Capacity Building Assistance (CBA) for High Impact HIV Prevention Program Integration

For over 30 years, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has affected millions throughout the United States. In recent years, deaths among persons with HIV have declined while the number of people living with HIV has increased. [1] An estimated 1.1 million persons are living with HIV, and approximately 162,500 (15%) are unaware of their infection. [2] Persons living with diagnosed HIV who use antiretroviral therapy (ART) and achieve viral suppression can have improved health outcomes, a nearly normal life expectancy, and a reduced likelihood of transmitting HIV to others. [3] In 2014, 74.5% of persons with newly diagnosed HIV were linked to care within one month; and among persons living with diagnosed HIV, 56.5% were retained in care, and 54.7% had evidence of viral suppression. [2] Despite this overall progress, further efforts are needed to accelerate the nation’s progress toward having no new HIV infections. [4]

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) partners with the national HIV prevention workforce to 1) ensure that persons with HIV (PWH) are aware of their infection and successfully linked to medical care and treatment to achieve viral suppression and 2) expand access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), condoms, and other proven strategies for persons at risk of becoming infected. In accordance with CDC?s High Impact HIV Prevention (HIP) approach, CDC funds state and local health departments and community-based organizations (CBOs) to optimally plan, integrate, implement, and sustain comprehensive HIV prevention programs and services for people with and at greatest risk of HIV infection, including blacks/African Americans; Hispanics/Latinos; all races/ethnicities of gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM); people who inject drugs (PWID); and transgender persons. However, these prevention efforts are persistently challenged by too few people with HIV who are aware of their infection; many people with HIV who do not receive ongoing treatment; diverse populations in need of equal access to prevention information and tools; social and economic inequities that promote disparities in HIV rates; and limited resources for HIV prevention. Moreover, many Americans no longer perceive HIV to be a significant public health problem. [5] Building individual competencies and technical expertise among staff, strengthening organizational capacities, and enabling supportive structural environments are critical to the foundation and operation of HIV prevention programs and services. Reflecting CDC?s continued investment in supporting the national HIV prevention workforce and improving its overall performance, this new funding opportunity will support implementation of a nationwide CBA program for provision of CBA services including training and technical assistance (TA).