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The proposed project, titled Llegando a Cero (Getting to Zero), aims to provide substance misuse and HIV prevention navigation services to those at highest risk for HIV and substance use disorders, with a focus on young Latino MSM, aged 18-24. The goal of the program is to enhance targeted outreach, social marketing and on-the-ground navigation services in order to increase the number of Greater Boston Latino MSM aged 18-24 who access the HIV and substance misuse prevention services of Fenway Health and our closest partners -- or alternately, who are linked to other equally culturally competent providers of similar services in the community. Fenway Health anticipates serving at least 100 people annually, and 391 people over the lifetime of the project. Specific objectives: 1) Complete an assessment of the substance abuse and HIV prevention needs of Greater Boston Latino MSM aged 18-24 and, based upon its results, develop a strategic five-year plan for the Llegando a Cero program. 2) Mobilize and/or build capacity to address substance misuse, HIV, STD and Hepatitis prevention needs of young Latino MSM in Greater Boston, including by developing a major new social marketing campaign for this target population, expanding bilingual outreach and prevention services, and building/enhancing referral networks and relationships with community organizations that also provide culturally competent services to this population. 3) Increase the number of Latino MSM aged 18-24 who engage in at least one of the Prevention Services of Fenway Health or our closest partners by at least 25% year over year during the five-year project period. These prevention services include: Testing for HIV/STD/Hepatitis; immunization for Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B and HPV; linkage of HIV+ (newly diagnosed and out-of-care) people to medical treatment; counseling support to re-engage and stay engaged in HIV Care; linkage to substance abuse prevention and treatment services; linkage of high risk negatives to PrEP; linkage to housing search and subsidy services; linkage to mental health or other support services; Latinx prevention groups; and Personal Cognitive Counseling for high risk negatives. 4) For every ten (10) Latino MSM aged 18-24 who successfully engaged in the Fenway Health prevention services listed above, two (2) additional Latino MSM aged 18-24 will be linked to other culturally competent providers of HIV and substance abuse prevention services in the community.

ABSTRACT– The Village Virgin Island Partners in Recovery: Progressive Lifestyles The Progressive Lifestyles program is a constellation of prevention services provided to Afro-Caribbean and Hispanic adolescents and young adults on the island of St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands. By blending culturally sensitive substance abuse, HIV and Hepatitis prevention with testing and intensive HIV care navigation, Progressive Lifestyles will reduce risk behaviors among our youth and provide a vehicle to ensure that our HIV infected youth get care and stay in care. The adolescents and young adults of St. Croix face serious risk factors associated with both substance abuse and risky sexual behavior. High rates of substance abuse, poverty, stigma, community violence and other risk factors fuel St. Croix’s alarmingly high HIV/AIDS burden. Progressive Lifestyles will build on the native resiliency of our youth and young adults in making healthy lifestyle choices. Health decisions are critical in our community which presents one of the highest rates of HIV in the country, including among the highest rates nationally among our target population’s age bracket, where condom use is extremely low, where stigma is extreme, where substance use is widely accepted and where gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered youth are the target of discrimination. The goals of this project, each with measurable objectives, are: (1) Expand capacity to provide substance abuse, HIV and VH prevention services to youth and young adults in St. Croix USVI by providing an array of service; (2) Reduce Substance-abuse related problems including the transmission of HIV and Hepatitis; (3) Reduce Substance-abuse related problems including the transmission of HIV and Hepatitis, (4) Increase protective factors associated with the prevention of substance abuse, HIV infection and VH; (5) Enhance capacity to implement environmental-level interventions to reduce substance abuse and HIV/AIDS and Viral Hepatitis transmission. Progressive Lifestyles will achieve these goals by providing its participants with ●the evidence based Prime for Life intervention to assist in reduction of substance misuse and increase in positive decision making ● HIV risk reduction interventions including RESPECT, an individualize HIV prevention intervention and PROMISE, a peer-based community intervention ● Non-traditional site testing for HIV and hepatitis, supported by the Counseling, Testing and Linkage intervention and intensive care coordination of treatment services to ensure that those participants who test positive get in care, stay in care and ultimately achieve viral suppression ● and providing opportunities for boys/men who have sex with boys/men to address their risk behaviors in an environment free of stigma or fear. Progressive Lifestyles will serve as a hub of advocacy and support in the promotion of happiness and health in the lives of our youth.

Abstract STOP (Strategizing Together On Prevention) Substance Misuse and HIV For Youth and Young Adults in Detroit and Wayne County Detroit Recovery Project proposes to conduct an innovative, aggressive effort (Strategizing Together On Prevention) STOP Substance Misuse and HIV for Youth and Young Adults in Detroit and Wayne County. The goal of the STOP initiative is to prevent substance misuse and the transmission of HIV and hepatitis using evidence-based peer navigation, intensive counseling, health education approaches and environmental strategies. The target populations for the STOP HIV project are racial/ethnic males who have sex with other males, ages 13-24, and others at highest risk for HIV/AIDS, hepatitis and substance use disorders. The catchment area for this initiative is the tri-city area of Detroit, Highland Park, and Hamtramck in Wayne County. These cities were selected because they account for 40% of the 1.775 million people who live in Wayne County (Census, 2013); which the highest HIV-prevalence rate of any county in Michigan. Drug use patterns in Detroit differ from those across the rest of the State of Michigan. In Detroit, heroin and cocaine are the two major drugs of misuse, with marijuana as the primary drug in Detroit, accounting for 15.3 percent of treatment admissions in FY 2013 (NIDA). The CDC reports that there is a strong correlation with drug and alcohol misuse and HIV transmission. The measurable objectives are to: 1. Utilize SAMHSA’s 5-Step Strategic Prevention Framework to guide the planning, implementation, and evaluation activities of the STOP project, including completion of a needs assessment and development of a data-driven strategic plan. 2. Provide evidenced-based peer navigation services and intensive counseling to 50 PLWH annually, and provide HIV/AIDs education to 120 individuals. 3. Develop an infrastructure to enhance services to PLWHA in Detroit and Wayne County by mobilizing and building the capacity of all partner organizations to implement substance misuse, HIV and hepatitis prevention strategies. 4. Implement environmental strategies focused on reducing risk factors for those at highest risk for HIV and substance use disorders. 5. Participate in the required cross-site evaluation, GRPA data collection and performance measurement and local performance assessment to determine progress, outcomes and impact and to ensure effectiveness of project activities. The results of STOP will increase the number of individuals who are identified, tested for HIV and hepatitis, and that are linked with HIV care and housing services.

