HHS Announces $43.7 Million For Populations at Risk for or Living with HIV/AIDS

On March 18, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), announced via a press release three funding opportunities to bolster mental health and substance use services for individuals at risk for or living with HIV/AIDS.

The release states that “Totaling $43.7 million dollars, the funding opportunities reflect the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to providing accessible, evidence-based, culturally appropriate substance use prevention, treatment and recovery services to all as part of HHS’s new Overdose Prevention Strategy. Funding will be awarded in the fall.”

The grants are being deployed to assist underserved communities and are supported by the Minority AIDS Initiative. The funding targets areas of the U.S. where the greatest disparities in HIV-related health outcomes exist.

That said, “The three grant programs are:

• Substance Use Disorder Treatment for Racial Ethnic/ Minority Populations at High Risk for HIV/AIDS: This program increases care for racial and ethnic minority individuals with co-occurring substance use and mental health challenges who are at risk for or are living with HIV/AIDS and receive HIV primary care and other services. This grant will fund up to $30.5 million over five years for up to 61 grantees.
• Substance Abuse and HIV Prevention Navigator Program for Racial Ethnic Minorities: This program provides training and education around the risks of substance use and HIV/AIDS, as well as the integration of a range of services for individuals with HIV/AIDS. The program uses a navigation approach—working through community health workers, neighborhood navigators, and peer support specialists—to expedite services for these populations. This grant will fund up to $4.5 million over five years for up to 18 grantees.
• The Minority AIDS Initiative – Service Integration: This program reduces the co-occurring epidemics of HIV, Hepatitis, and mental health challenges through accessible, evidence-based, culturally appropriate treatment that is integrated with HIV primary care and prevention services. The grant will fund $8.7 million over four years for up to 18 grantees.”

Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, Ph.D., HHS Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use and the leader of SAMHSA was quoted in the release saying that “We must increase supports and services for those who are at risk for or living with HIV/AIDS and have mental health and substance use needs. This means connecting them to easy-to-access, culturally appropriate prevention, treatment, and recovery services.”