ELITE SOCIETY OF THE UNDETECTABLES

The ELITE Society of the Undetectbles is a model to advance linkage to care and treatment adherence funded by the Elton John Foundation to meet the following four goals for individuals who are selected to participate:

• WELLNESS – Services and advocacy to improve the health of people living with HIV or at risk or otherwise affected by HIV.
• RIGHTS – Education and advocacy to uphold the rights of people living with and affected by HIV.
• QUALITY OF LIFE – Support services, community organizing, and advocacy to address the social and economic needs of people living with and affected by HIV.
• RESILIENCE – Capacity building to strengthen the skills and strategies of organizations and activists addressing HIV.

The Elite Society of the Undetectables is a private membership support group by invitation only. 

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PALMETTO PROJECT – AFFORDABLE CARE ACT

The Affordable Care Act is set around enrolling individuals into a quality health plan, with a substantial health growth in the in middle class Americans by offering an Advanced Premium Tax (Monthly premium assistance based off your individual financial income). While not taking anything from the “Higher Ranked”. While on the other hand, Navigators like myself are built to be the middle man or layer between the consumer and the insurance realm. The Navigators are brought into agencies like The South Carolina HIV AIDS Council to bring awareness to the HIV/AIDS/LGBTQI/Minority population on the great impact that health coverage can offer.

While our focus is geared toward the HIV/AIDS/ LGBTQI/Minority communities, our services are offered to all consumers prepared to take the step to building a better pathway to health. We strive on seeking consumers through ground work such as our annual enrollment bashes through Allen University and Brookland Baptist Church, designed to link the community with free direct assistance from a Certified Affordable Care Act Navigator, who’s sole purpose is ensuring consumers have access to the best-fit plan for their financial and health needs.

• November 1, 2016: Open Enrollment starts — first day you can enroll, re-enroll, or change 2017 insurance plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace. Coverage can start as soon as January 1, 2017.
• December 15, 2016: last day to enroll or change plans for coverage starting January 1, 2017.
• January 1, 2017: 2017 coverage starts for those who enroll or change plans by December 15.
• January 31, 2017: Last day to enroll in or change a 2017 health plan. After this date, you can enroll or change plans only if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.

For more information on this program, please contact Isaac Frederick at 803-254-6644.

We are able to offer these services through federal funds and the Palmetto Project.

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RYAN WHITE EMERGING COMMUNITIES – PART B

The Ryan White Emerging Communities program supports HIV Medical Case Management services which links and brokers HIV positive clients to services such as medical treatment and car, housing, disability assessment, vocational services, alcohol and drug addiction services. This program also allows psychosocial support to HIV positive clients.

For more information on this program, please contact Rhonda Thomas at 803-254-6644.

We are able to provide these services through the funding of the South Carolina Department of Health & Environmental Control.

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RYAN WHITE AIDS DRUG ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (ADAP)

HIV drugs are costly, and many Persons Living with HIV (PLWH) in Columbia, S.C. are unable to pay for the medications without assistance through ADAP. The number of individuals on ADAP assistance has grown significantly in recent years due to: increased HIV testing, resulting in more people learning their HIV status; PHS guidelines indicating the need for early treatment of infected individuals; people living longer with HIV; more intensive use of HIV drugs from long- term survivors; economic conditions; increased cost-sharing associated with health insurance; and increased cost of medications and insurance. The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) is the largest source of Federal funding specifically directed to provide primary care and support services for PLWH. ADAP is a critical component of the continuum of primary care and treatment for PLWH.

For more information on this program, please contact Rhonda Thomas at 803-254-6644.

We are able to provide these services through the funding of the South Carolina Department of Health & Environmental Control.