Fort Valley State University (FVSU) in collaboration with partnering Community Based Organizations, will offer the Protective Resources for Inclusion, Dignity & Equity (PRIDE) Navigator project, to 250 (50 each year) primarily African American MSM and other high risk minority group members, aged 13 to 24, core participants, by providing them with education and activities that will help them avoid HIV, hepatitis, and substance abuse, in addition to other risky behaviors, or respond to their treatment needs if already HIV positive, while improving the capacity of the organization. The project is targeting the most in need young people in the most impoverished areas of Peach and Bibb County, in the State of Georgia by providing evidence based curriculum instruction and related services including HIV and HCV testing, and follow up counseling. FVSU through the PRIDE Navigator project will provide an intensive program of services for the core program participants based upon the relationships that will be established between program staff members and project participants that will encourage them to follow through on treatment services if they test HIV positive, in addition to avoiding the risky behaviors that could result in additional individuals becoming HIV positive. Project objectives include: Objective 1) To complete a community needs assessment of Peach and Bibb County, with extensive examination of the African American MSM population, and the SPF process by the end of the 6th month of funding. Objective 2) To provide evidence based SA, HCV and HIV prevention classes for 450 primarily African American 13 to 24 year old MSM and other high risk minorities by the end of the fifth project year (50 in year 1, 100 each year 2-5). Objective 3) To provide comprehensive HIV/AIDS-related support services and transition assistance including substance misuse prevention, HIV medical care, housing, employment, family, education, and prescription drug assistance services, for at least 50 core program participants, based on needs assessment results, each year of the project (250 in total). Objective 4) To conduct at least 3 community wide special events each year promoting SA, HCV and HIV prevention, to reach at least 1200 primarily high risk African Americans by the end of the project (6,000 over 5 years). Objective 5) To conduct a social media campaign to reach at least 17,000 individuals with a SA, HCV, and HIV prevention message by the end of the project (2,000 in year 1, 3,000 in year 2, and 4,000 in year 3, 4 and 5). Objective 6) To decrease the intent to use alcohol, illegal drug use, and/or to engage in high-risk sexual behaviors amongst core program participants by 20% each year of the project. Objective 7) To increase knowledge about HIV, HCV and/or substance abuse amongst core program participants by 20% each year of the project. Objective 8) To increase HIV testing numbers by 10% each project year.

Prevention Outreach and Navigation of Services (PONS) Substance Use and HIV Prevention Navigator Program for Racial/Ethnic Minorities Ages 13-24 Cooperative Agreement Abstract River Region Human Services, Inc. (RRHS) seeks SAMHSA funding for the Prevention Outreach and Navigation of Services (PONS) project in Jacksonville/Duval County. The purpose of the PONS project is to prevent and reduce the spread of HIV and substance misuse among young adults, prioritizing black males and females ages 18-24. The goals of the PONS project are to: (1) enhance outreach and increase the number of at-risk individuals ages 18-24 who are tested for HIV and screened for substance use and hepatitis; (2) enhance and increase the number of at-risk individuals participating in HIV, and substance misuse prevention interventions; (3) enhance linkage and increase the number of at-risk individuals linked to HIV care, housing and supportive services; and (4) enhance intensive case management and increase the period of time that participants are retained in HIV care. According to 2015 CDC data, Jacksonville ranks #9 in the U.S. for incidences of HIV with an incidence rate of 22.7 (329 new cases), and an HIV prevalence rate of 454.3 (6,455 total cases). Youth and young adults ages 13-29 represent 23% of HIV cases in the Jacksonville area versus 16% in Florida and 21% in the U.S. While Blacks comprise 30% of Jacksonville’s total population, they account for 70% of HIV cases with 71% of adult infections among males. HIV and substance use each increase risks for the other. Based upon its 2015 Community Needs Assessment and Comprehensive Strategic Plan, RRHS has developed the PONS project for the population of focus of Black young adults, ages 18-24, living in and around Jacksonville’s urban core. Measurable objectives for the PONS project include: (1a.) expansion of the RRHS social media program to reach 2,000 of PONS population of focus in each year of the project for a total 10,000 over the project period; (1b.) expansion of HIV testing and screening for substance misuse and hepatitis to include 75 at-risk individuals in Year 1 and 100 in each of Years 2-5 for a total of 475 tested and screened over the 5-year project period; (2a.) recruitment to and (2b.) delivery of the seven-session NREPP evidence-based HIV and substance abuse prevention intervention, Color It Real (CIR) for 30 at-risk young adults in Year 1, 40 in each of Years 2-5 for a total of 190 over the five-year project period; (3a.) at least 90% of those testing HIV-positive and (3b.) at least 90% of CIR participants will be linked to medical care, housing and supportive services; (4a.) at least 90% of HIV-positives and CIR participants will engage in intensive case management; and (4b.) at least 80% of HIV-positives will be retained in care for the project period. RRHS is a pioneer in HIV and SA services, with over 30 years of experience providing outreach, prevention and intervention. Community partners for PONS will include the Department of Health, HIV treatment providers, education, homeless, and employment service providers serving the population of focus, and young adults within the community.

