Ryan White and National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

A significant proportion of African Americans living with HIV/AIDS receive care under HRSA's Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program. In 2012, 46.7% of Ryan White clients were African American compared with national data, although results lag somewhat for African American Ryan White clients.

The Ryan White infrastructure that makes these results possible is comprised of clinical protocols, care engagement models, and other activities that guide the delivery of HIV/AIDS care to populations served by the Ryan White program. The path to further progress can be found in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy to expand health care coverage to all Americans.

African American Ryan White Initiatives

In recognition of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on February 7 and this year's theme "I Am My Brother's and Sister's Keeper: Fight HIV/AIDS," a recap of Ryan White technical assistance, training, and other activities--from models of care to special initiatives--is provided below:

Engaging Black MSM in Care

HRSA has supported numerous initiatives over the decades to enhance care delivery for hard-hit populations. Among the latest is the Center for Engaging Black MSM Across the Care ContinuumExit Disclaimer (CEBACC), which is in the midst of identifying best practices and effective models for HIV care targeting Black men who have sex with men (BMSM).

Worth a Read

CEBACC's focus group findingsExit Disclaimer on key challenges and successful strategies.

Addressing StigmaExit Disclaimer A Blueprint for Improving HIV/STD Prevention and Care Outcomes for Black & Latino Gay Men (NASTAD, 2014)

Optimal Care Checklists for MSMExit Disclaimer (NASTAD), 2012)

Innovations in Care Delivery

The Ryan White SPNS program is part of the success with Ryan White client outcomes in its decades-long investigation of innovative models of HIV/AIDS care, including those focused on minority and under served populations. One recent example is the Enhancing Access for Women of Color Initiative 2009-2014.

Some of the findings from this project have been compiled in the implementation guide, Enhancing Access to HIV Care for Women of ColorExit Disclaimer developed under the IHIP: Integrating HIV Innovative Practices, a HRSA initiative that is turning SPNS innovation into practiceExit Disclaimer with manuals, curricula, webinars, and tools.

Multiple SPNS projects target innovations for African Americans living with HIV/AIDS, including transgender women of color and persons in correctional settings or those soon to be released to the community.