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RYAN WHITE SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDS – PART B

HIV care and treatment services are financially supplemented through a federally funded grant that offers access to a comprehensive continuum of high quality care and treatment services for low-income individuals and families living with HIV. As such, this program supports the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) goals of: reducing HIV incidence, increasing access to care and optimizing health outcomes, and reducing HIV-related health disparities. The comprehensive services offered by SCHAC include access to the following support services under case management (non-medical):

• Oral Treatment Services
• Medical Insurance Co-pay Assistance
• Emergency Financial Assistance (housing, electricity and water bills)
• Confirmatory Testing for the following:
  • C4 Viral Load
  • Multi-Spot
  • Syphilis
  • Hepatitis B and C
  • Gonorrhea
  • Chlamydia
• Food Bank
• Medical Transportation (gas card, bus voucher)

For more information on this program, please contact Rhonda Thomas at 803-254-6644.

We are able to provide these services through the funding of the South Carolina Department of Health & Environmental Control.

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RYAN WHITE SPECIAL PROJECTS

The Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS) Program supports the development of the South Carolina HIV/AIDS Council’s ability to quickly respond to the emerging needs of clients served by the Ryan White HIV/ AIDS Program. Services provided through Special Projects Program of SCHAC are as follows:

• Confirmatory Testing
• Data Security
• Electronic Lab Reporting Interface with Provide Enterprise (PE)
• Electronic Medical Record
• Electronic Medical Record Interface with PE
• Medical Case Management Enhancements
• Program Technology Enhancements
• Programmatic Technical Assistance
• Linkage to improve access to and retention in HIV care for hard to reach populations (outreach)

More than 6200 HIV positive individuals are currently out of care in South CarolinaFor more information on this program, please contact Rhonda Thomas at 803-254-6644.

We are able to provide these services through the funding of the South Carolina Department of Health & Environmental Control.

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PROJECT PrEPlan

Project PrEPlan is funded by Gilead Sciences will create opportunities for: a) YMSM/MSM and transgender clients that report higher risk behavior; b) sero-discordant couples; c) HIV service providers, linkage coordinators, and peer navigators and d) medical practitioners, to advance their level of understanding, readiness, and competency around pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in South Carolina. This initiative will play a viable role in significantly reducing unnecessary transmission by ensuring that citizens are aware of Truvada-PrEP) as part of the entire “tool-kit” for HIV prevention. Currently, no community or clinical system has stepped forward to advance the discussion and integration of PrEP in South Carolina.

For more information on this program, please contact Nikki Harp at 803-254-6644.

We are able to provide these services through the funding GILEAD SCIENCES.

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NEW DIRECTIONS

CDC RFA-PS15-1502 is a five-year federal opportunity that ensures the provision of rapid HIV testing for individuals, 18-65 years of age, at higher risk for HIV infection and other sexually transmitted infection. The goal includes the enrollment of clients that test HIV positive into a linkage support for HIV/AIDS treatment, care, and other support service programs. This MOA supports services offered throughout the Columbia MSA (e.g., Richland, Sumter, Kershaw, Newberry and Fairfield Counties).

For more information on this program, please contact Vivian Armstead at 803-254-6644.

We are able to provide these services through the funding Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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HIV Prevention Projects for YMSM & Transgender Persons of Color

CDC-RFA-PS17-1704, is a federal opportunity entitled Comprehensive High-Impact HIV Prevention Projects for Young Men of Color Who Have Sex with Men and Young Transgender Persons of Color. The South Carolina HIV/AIDS Council (SCHAC) coordinates the Between Brothers HIV/AIDS Prevention Initiative, an YMSM community outreach, mobilization, and linkage to care initiative targeting predominately African American males, ages 18 to 29 years of age, who self-identify as being young men of color who have sex with men throughout the Columbia MSA and Sumter County. Behavioral risk reduction interventions offered to eligible candidates include: Many Men Many Voices (18-29-year-old HIV negative MSM) and Healthy Relationships (18-29-year-old HIV positive MSM).

For more information on this program, please contact Tony Brown at 803-254-6644.