The Community Rehabilitation Center (CRC), located in the heart of Jacksonville, FL, proposes to implement Project AIM (Awareness, Intervention & Motivation) will utilize a prevention navigation approach aimed at expediting and enhancing outreach, access, and linkage to services for youth and young adults at highest risk of HIV/Hepatitis infection and substance abuse. The program will emphasize its recruitment efforts to reach members of the population of focus who are not in stable housing. The population of focus will include primarily African American MSM youth and young adults (ages 13 to 24) and secondarily youth and young adults (ages 13 to 24) at high risk for substance abuse and HIV/VH infection who are not in stable housing. Project AIM aims to prevent and reduce the onset of substance abuse and transmission of HIV/VH among racial and sexual minority youth and young adults and will facilitate the expansion of its current infrastructure and workforce capacity to specifically serve minority youth and young adults who are greatly impacted by the substance abuse and HIV/VH epidemics in the area. Project AIM’s goals and objectives include: 1) Conduct a thorough needs assessment of targeted youth and young adults’ HIV/AIDS and Viral Hepatitis prevalence, substance abuse incidence, gaps in services, and identification of priorities among the population; 2) Develop and enhance local capacity and mobilize community resources, based on a community needs assessment, to implement a Prevention Navigator model to prevent and reduce the onset of SA and transmission of HIV and VH among minority youth and young adults; 3) Develop a data-driven, comprehensive, strategic plan; 4) Implement an age- and culturally-appropriate, evidence-based, Prevention Navigation; and 5) Provide ongoing monitoring and performance assessment of project activities. Project AIM’s numbers to be served include: 5,000 outreach contacts (1,000/yr x 5 years); 3,000 HIV screenings (600/yr x 5 yrs);360 VH screenings (60 yr1, 80yr2, 80yr3, 80yr4, 60 yr5); and enroll 360 youth/young adults into the project (60 yr1, 80yr2, 80yr3, 80yr4, 60 yr5). The project’s strategic planning includes implementation of documented evidence-based strategies as follows: Counseling, Testing, and Linkage (CTL): for HIV/VH Testing; Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students (BASICS; NREPP) for substance abuse and HIV/VH education and prevention for young adults ages 18-24; and Say it Straight (SIS; NREPP) for substance abuse and HIV/VH education and prevention for youth ages 13-17. Project AIM’s evaluation plan will facilitate ongoing monitoring and assessment of program effectiveness, fidelity to implementation model, success and challenges, and quality improvement activities. Findings of the evaluation plan will be used at the local level to assess program progress and monitor needs for improvement and to guide adjustments needed to achieve desired outcomes.

Summary: With SAMHSA funding, Serving Children and Adults in Need (SCAN), Inc. will implement the South Texas Prevention Navigator (Navegador de Prevención) Project to address the issues of substance abuse (SA), HIV, and viral hepatitis (VH) among “high risk” Hispanic youth (13-17) and young adults (18-24) – especially males – in Webb, Zapata, and Starr Counties, which are located in South Texas along the U.S.-Mexico border. Through the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) process, SCAN will work with key stakeholders to prevent the occurrence of SA/HIV/VH among this vulnerable population. Project Name: South Texas Prevention Navigator Project. Population to be Served: Adolescent and young adult Hispanic males and females 13 to 24 years of age. Statement of the Problem: Individuals living along the Texas-Mexico Border are continuously exposed to a tremendous number of factors that place them at high risk for substance abuse, HIV, and VH. Adolescent and young adult Hispanics are especially vulnerable to these risk factors. In addition to the easy availability and low cost of illicit drugs, individuals in the area have easy access to alcohol, illicit and prescription drugs, and sex-for-pay services in Mexico. Other risk factors include high numbers of individuals who are economically disadvantaged, Spanish speaking only, have limited educational attainment, and are experiencing mental health problems. At present, there are extremely limited substance abuse, HIV, and VH prevention services available to Hispanic adolescents and young adults – especially males – in the target area. Primary Program Goals: The goals of the project will be to 1) Recruit active and dedicated members to participate in a prevention stakeholder workgroup. 2) Educate members of the workgroup about the link between substance abuse and HIV and VH. 3) Conduct a comprehensive community needs assessment update. 4) Develop an in-depth strategic plan. 5) Implement evidence-based substance abuse and HIV/VH prevention services to enhance and expand the local substance abuse and HIV/VH prevention framework in the community. The project will provide prevention services to a minimum of 950 unduplicated minority Hispanic males and females over the life of the project (50 participants in year 1 and 225 annually in years 2 to 5). Activities: The agency’s South Texas Prevention Navigator Project will engage in the following activities in order to achieve desired goals – 1) Conduct formal recruiting and retention activities to select key stakeholders for workgroup membership, 2) Conduct regularly scheduled workgroup meetings, 3) Provide formal training to workgroup members on the link between substance abuse and HIV/VH infection, 4) Engage in a variety of primary and secondary data collection activities to maintain an updated and high quality community needs assessment, 5) Implement evidenced-based substance abuse and HIV/VH prevention approaches (including HIV and HCV rapid testing) to the vulnerable target population, and 6) Monitor and evaluate the project in a consistent and ongoing manner.

