The PC4H initiative employs a mobile app and a digital literacy workshop to improve engagement, retention in care, and medication adherence for young people with HIV. These strategies aim to reach young people who are disproportionately affected by HIV, including young men who have sex with men, young transgender women, and youth of color, with a focus on serving people who know their status but are inconsistently engaged in care. Developed by Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Philadelphia FIGHT, PC4H was evaluated through the RWHAP Part F SPNS Social Media Initiative. The evaluation found that PC4H had positive impacts on retention in care and viral suppression.
Black/African American people; Youth ages 13 to 24; Young adults ages 25 to 34; Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM); Transgender men
Retention in HIV medical care; Viral suppression; Beyond the care continuum
Use of technology and mobile health
The RWHAP Part F SPNS program funded the Building a Medical Home for Multiply Diagnosed HIV-Positive Homeless Populations initiative from 2012–2017, to provide coordinated housing supports and HIV, behavioral and mental health care to people experiencing homelessness. Nine funded demonstration sites created partnerships with housing providers, integrated behavioral health and HIV care, and provided intensive patient navigator services. A multi-demonstration site evaluation found that, compared to baseline, participants were more likely to be virally suppressed after 12 months in the intervention.
Evidence-Based Intervention
People who are unstably housed
Retention in HIV medical care; Prescription of antiretroviral therapy; Viral suppression; Beyond the care continuum
Support service delivery model
Pasadena, San Diego County, San Francisco, CA
New Haven, CT
Jacksonville, FL
Cumberland, Hoke, Harnett, Johnston, and Sampson Counties, NC
Multnomah County, OR
Dallas and Harris Counties, TX
Five clinics implemented Tailored Motivational Interviewing (TMI) to better serve young people with HIV as part of a RWHAP Part F SPNS initiative. Motivational interviewing is a well-documented approach to engage youth in care and facilitate behavior change in a variety of contexts. Clients participating in TMI received integrated HIV medical care and TMI, and demonstrated improved engagement in care and health outcomes.
Evidence-Based Intervention
Support service delivery model
Los Angeles, CA
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Baltimore, MD
Detroit, MI
Philadelphia, PA
Wellness Web 2.0 is a text message-based intervention that offers health education tools, appointment reminders, and navigation services to increase linkage to and retention in care for youth and young adults with HIV. Clients across 27 counties in South Texas enrolled in the Wellness Web 2.0 program had improvements in linkage to HIV medical care and viral suppression.
Youth ages 13 to 24; Young adults ages 25 to 34
Linkage to HIV medical care; Viral suppression
Use of technology and mobile health
Corpus Christi, TX
San Antonio, TX
Laredo, TX
Bienestar developed TransActivate to improve timely engagement and retention in HIV care among Latina transgender women. Linkage coordinators/peer navigators use a strengths-based approach to help clients reach their goals of entering and staying in medical care to ultimately reach viral suppression.
Transgender women; Hispanic/Latina(o/x) people
HIV diagnosis; Linkage to HIV medical care; Retention in HIV medical care; Viral suppression
Support service delivery model
Three participating clinics—MetroHealth, the University of Kentucky Bluegrass Care Clinic, and Centro Ararat—participated in a RWHAP Part F SPNS initiative from 2016 through 2019 to implement integrated buprenorphine treatment and HIV care. Research has shown that care integration improves HIV outcomes, engagement in substance use disorder treatment, and quality of life for people with HIV. Clients participating in this intervention received integrated opioid use disorder (OUD) and HIV care to improve retention in care, viral suppression, and engagement in OUD treatment.
Evidence-Informed Intervention
People with opioid use disorder
Linkage to HIV medical care; Retention in HIV medical care; Viral suppression
Clinical service delivery model
Cleveland, OH
Lexington, KY
Ponce, PR
E-VOLUTION is a two-way text messaging intervention, originally developed by Washington University School of Medicine and piloted at Project ARK. The intervention focuses on improving health outcomes for youth, particularly young Black men who have sex with men. E-VOLUTION was designed for people ages 18-29 who have HIV and are receiving clinical care but require support to remain adherent. E-VOLUTION was evaluated and found to improve viral suppression and retention in care rates.
Evidence-Informed Intervention
Youth ages 13 to 24; Young adults ages 25 to 34; Black gay and bisexual men
Retention in HIV medical care; Viral suppression
Use of technology and mobile health
Howard Brown Health established a specialized drop-in clinic and support groups, and implemented organizational initiatives to provide culturally relevant and gender-affirming services for transgender and non-binary people, including transgender women of color. The goal of this intervention was to optimize engagement in HIV services and primary care. From 2012-2021, the number of transgender and non-binary people served in primary care at Howard Brown Health more than tripled. In addition, after 24 months, participants were more likely to have been prescribed ART and to be virally suppressed than at baseline.
Evidence-Informed Intervention
Prescription of antiretroviral therapy; Viral suppression
Clinical service delivery model
Text Me, Girl! is a text messaging intervention that aims to improve linkage to and retention in HIV care, increase adherence to HIV medications, and improve viral suppression and other health outcomes among transgender women ages 18–34 years. The intervention supports young transgender women with HIV, particularly those experiencing barriers to care such as periods of homelessness and/or incarceration, substance misuse, or engaging in sex work. Text Me, Girl! participation was associated with statistically significant improvements in antiretroviral therapy uptake and adherence, and self-reported viral suppression.
Evidence-Informed Intervention
Prescription of antiretroviral therapy; Viral suppression
Use of technology and mobile health
Ten organizations across the U.S. integrated Community Health Workers (CHWs) into their multidisciplinary care teams. Enrolled clients had statistically significant improvements in viral suppression, antiretroviral therapy prescription, and appointment attendance after six months in the program.
Evidence-Informed Intervention
Retention in HIV medical care; Prescription of antiretroviral therapy; Viral suppression
Support service delivery model
Birmingham, AL
Mobile, AL
Fort Myers, FL
Lake Charles, LA
New Orleans, LA
Baltimore, MD