Intervention Services For People With Aids Awarded $3.8 Million
Twelve grants totaling $3.8 million to help low-income, medically underserved Americans who are living with HIV/AIDS or are at risk for contracting the virus obtain outpatient and primary health care services have been announced by the Department of health and Human Services.
The grants — awarded under the Title III Early Intervention Services program of the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act — help ensure that early HIV care is targeted to needy communities in inner cities and rural and remote areas.
In addition to counseling, testing and referral, medical evaluation and clinical care, the grants also support oral health care, adherence counseling, nutritional counseling, outpatient mental health, outpatient substance abuse, and appropriate referral for specialty and subspecialty care.
“These grant recipients have a track record of providing outstanding services to people living with HIV/AIDS who need it most,” said Elizabeth M. Duke, administrator of HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration. “In 2001, two-thirds of the more than 150,000 people who received HIV-related care from our Title III grantees were racial or ethnic minorities.”
All 12 of the grant recipients have received Title III grants for at least the previous three years. This year they submitted applications to compete for continued funding. The recipients include community-based clinics and medical centers, hospitals, public health departments and universities in nine states.
HHS’ CARE Act programs help an estimated 530,000 poor and uninsured individuals with HIV/AIDS obtain primary health care, support services and life-sustaining medications each year. Since the CARE Act was first funded in fiscal year 1991, nearly $13.6 billion in grants has been awarded. CARE Act grants are managed by HRSA’s HIV/AIDS Bureau.
The fiscal year 2003 Title III Early Intervention Services grant are awarded to:
Whatley Health Services, Inc. Tuscaloosa Ala. $343,666
St. Mary’s Family Practice Grand Junction Colo. $232,540
Polk County Health Department Bartow Fla. $427,335
Okaloosa County Health Department Ft. Walton Beach Fla. $300,000
Hendry County Health Department LaBelle Fla. $276,070
Lowndes County Board of Health Valdosta Ga. $467,812
Louisiana State University Health Science Center Earl K. Long Memorial Hospital Baton Rouge La. $300,000
Chadron Community Hospital Chadron Neb. $132,547
St. John Riverside Hospital Yonkers N.Y. $400,000
Metrolina AIDS Project Charlotte N.C. $271,465
Tri-County Community Health Center Dunn N.C. $275,000
Lancaster General Hospital Lancaster Pa. $367,681
Total: $3,794,116