ABSTRACT Project Name: My Life/My Power-Mi Vida/Mi Poder Prevention Navigators Program Summary: Bienestar’s Mi My Life/My Power, Mi Vida/Mi Poder mitigates risks for substance use and HIV infection faced by youth of color in East and South Los Angeles through prevention programming, linkage to care and supportive services, transitional housing support, community mobilization, outreach, and awareness campaigns. The program will be culturally-focused, linguistically competent, and guided by SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework. Population to be Served: Latino and African American youth 13-24 years of age, especially those at highest risk for HIV and substance use, including (but not limited to) males who have sex with other males (MSM) and transgender females who have sex with males. Interventions: Storytelling For Empowerment, Motivational Interviewing, Intensive Case Management Project Goals 1) Conduct Community Needs Assessment and develop community mobilization to assess: current substance misuse, HIV, and hepatitis in this community; local epidemiology; services gaps; appropriate intervention methods; and readiness to act. 2) Implement a multi-faceted outreach and community awareness program focused on HIV, hepatitis, & STI risk; sexual health; substance misuse; sexual and substance use stigma; and housing security with you of color in Los Angeles. 3) Utilize a navigation approach (Linkage Coordinator and Peer Support Specialists) to expedite services for population of focus. 4) Implement evidence-based substance misuse, HIV, and hepatitis prevention strategies. Measureable Objectives: *Within SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework, develop a community needs assessment and data-driven strategic plan to implement the program’s goals and mobilize a coalition of community partners in support of the program. *Broad outreach and recruitment throughout the community via peer-led, personalized engagement, community events, collaborating agency referrals, and social media platforming. *Enrollment of 10 Peer Prevention Navigations annually (program total=50). *Enrollment of 70 target population youth annually in “Storytelling For Empowerment” (program total=350). *Production of 2 “Story SLAMS” annually to showcase participant prevention stories and build community around the program. *Development of multiple social media platforms for participants’ stories and the program intervention, including YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. *Development and dissemination of Mi My Life/My Power-Mi Vida/Mi Poder Mobile App with customized tools to grow interest in the program; build community; build population awareness of HIV, substance use risks, and prevention strategies; and mobilize the community and partnering agencies around the mission of HIV and substance use prevention.

Proyecto Creer/Project Believe (PC/PB) will offer substance misuse prevention services coupled with HIV/hepatitis prevention services to improve behavioral health and clinical outcomes for racial/ethnic minority Hispanic/Latino and African American males, including men who have sex with men (MSM), men who have sex with men and women (MSMW), and those who have unstable housing or are homeless. PC/PB will expand prevention services for 400 youth and young adults ages 13-24 (Y1: 50 Y2: 90 Y3: 100 Y4: 90 Y5: 70) with substance misuse and who are at high risk for or living with HIV/AIDS. PC/PB will address needs based on age, ethnicity, language, sexual orientation, disability, literacy, and gender in the target population. Prevention services are grounded in evidence-based interventions that have been showed to be effective in reducing substance misuse in the target population. For participants ages 13-17, PC/PB will offer 12 weekly group sessions using Seeking Safety. For participant’s ages 18-24, PC/PB will offer seven weekly group session using Choosing Life: Empowerment! Action! Results! (CLEAR). All participants will receive HIV and hepatitis screening. Case management will also be continuously provided to all participants throughout the project. The goals of PC/PB will be to: (1) increase community capacity to provide substance misuse, HIV and hepatitis prevention services; (2) increase the protective environment of the community to prevent substance misuse and transmission of HIV and hepatitis through education and capacity building to provide these services; (3) increase knowledge about substance misuse, HIV, and hepatitis; (4) increase the number of young and young adult males in the Latino, African American, MSM/MSMW, and unstably housed/homeless communities tested and/or referred to substance misuse or HIV and hepatitis services; (5) increase HIV and hepatitis testing and counseling, (6) decrease substance use and (7) connect unstably-housed or homeless participants to housing. Sunrise Community Counseling Center, Inc. (SCCC) is a community-based substance misuse and mental health service provider organization with over 40 years of experience serving the residents of Service Planning Area (SPA) 4/Metro area of Los Angeles, California. SCCC delivers a multi-faceted range of services including substance use disorder prevention and treatment, domestic violence intervention, treatment for sexual misuse perpetrators and victims, and dual diagnosis treatment.

AIDS Project Los Angeles Health & Wellness (APLA H&W) proposes IMPACT, a substance abuse and HIV prevention navigator program for African-American and Latino young (18-24 years old) men who have sex with men (MSM), particularly those who are unstably housed, living or accessing services in Los Angeles County (LAC) Service Planning Areas (SPAs) 4: Metro, 6: South Los Angeles, and 8: South Bay. IMPACT will increase capacity in LAC to deliver effective, integrated substance misuse, HIV, and viral hepatitis prevention programs in three highly impacted regions of the county. The prevalence of alcohol (7.32%) and illicit drug dependence (2.67%) among LAC adults (18 years and older) is significant. However, this is dramatically higher among youth (18-25 years old) – 13.19% alcohol dependence and 8.02% illicit drug dependence. Youth are also more likely to report needing treatment and not receiving it than adults. LAC has the second largest HIV high prevalence in the nation with 48,908 people living with HIV; of whom 20% are African American and 41% are Latino. Sixty-five percent of all PLWH live in the three targeted SPAs. Goals of the program are: 1) To reduce substance misuse among African American and Latino young MSM (YMSM), including those who are unstably housed; 2) To increase the numbers of African American and Latino YMSM, including those who are unstably housed, who are tested for HIV and HCV, and to increase linkages to care and retention in care for those testing positive; 3) To increase the number of high-risk HIV negative African American and Latino YMSM, including those who are unstably housed, who are able to access substance misuse and HIV prevention services, housing services, and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP); 4) To reduce the risk of transmitting or acquiring HIV among African American and Latino YMSM, including those who are unstably housed; and 5) To create a more coordinated response addressing the needs of African American and Latino YMSM, including those who are unstably housed. During this 5-year project, APLA H&W will complete a needs assessment of the target population and develop a strategic plan to address identified need. Other key objectives include: identifying, screening, and training at least 4 Peer Navigators from the community to assist with navigation and outreach; conducting outreach to at least 4,000 MSM; providing HIV testing to at least 100 young MSM and viral hepatitis screening to at least 20 MSM; providing ARTAS linkage and navigation services to at least 50 MSM; providing the CLEAR intervention to prevent HIV transmission and substance misuse to at least 20 MSM; (5) implementing a media campaign in the metro system as a key environmental strategy; and (6) working with local agencies to better coordinate prevention planning in the county.

