Chapter 6: Conclusion

IHIP

 

For over 2 decades, HRSA’s vision and leadership has helped drive the success of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, which has engaged hundreds of thousands of PLWHA into care, saving countless lives. HRSA’s work aligns neatly with the goals of the NHAS, particularly the SPNS program, which has developed numerous innovative approaches for identifying and engaging hard-to-reach PLWHA into care.

The best of these models, distilled in this manual, have been proven to help PLWHA overcome their personal, community-based, and cultural barriers to care, dramatically decreasing their viral load or achieving viral suppression, as well as dramatically reducing HIV transmission to others. PLWHA in care also benefit from health literacy and education programs, and wraparound services, many of which are geared to patients’ families, as well as to PLWHA themselves.

The SPNS models of care have helped to bring the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program’s holistic approach to care to PLWHA who otherwise would not be able to access services. These approaches to care were never meant to exist in a vacuum, but to be replicated and adapted by providers nationwide serving vulnerable populations.

Start Replicating These Models Now

IHIP’s Engaging Hard-to-Reach Populations Living with HIV/AIDS into Care Curriculum provides clinics and other stakeholders the training and guidance to assist with replication of the models of care discussed in this training manual.

The curriculum features a series of modules with:

  • PowerPoint presentations that include detailed information to help presenters guide discussion and followup.
  • Interactive activities to foster ideas and help implement the model of care.
  • Extensive handouts, information sheets, templates, and other resources that can be adapted to the needs of one’s agency.