Through the “Innovations for needs of people aging with HIV/long-term survivors in Urban Communities” 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 Urban communities, who are 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.
In urban areas, factors of unemployment and high school graduation rate are associated with late diagnosis. (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 Urban 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 “Innovations for needs of people aging with HIV/long-term survivors in Urban Communities” Challenge. This challenge is a competition to identify innovative and effective pilot solutions that address the needs of people in Urban 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 Urban communities; increasing engagement of people in Urban communities, self-advocates, people aging with HIV, or long-term survivors; or increasing mobilization of resources needed in Urban communities.
This Challenge supports the efforts to share, develop and test innovative and effective solutions for people in Urban communities, who are aging with HIV or long-term survivors, with a focus on racial and ethnic minorities and LGBTQ+ populations. Specifically, those solutions for Urban communities may include:
- identifying HIV and aging service integration interventions that improve health outcomes;
- reducing social isolation and improve access to health services in Urban communities;
- addressing social determinants of health, particularly wellness through physical activity, nutrition and health promotion programs to improve overall quality of life;
- reducing health disparities for people in Urban communities, who are aging with HIV or long-term survivors, particularly among racial and ethnic minorities and LGBTQ+ populations;
- promoting and providing employment and employment-related services and training;
- expanding communications and information dissemination on the issues and opportunities affecting the diverse aging HIV population; or
- evaluating scalability of existing solutions.
Overview of Phases
The “Innovations for needs of people aging with HIV/long-term survivors in Urban Communities” 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 Urban 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 by, but not limited to: enhancing Community Based Organizations (CBOs) in Urban communities; increasing engagement of people in Urban communities, self-advocates, or long-term survivors; or increasing mobilization of resources needed in the Urban Communities. Specifically, those solutions are expected to address the challenges, opportunities and needs of people in Urban 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
