Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE): Scaling Up HIV Prevention Services in STD Specialty Clinics
Overview
Through the EHE initiative, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has set an ambitious goal of reducing all new HIV infections by 90% by 2030. To support this goal, HHS has provided multiple funding opportunities to jurisdictions.
- In 2019, CDC awarded supplemental funding to strengthen the infrastructure of STD clinics serving a high volume of racial/ethnic and sexual minorities to enhance and scale up HIV prevention services and build upon activities supported under PS19-1901: Strengthening STD Prevention and Control for Health Departments (STD PCHD).
- In January 2020, CDC continued support for scaling up HIV prevention services in STD specialty clinics with the announcement of the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO): PS20-2010: Integrated HIV Programs for Health Departments to Support Ending the HIV Epidemic in the United States (EHE) to support the development and implementation of programs tailored to ending the HIV epidemic in America. This NOFO is made up of three components; component C is focused on implementing strategies and activities that scale up HIV prevention services to reach populations that access care in STD clinics.
- In August 2020, a new investment from the Minority HIV/AIDS Fund (MHAF) aimed to specifically address under-resourced STD clinics. This investment leverages the current CDC-funded PS20-2004: National Network of Sexually Transmitted Diseases Clinical Prevention Training Centers (NNPTC) to bolster training and technical assistance efforts so STD specialty clinics can better provide HIV prevention services. Activities include providing onsite or distance-based (web or phone) consultations, guidance to conduct clinic assessments, in-person site visits, and resources.
Scaling Up HIV Prevention Services in STD Specialty Clinics
This funding is intended to strengthen the infrastructure of STD clinics, which serve a high volume of racial/ethnic and sexual minorities. STD clinics play a vital role in the EHE initiative because:
- They serve populations who are not engaged in HIV prevention programs, or primary healthcare system for their STD and HIV prevention care;
- They serve as an important healthcare setting for patients who may not otherwise have access to healthcare services;
- STDs are associated with a higher risk of acquiring HIV and indicate increased risk of HIV acquisition in future and potential need for PrEP.
Success Stories
Three CDC-funded jurisdictions scaled up HIV prevention services in STD clinics to deliver critical HIV prevention strategies to the populations who need them most.
More Success Stories
Recipients of the STD PCHD and EHE NOFOs will implement five strategies in order to scale up HIV prevention services to reach populations that receive and seek care in STD clinics.
Five Strategies
- Assess clinic infrastructure to document HIV prevention services, identify gaps, and assess service quality.
- Implement evidence-based approaches to scale up HIV prevention capacity in STD clinics, including self-collected STD testing and express visits, and HIV testing and viral load assessment.
- Expand the capacity of STD clinics to offer pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, post-exposure prophylaxis, or PEP, and strengthen clinic and laboratory capacity for recommended follow-up visits for people on PrEP.
- Optimize linkage to, retention in, and re-engagement with HIV medical care.
- Facilitate partnerships with other community HIV clinical providers, health departments, and community-based organizations providing HIV prevention services and collaborating in the implementation of the EHE.
Award Recipients
PS19-1901: Strengthening STD Prevention and Control for Health Departments Supplement
With the initial funds, three recipients were awarded a total of $1.3 million. The award period was September 16, 2019 to December 31, 2019.
| Recipient | Award Amount |
|---|---|
| Baltimore City Health Department | $500,000 |
| Georgia Department of Public Health (DeKalb County) | $300,000 |
| Louisiana Department of Health (East Baton Rough Parish) | $500,000 |
PS20-2010: Integrated HIV Programs for Health Departments to Support Ending the HIV Epidemic in the United States Component C
Seven recipients were awarded a total of $3 million for the first year, starting on August 1, 2020. This cooperative agreement is for five years of funding (August 1, 2020 to July 31, 2025), based on availability of funds.
| Recipient | Award Amount |
|---|---|
| San Francisco Department of Public Health | $450,000 |
| Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services | $450,000 |
| City of Philadelphia Department of Public Health | $450,000 |
| Baltimore City Health Department | $450,000 |
| District of Columbia Department of Health | $400,000 |
| Alabama Department of Public Health | $400,000 |
| Arizona Department of Health Services | $400,000 |
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PS20-2004: National Network of Sexually Transmitted Diseases Clinical Prevention Training Centers Supplement (Minority HIV/AIDS Fund)
Eight training centers and two national centers were awarded a total of $3.9 million for the first year. The award is for three years based on availability of funds. These NNPTC training, technical assistance, and capacity building efforts launched in August 2020.
| Recipient | Award Amount |
|---|---|
| Columbia University (Training Center) | $370,000 |
| Denver Public Health (Training Center) | $370,000 |
| Johns Hopkins University (Training Center) | $370,000 |
| Massachusetts Department of Public Health (Training Center) | $370,000 |
| University of Alabama (Training Center) | $370,000 |
| University of California, San Francisco (Training Center) | $370,000 |
| University of Washington (Training Center) | $370,000 |
| Washington University, St. Louis (Training Center) | $370,000 |
| The National STD Prevention Training Centers Coordination Center (NPTC3) – Denver Public Health | $312,500 |
| National STD Curriculum Center – University of Washington | $625,000 |
Resources
- PS20-2010 Integrated HIV Programs for Health Departments to Support Ending the HIV Epidemic in the United States (EHE) Notice of Funding Opportunityexternal icon
- PS20-2004: National Network of Sexually Transmitted Diseases Clinical Prevention Training Centers (NNPTC)external icon
- PS19-1901: Strengthening STD Prevention and Control for Health Departments (STD PCHD) Notice of Funding Opportunityexternal icon
- Dear Colleague Letter from the Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention: Advancing the Ending the HIV Epidemic Initiative with a $109 Million Investment in 57 Areas of the United States (July 31, 2020)
- Dear Colleague Letter from Dr. Gail Bolan, Division of STD Prevention Director: Scaling Up HIV Prevention in STD Clinicspdf icon (July 31, 2020)
Page last reviewed: December 9, 2020