Special Service for Groups (SSG)/APAIT proposes ASPIRE (AIDS and Substance misuse Prevention Initiative through Resource Engagement), a navigation approach to meeting the needs of at-risk individuals by integrating prevention education with intensive case management services. The ASPIRE program will serve racial/ethnic minority young adults, ages 18 to 24, who are at most risk for substance misuse and HIV and hepatitis transmission/infection in Los Angeles County (LAC), with emphasis on three sub-regions: Service Planning Areas (SPAs) 4 (Metro), 6 (South), and 8 (South Bay). ASPIRE will serve individuals of all gender identities and sexual orientations, anticipating to largely serve gay and non-gay identified young men who have sex with men (YMSM). In addition, the program will target services toward young adults experiencing unstable housing, who also demonstrate a high risk for substance misuse and HIV/hepatitis transmission. Through its experience serving at-risk populations, the agency has noted a distinct lack of services that are culturally sensitive to racial/ethnic minority groups, especially those who identify as MSM. Therefore, the ASPIRE program will aim to reduce and prevent substance misuse, HIV, and hepatitis transmission as well as promote positive attitudes and responsible decision-making among at-risk racial/ethnic minority young adults in LAC. ASPIRE will utilize the evidence-based practice InShape Prevention Plus Wellness, integrated with case management services and HIV/hepatitis screening and prevention education, in order to empower young adults to adopt health promoting behaviors. Moreover, to promote a protective environment for the population of focus, ASPIRE will mobilize the community by forming an Advisory Body comprised of the population of focus, key stakeholders, and service providers, as well as by launching public education and social marketing campaigns. Accordingly, ASPIRE aims to achieve the following goals: 1) increase community capacity to build a protective environment against substance misuse, HIV, and hepatitis infection; 2) increase access to culturally appropriate substance abuse prevention services; 3) increase availability of HIV and hepatitis screening and linkage and retention to care; 4) increase knowledge, awareness, and intention to practice safer drug use and sexual behaviors; 5) increase access to housing and support services; and 6) enhance internal infrastructure to improve services for the population of focus. In order to accomplish the proposed goals, ASPIRE seeks to achieve the following process objectives: a) form the ASPIRE Advisory Body; b) conduct a community needs assessment of local drug use and HIV/hepatitis risk-behavior patterns; c) develop the comprehensive strategic plan; d) provide ASPIRE prevention services to 70 participants annually (prorated for six-months in Year 1); e) refer 100% of clients who experience unstable housing to housing services; f) reach approximately 450 individuals through environmental strategies at local venues per year; and g) launch a social marketing campaign that will reach an average of 1,000 individuals per social media post.

St. John’s Well Child and Family Center’s (SJWCFC) South Los Angeles Youth Prevention & Empowerment Program (SLAY) will address the HIV-, substance misuse- and hepatitis-related risks, as well as health and social service needs, of South Los Angeles Latino and African American gay, bisexual, questioning male and transfemale adolescents (ages 13-17), YMSMToC, many of whom will be homeless or housing-insecure. With a high level of cultural and linguistic competency, the SLAY program will achieve this through a) Learning via a comprehensive needs assessment the in-depth the behaviors and characteristics of population of focus; b) Coalescing organizations that serve YMSMToC around a communitywide effort to address gaps in training, activities, and services, especially for those YMSMToC who are homeless; c) Increasing access for YMSMToC to screening and high-impact prevention interventions; d) Organizing YMSMToC to serve as leaders, creating and delivering prevention messages to their social networks and beyond; e) Increasing mutual connectivity of YMSMToC through mobile devices, social activities and social media. SLAY will leverage community partnerships to bolster infrastructure and create access to community resources such as housing services and in-patient substance abuse treatment. The overarching goals of SLAY will be to organize and develop a youth-driven communitywide effort to reduce the incidence of HIV infection and substance misuse among the target population and to improve access to health and mental health care, housing support services, HIV/STI care and substance use treatment for YMSMToC. Annually: A) 500 of YMSMToC will be engaged via online or in-person outreach. B) 400 YMSMToC will participate in formal SLAY outreach events. C) Conduct M-groups (which incorporate sexual health and substance use education, HIV, STI & hepatitis C prevention methods, including PrEP, and strategies for reducing/eliminating substance use) with a minimum of 100 YMSMToC. D) 100% of the SLAY participants (SLAY Core Group members, M-group participants, case managed YMSMToC clients) will participate in an initial screening for alcohol and drug use using the Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) tool. E) Administer HIV testing with pre/post-counseling for at least 350 at-risk YMSMToC. F) Administer STI screening (syphilis, Chlamydia, gonorrhea) for 350 at-risk YMSMToC. G) Administer hepatitis C rapid antibody screening with pre/post-counseling for 50 of at-risk YMSMToC. H) Engage 65 YMSMToC in intensive case management services. I) Provide housing support services to 50 homeless YMSMToC. J) 100% of those who test positive will be linked to the appropriate treatment and supportive services at SJWCFC.