We are able to provide these services through the funding Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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SCDHEC HIV PREVENTION CATEGORY 1

The program is funded through the South Carolina Department of Health & Environmental Control and is a five (5) year opportunity that offers HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STI) screenings as well as behavioral interventions in Sumter, Kershaw and Lee counties. MOAs have been setup with local business that offer condom distribution in these rural areas. The following services are provided under this prevention strategy:

• Counseling, Testing and Referral Services for HIV (ages 13 and up for any sexual orientation) with emphasis on the MSM population.
• 3MV Behavioral Intervention for high risk HIV negative African American MSM.
• Healthy Relationships Behavioral Intervention for HIV positive African American males and females
• Condom Distribution with Lee, Kershaw and Sumter counties.

For more information on this program, please contact Vivian Armstead at 803-254-6644.

We are able to provide these services through the funding of the South Carolina Department of Health & Environmental Control.

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SCDHEC EXPANDED TESTING & SYPHILIS

This program is funded through the South Carolina Department of Health & Environmental Control as is a ____-year opportunity to provide HIV prevention services targeted at high-risk MSM population. The following services are provided under this prevention strategy:

• Counseling, Testing, and Referral Services (CTR) for HIV (ages 29 and up) for African American MSM.
• 3MV Behavioral Intervention for high-risk HIV negative African American MSM (ages 29 and up).
• CTR services
  
  • HIV screening for White MSM (ages 29 and up)
• CTR services
  
  • Syphilis screening for MSM population

For more information on this program, please contact Chestley Price at 803-254-6644.

We are able to provide these services through the funding of the South Carolina Department of Health & Environmental Control.

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PROJECT P.A.C.T. (Personal Action Changes Things)

The South Carolina HIV/AIDS Council (SCHAC) and Lexington/Richland Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council, Inc. (LRADAC) have partnered to offer Project P.A.C.T. to provide culturally competent, community-based treatment services for substance use and mental health disorders, and HIV/STI prevention services to eligible individuals ages 18 years of age and older in Richland and Lexington Counties. Project P.A.C.T. enhances a person’s abilities to make positive and effective personal life changes through quality clinical services utilizing a holistic approach. Services provided through Project P.A.C.T. are:

• AOD Individual Counseling
• AOD Group Counseling
• AOD Peer Support
• AOD Case Management
• Co-Occurring Counseling – (AOD & MH)
• Recovery Counseling
• HIV/STI Education
• HIV/STI Counseling, Testing and Referral
• STI Treatment Services (Wright Wellness Center)
• Behavioral Interventions
• Safety Counts Intervention
• Linkage to Care – Medical Care/Treatment
• HIV Medical Case Management
• Peer Navigation
• Benefits Insurance Navigation
• Condom Distribution

For more information on this program, please contact Tessie Haywood at 803-254-6644.

We are able to provide these services through the funding of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Center of Substance Abuse Treatment (SAMHSA).

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HEALTHY CONNECTIONS

Healthy Connections is a one-year state opportunity in which the South Carolina HIV/AIDS Council (SCHAC) will coordinate community outreach and in-house services to identify and provide linkage of eligible clients to medical homes including Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Centers for services that exceeds those delivered in the SCHAC clinic. SCHAC will also create a community-wide education and social marketing/media strategy to enhance citizen understanding and awareness of HIV/AIDS treatment, care, and other support services and programs available through the SCHAC and the Healthy Connections program. SCHAC will complete linkage of higher risk clients to preventative health services offered through the Healthy Connections program and the Wright Wellness Center will serve as a referral resource for Healthy Connections providers in Columbia MSA.

For more information on this program, please contact Bambi Gaddist at 803-254-6644.

We are able to provide these services through the funding of the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

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NBLCA "Sound the Alarm HEP C in Counties" - 5 City Southern Initiative

National Black Leadership Commission of AIDS (NBLCA) and the CDC to promote awareness and draw attention to this neglected health disparity. The initiative targets areas where the virus has had the greatest impact on the community, particularly the African American community. NBLCA is working with local health partners (SCHAC) on the Southern City Hepatitis C and Linkage to Care Initiative to host two events, SCHAC hosted an information forum for elected officials and community stakeholder., April 26, 2017 in Columbia and will following up with an information, education/ awareness and testing community event July 20, 2017, (time and place TBA).

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