Background
This Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS) initiative funded ten demonstration sites (five urban sites and five rural sites) for five years to design, implement, and evaluate innovative methods for enhancing access to and retaining women of color living with HIV in primary medical care and support services. Interventions included community-based outreach, patient education, intensive case management, and patient navigation strategies. The Women of Color Evaluation Center (WOCEC) at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University coordinated the multi-site evaluation and provided programmatic technical assistance to the demonstration sites. The study evaluation design assessed the effectiveness of the selected models in enhancing access to and retention in HIV care for women of color.
Demonstration project grant recipients included: Center for Human Services (Bridgeton, NJ); Community AIDS Resource (Care Resource - Miami, FL); Health Services Center (Anniston, AL); JWCH Institute (Los Angeles, CA); New North Citizens Council (Springfield, MA); Special Health Resources for Texas (Longview, TX); The Ruth M. Rothstein CORE Foundation (Chicago, IL); The Research Foundation of State University of New York (Brooklyn, NY); University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Chapel Hill, NC); and the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (TX).
Espino SR, Precht A, Gonzalez M, Garcia I, Eastwood EA, Henderson T, Blank AE, & Karasz A. Implementing Peer-Based HIV Interventions in Linkage and Retention Programs: Successes and Challenges. Journal of HIV/AIDS & Social Services, E-published November 23, 2015; 14: 417-431. Publisher Abstract
Quinlivan EB, Messer LC, Roytburd K, & Blickman A. Unmet core needs for self-determination in HIV-infected women of color in medical care. AIDS Care, E-published October 13, 2016; 1-9. PubMed Abstract
Gonzalez M, Precht A, Fletcher J, Catrambone J, Bailey L, Espino SR. Welcome back survey: exploring concerns impacting HIV care engagement and retention. AIDS Care, September 2016; 28 (9): 1128-1131. E-published February 26, 2016. PubMed Abstract
Safo SA, Blank AE, Cunningham CO, Quinlivan EB, Lincoln T, & Blackstock OJ. Pain is Associated with Missed Clinic Visits Among HIV-Positive Women. AIDS and Behavior, E-published July 7, 2016. PubMed Abstract
Oliphant E, Young N, Amodei N, Villela-Perez V, Mammah R, German VF & Meissner P. The Use of Survival Stories to Empower HIV + Women of Color. International Journal of Business, Humanities and Technology, June 2015; 5 (3): 13-19. No abstract available
Lounsbury DW, Schwartz B, Palma A, & Blank AE. Simulating Patterns of Patient Engagement, Treatment Adherence, and Viral Suppression: A System Dynamics Approach to Evaluating HIV Care Management. AIDS Patient Care and STDs, January 2015; 29 (Supplement 1): S55-S63. PubMed Abstract
Sullivan KA, Schultz K, Ramaiya M, Berger M, Parnell H, & Quinlivan EB. Experiences of Women of Color with a Nurse Patient Navigation Program for Linkage and Engagement in HIV Care.AIDS Patient Care and STDs, January 2015; 29 (Supplement 1): S49-S54. PubMed Abstract
Sullivan KA, Messer LC, & Quinlivan EB. Substance Abuse, Violence and AIDS (SAVA) Syndemic Effects on Viral Suppression among HIV Positive Women of Color. AIDS Patient Care and STDs, January 2015; 29 (Supplement 1): S42-S48. PubMed Abstract
Espino SR, Fletcher J, Gonzalez M, Precht A, Xavier J, & Matoff-Stepp S. Violence Screening and Viral Load Suppression among HIV Positive Women of Color. AIDS Patient Care and STDs, January 2015; 29 (Supplement 1): S36-S41. PubMed Abstract
Blank AE, Fletcher J, Verdecias N, Garcia I, Blackstock O, & Cunningham C. Factors associated with retention and viral suppression among a cohort of HIV+ women of color. AIDS Patient Care and STDs, January 2015; 29 (Supplement 1): S27-S35. PubMed Abstract
Blackstock O, Blank AE, Fletcher J, Verdecias N, & Cunningham C. Considering care-seeking behaviors reveals important differences among HIV-positive women not engaged in care: implications for intervention. AIDS Patient Care and STDs, January 2015; 29 (Supplement 1): S20-S26. PubMed Abstract
Quinlivan EB, Fletcher J, Eastwood EA, Blank AE, Verdecias N, & Roytburd K. Health status of HIV-infected women entering care: Baseline Medical Findings from the Women of Color Initiative. AIDS Patient Care and STDs, January 2015; 29 (Supplement 1): S11-S19. PubMed Abstract
Eastwood EA, Fletcher J, Quinlivan EB, Verdecias N, Birnbaum JM, & Blank AE. Baseline Social Characteristics and Barriers to Care from Special Projects of National Significance Women of Color with HIV Study: A Comparison of Urban and Rural Women and Barriers to HIV Care. AIDS Patient Care and STDs, January 2015; 29 (Supplement 1): S4-S10. PubMed Abstract
Xavier J and Cajina A. The Special Projects of National Significance Women of Color Initiative. AIDS Patient Care and STDs, January 2015; 29 (Supplement 1): S1-S3. No Abstract Available.
Precht AM, Espino SR, Perez VV, Ingram MV, Amodei N, Miller A & Gonzalez M. Healthy Relationships: The Adoption, Adaptation, and Implementation of a DEBI Within Two Clinical Settings. Health Promotion Practice May 2015; 16 (3): 454-63 PubMed Abstract
Palma A, Lounsbury DW, Messer L, & Quinlivan EB. Patterns of HIV Service Use and HIV Viral Suppression Among Patients Treated in an Academic Infectious Diseases Clinic in North Carolina. AIDS and Behavior, April 2015; 19 (4): 694-703 PubMed Abstract
Toth M, Messer LC, & Quinlivan EB. Barriers to HIV Care for Women of Color Living in the Southeastern US Are Associated with Physical Symptoms, Social Environment, and Self-Determination. AIDS Patient Care and STDs, November 2013; 27(11): 613-620. PubMed Abstract
Quinlivan EB, Messer LC, Adimora AA, Roytburd K, Bowditch N, Parnell H, Seay J, Bell L, & Pierce JK. Experiences with HIV Testing, Entry, and Engagement in Care by HIV-Infected Women of Color, and the Need for Autonomy, Competency, and Relatedness. AIDS Patient Care and STDs, July 2013; 27 (7): 408-15. PubMed Abstract
Messer LC, Quinlivan EB, Parnell H, Roytburd K, Adimora AA, Bowditch N, & Desousa N. Barriers and Facilitators to Testing, Treatment Entry, and Engagement in Care by HIV-Positive Women of Color. AIDS Patient Care and STDs, July 2013; 27 (7): 398-407. PubMed Abstract
Blank AE, Espino SL, Eastwood B, Matoff-Stepp S, & Xavier J. The HIV/AIDS Women of Color Initiative Improving Access to and Quality of Care for Women of Color. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, February 2013; 24 (1): 15-26. PubMed Abstract