The AMAAD (Arming Minorities Against Addiction & Disease) Institute is a peer-led grassroots recovery community support center that offers resources and referrals, including specialized strengths based case management services in Los Angeles, County California. The AMAAD Institute is requesting funding to support provide trauma-informed substance misuse and HIV Prevention Navigation services by placing an emphasis on engaging disproportionately impacted low-income African American and Latino Young Men Who Have Sex with Men (YMSM) who reside and/or socialize in South Los Angeles without stable housing by implementing the proposed Resilient Peer Navigation Partnership. The Resilient Peer Navigation Partnership as described in this proposal is a natural fit for the AMAAD Institute’s structure as a grassroots recovery community center. The proposed effort will utilize a three pronged approach: (1) ground level advocacy and engagement through a team of volunteers known as Navigation Ambassadors: (2) online organizing and communication through social media; and (3) provision of direct navigation and linkage services that will stem substance abuse as well as the transmission of HIV among YMSM. The approach will include focused efforts to reach both individuals that are already HIV positive and individuals that are High Risk Negative (HRN). Also, with the AMAAD Institute’s developing history as a peer-based Recovery Community Organization, intentional engagement of YMSM that are in recovery from substance use disorder will be targeted and developed as Navigation Ambassadors.

Pridelines’ Prevention Navigation program will serve young men of color who have sex with men (YMSMC) ages 13-17 and 18-24 most at risk for substance misuse, HIV and hepatitis infection in Miami-Dade County, FL. Pridelines and Banyan Health Systems will collaborate to implement SAMHSA’s Strategic Planning Framework (SPF), conduct a community needs assessment and build local capacity to deliver effective prevention interventions. We will develop a strategic substance misuse, HIV and hepatitis prevention plan, provide screening for substance misuse, homelessness and trauma, HIV and hepatitis prevention education, HIV and hepatitis testing, referral and linkage to treatment as appropriate for YMSMC and their sex and drug using partners regardless of race or ethnicity, and evaluate program performance. The evidence-based interventions used will be Mpowerment, Seeking Safety, Young Men’s Health Project, and SBIRT. Project goals and objectives include: [1] Conducting a comprehensive community needs assessment to evaluate the magnitude of substance misuse, HIV and hepatitis; the risk and protective factors associated with substance misuse, HIV and hepatitis, and the numbers of individuals at risk for substance misuse, HIV and hepatitis; and submitting a draft needs assessment to SAMHSA Project Officer for approval within 4 months of project initiation; [2] Enhancing local capacity to mobilize community resources and implement effective substance misuse, HIV and hepatitis prevention services; [3] Developing a culturally and linguistically age-appropriate strategic prevention plan for evidence-based substance misuse, HIV and hepatitis prevention services grounded in the community needs assessment, and submitting a draft strategic plan to SAMHSA Project officer within 6 months of project initiation; [4] Improving the health outcomes for YMSMC ages 13-24 in Miami by (a) engaging 75 YMSM in evidence-based prevention education services in Year 1; 125 YMSM in Years 2-5, (b) screening 75 YMSM for homelessness, substance misuse and trauma in Year 1 and refer to services as appropriate; 125 YMSM in Years 2-5, (c) testing 75 YMSM for HIV, hepatitis, and other STIs in Year 1 and linking them to treatment as appropriate; 125 YMSM in Years 2-5, (d) conducting a public awareness campaign using social media to identify, recruit, and engage program participants; and [5] evaluate program effectiveness and submit quarterly reports to SAMHSA and report program evaluation results to staff, program participants, CAB and other stakeholders every six months. Over 575 young men of color who have sex with men at highest risk for substance misuse, HIV and hepatitis infection will be served directly throughout the life of the project, and over 350,000 people will be served indirectly through social media and awareness campaigns.

Brightpoint Health SAMHSA FOA No. SP-17-004 Project Abstract Bright Connections will use a navigation approach to connect young men of color who have sex with men (YMCSM) and transgender women of color ages 13-24, including individuals who participate in harm reduction programs, are homeless, and/or are members of the Kiki community, to HIV-related support services to prevent substance misuse and HIV transmission. Bright Connections will target individuals in the overwhelmingly African American and Hispanic neighborhoods of High Bridge/Morrisania and Hunts Point/Mott Haven in the South Bronx, New York City (NYC). The median age is 29 and 17% of the population is aged 13-24, the project’s targeted age range. Fifteen percent of students in grades 9 through 12 in the South Bronx identify as LGBT. The target population has significantly high rates of mental illness, substance use, and HIV diagnoses. Highbridge-Morrisania has the highest alcohol and drug related hospitalization rates of all NYC’s 42 neighborhoods, and Hunts Point/Mott Haven’s rates are double the NYC average. According to SAMHSA studies, the rate of substance use disorders among LGBT individuals (20-30%) is double or triple the national rate (9%). Further, the mental health hospitalization rate is 50% higher in the South Bronx that the NYC average, and LGBT youth in grades 7-12 were twice as likely to have attempted suicide than their heterosexual peers. HIV-positive individuals in the South Bronx make up 2.6% of the service area’s population. Men who have sex with men (MSM) are especially affected, making up 72% of all new HIV cases; about two-thirds of this group is under 30 years of age. Bright Connections will build on Brightpoint Health’s existing substance misuse, HIV, and HCV prevention programming in the South Bronx. Through the program’s peer navigator model, intensive outreach, case management services, and Seeking Safety intervention, Brightpoint Health will develop a robust social support network that addresses the complex needs and barriers to care faced by the populations of focus. The project aims to: 1) Build local capacity to prevent substance misuse and decrease HIV and HCV transmission; 2) Expand efforts to identify high-risk YMCSM and transgender women of color; 3) Expand HIV, HCV, and STI Counseling, Testing, and Referral Services; 4) Increase access to/retention in care through case management; and 5) Enhance substance use prevention services through the implementation of Seeking Safety. Brightpoint Health will measure project outcomes and impact via data collected through GPRA intakes and follow-ups (200 per year; assume an 80% follow-up rate); successful enrollment and completion of Seeking Safety (60% of clients enrolled per year; 80% of whom successfully complete the cycle (attend 80% of sessions) per year); and HIV identification (1.5% positivity rate) and linkage to and retention in care (90% of HIV positive clients linked to care; 80% of clients retained in care each year).

