, or long-term survivors; or increasing mobilization of resources needed in rural communities. Specifically, those solutions are expected to address the challenges, opportunities and needs of people in rural communities, who are aging with HIV or long-term survivors, particularly among racial and ethnic minorities and LGBTQ+ populations disproportionately affected by HIV.
In Phase 2, Participants submit data from small-scale testing of their solution.
HHS may also provide technical assistance to participants.
Awards:- $500,000
Deadline:- 23-10-2022