Casa's Esperanza’s Mi Vida/Mi Historia mitigates risks for substance use and HIV infection faced by Latino populations in Greater Boston through prevention programming, linkage to care and supportive services, transitional housing support, community mobilization, outreach, and awareness campaigns. The program will be Latino-focused, culturally and linguistically competent, and guided by SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework. Population to be Served: Latino youth 13-24 years of age, especially those at highest risk for HIV and substance use, including (but not limited to) males who have sex with other males (MSM) and transgender females who have sex with males. Interventions: Storytelling For Empowerment, Assertive Outreach, Motivational Interviewing, Intensive Case Management Project Goals 1) Conduct Community Needs Assessment and develop community mobilization to assess: current substance misuse, HIV, and hepatitis in this community; local epidemiology; services gaps; appropriate intervention methods; and readiness to act. 2) Implement a multi-faceted outreach and community awareness program focused on HIV, hepatitis, & STI risk; sexual health; substance misuse; sexual and substance use stigma; and housing security in the Latino community of northeastern Massachusetts. 3) Utilize a navigation approach (Peer Support Specialist + Peer Prevention Navigators) to expedite services for population of focus. 4) Implement substance misuse, HIV, and hepatitis prevention strategies. Measurable Objectives: Within SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework, develop a community needs assessment and data-driven strategic plan to implement the program’s goals and mobilize a coalition of community partners in support of the program. Broad outreach and recruitment throughout the community via peer-led, personalized engagement, community events, collaborating agency referrals, and social media platforming. Enrollment of 4 Peer Prevention Navigations annually. Enrollment of 60 target population youth annually in “Storytelling For Empowerment” Production of 2 “Story SLAMS” annually to showcase participant prevention stories and build community around the program. Development of multiple social media platforms for participants’ stories and the program intervention, including YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. Development and dissemination of Mi Vida/Mi Historia Mobile App with customized tools to grow interest in the program; build community; build population awareness of HIV, substance use risks, and prevention strategies; and mobilize the community and partnering agencies around the mission of HIV and substance use prevention.

Project Abstract: SA and HIV Prevention Navigator Program SP-17-004 Project Name: Washington University- Project ARK Prevention Navigation Services Project Summary: Washington University- Project ARK will implement prevention navigation services through a team comprised of an intensive case manager and peer navigator specialist which will provide intensive coordination for high-risk African American Young Men who have Sex with Men (YMSM) to access needed services to prevent or reduce the onset of substance abuse and decrease HIV/AIDS transmission. The team will also work to link and retain HIV-infected youth into HIV medical services to improve health outcomes. Population to be Served: The specific population to be served by this project is African American youth/young adults (ages 13-24) living in the St. Louis MSA with special focus on young men having sex with men (YMSM). This target population was selected due to its high risk of mental health and/or substance use disorders and disproportionate risk for HIV infection in the region. African-American YMSM (13-24) comprise a concerning proportion of new infections in the region and in 2015 represented 32.5% of all new HIV disease cases. Project Strategies/Interventions: A Prevention Navigation Team (PNT) will provide intensive navigation services to an estimated annual caseload of 50 racial/ethnic minority youth who have been identified at high-risk for substance misuse and/or HIV infection and will also support HIV testing, linkage and engagement in HIV treatment services for those youth identified as HIV-infected. The team will specifically focus on working with youth who are not in stable housing and/or reside in areas within the MSA with high incidence of HIV and substance misuse. The evidence-base practices to be utilized by the team are Motivational Interviewing, Mpowerment, and Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT). Services will be provided through expanded evening hours on-site and through community outreach and will be integrated within Project ARK’s care and prevention services. In addition, an estimated 1,225 youth will receive HIV testing, outreach and screening services through this five year project. Project goal and Measurable Objectives: Using a navigation approach, the goal of this initiative is to enhance access to services and opportunities for behavioral health screening, case management, and HIV/STI/VH testing, linkage, and treatment services. Key objectives to accomplish through this project are as follows: 1) Increase HIV/VH testing on-site and through outreach; 2) Link, engage and retain HIV-infected youth into treatment services; 3) Increase Substance Abuse/Mental Health, Housing Status screening and referral services for the population; 4) Engage target population through outreach and intensive case management;5) Deliver prevention education, utilizing evidence-based strategies; and 6)Facilitate change in behavior, social norms, and reduce stigma.

NExT (Navigate. Engage. Connect. Test) will utilize a navigation approach to provide comprehensive and culturally appropriate services for 300 racial/ethnic minority young men in Bexar County, Texas who are at risk for substance misuse and HIV/AIDS. The University Health System, in partnership with Alamo Area Resource Center, and ESD and Associates will implement an array of evidence-based prevention services as well as environmental strategies to effectively address the needs of at-risk racial/ethnicity young men. Population: NExT will serve 300 racial/ethnic minority young men, ages 18-24 years, predominately Hispanic and Black, especially males at risk for HIV/AIDS, males who have sex with other males (MSM), and individuals with unstable housing, and reside in Bexar County, Texas. Clients will be recruited from community outreach activities and social media. Interventions: NExT prevention services will be implemented by a Peer Support Specialist who will provide outreach, intensive case management, HIV/VH testing, evidence-based prevention education, referrals for housing support services and linkage to HIV and hepatitis care. Environmental strategies, including awareness campaigns, social media, and community outreach will be implemented to recruit, engage, facilitate behavior change, and reduce stigma. Goals and Objectives: Guided by the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) process, the purpose of NExT is to prevent substance misuse and the transmission of HIV and hepatitis among the high risk population of focus. To accomplish this goal, NExT will implement three primary objectives: 1) Provide culturally, gender, and age-appropriate evidenced-based HIV, VH and substance misuse prevention interventions to a minimum of 300 minority males including MSMs (ages 18-24) in Bexar County over 5 years; 2) Implement environmental/social media strategies to create an impactful awareness campaign that facilitates positive behavior change (healthier decisions), increased uptake of PrEP, condom use, reduced substance misuse, and reduces stigma among the population of focus; 3) Collaborate with local community organizations to provide a continuum of care services to meet the needs of the population of focus.

The purpose of New North Citizens’ Council’s Hampden County Prevention Navigator project is to deliver comprehensive HIV/AIDS-related navigation support services and transition assistance that will reduce morbidity and mortality among those at highest risk for HIV and substance use disorders in Hampden County, especially racial/ethnic males ages 13-24 at risk for HIV/AIDS including males who have sex with other males. Racial/ethnic adolescents and young adults ages in Hampden County at risk for HIV/AID experience substance use at very high rates yet are underrepresented when it comes to accessing treatment services. The project will place a particular emphasis on those individuals who are not in stable housing, especially targeting the large number of homeless and runaway youth who are high risk for human trafficking. Over five years, the infrastructure project will serve 750 individuals and provide evidence-based prevention services that are effective with the target population. The Hampden County Prevention Navigator project will partner with Baystate Medical Center’s Brightwood Health Center to link participants to primary care and HIV care. In year one of the project, New North Citizens’ Council will lead community partners in a Strategic Planning Framework (SPF) process that will identify infrastructure enhancements that address primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention needs of minority youth and young adults age 13 to 24. The goals of the SPF are to enhance system infrastructure capacity to support effective substance abuse, HIV and Viral Hepatitis prevention services will be increased by: (a) systems development for delivering HIV/VH testing in settings that deliver substance abuse prevention services to the target population of at risk minority youth and young adults; (b) organizational collaboration and coordination in creating an effective and non-duplicative navigation and prevention system in Hampden County; (c) workforce development training in Community Health Work to ensure navigation services throughout the city are provided in a manner to meet CLAS as well as evidence -based expectations; (d) improved provider network and service systems to ensure referrals for medical care) are efficient and effective, and; (e) community-wide prevention planning for risk reduction, outreach, and testing that target minority youth and young adults ages 13 to 24.

La Clínica del Pueblo proposes to prevent substance misuse and the transmission of HIV and hepatitis among young Latino MSM (YLMSM) ages 18-24 in the Langley Park, Hyattsville, and Adelphi Park areas of Prince George’s County, Md, a community at high-risk for substance misuse and abuse, hepatitis, and HIV, through a comprehensive, culturally and linguistically appropriate prevention and navigation program. Our proposed program is called Proyecto Enlace, (translated as Project Link-Up) and will strengthen and build on our successful, culturally appropriate HIV and substance misuse prevention and linkage to care program, leveraging the newly inaugurated safe space, Empodérate Center in Langley Park, for LGBTQ Latinos. La Clínica is both a 501(c)(3) community based organization and Federally Qualified Health Center. La Clínica operates two access points for its primary care services; its first and main site in Washington, D.C. and a second site opened in June, 2016 in Prince George’s County, Md. Through its two sites, La Clínica provides primary, preventive care and mental health and substance abuse services. Diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and HIV treatment and care are areas of expertise. Bilingual mental health and substance abuse programs and community level health and LGBTQ health programs round out our holistic model of care. La Clínica operates two LGBTQ youth-focused HIV prevention safe spaces known as the Empodérate Centers (Empower Yourself). The first Empodérate Center is located in D.C., a few blocks from La Clínica’s D.C.-based primary care site. In Prince George’s, a second Empodérate site exists in the Latino neighborhood of Langley Park that was just opened in March, 2017. Proyecto Enlace will target and recruit high-risk YLMSM ages 18-24, with a focus on those unstably housed, and provide HIV testing, referrals to hepatitis testing, HIV and substance misuse prevention counseling, and comprehensive navigation and linkage to care services. We will use the evidence-based program, Project ECHO, to provide HIV prevention and substance misuse prevention counseling for and ARTAS (Anti-retroviral treatment access study) program to support linkage to care for HIV positive YLMSM. Proyecto Enlace will also implement environmental strategies including peer outreach and a social marketing campaign. Infrastructure enhancements proposed as part of this project include enhancing outreach and navigation services for YLMSM who are unstably housed, formalizing an existing navigation program to provide linkage to social and healthcare support services for high-risk YLMSM, training peer health promoters, and integrating the evidence-based prevention program, Project ECHO, for YLMSM. The first half of year 1 of the grant will be focused on capacity building and enhancements, beginning program activities in month 6 to reach a minimum of 50 YLMSM through HIV testing and referrals for hepatitis testing, and 20 YLMSM through prevention counseling and navigation services. In year 2 through year 5, we expect to reach 100 YLMSM with HIV testing and referrals for hepatitis testing, 50 YLMSM through prevention counseling and navigation services, and 1,000 YLMSM in the community through environmental strategies. This combination of prevention services with environmental and infrastructure strategies is expected to increase the number of high-risk Latino MSM who are tested for HIV and engaged in preventive support services including substance misuse prevention counseling, HIV care, and housing services.