Minority AIDS Initiative Retention and Re-Engagement Project

This is a multi-site longitudinal study of an enhanced peer intervention to re-engage and retain high-risk people of color living with HIV into HIV primary care and other needed medical or social services. Three demonstration sites are implementing programs in which peers are employed as part of the health care team. Peers are trained to conduct educational sessions, provide emotional support, help prepare for and accompany patients to appointments, and debrief after visits. Study participants will be current or newly enrolled patients of three clinics: CARE Resources, in Miami FL, the PATH Program at Brooklyn Hospital in Brooklyn, NY, and PR CONCRA located in San Juan Puerto Rico who (1) have been out of care for 4 months or more or (2) present a need for substance abuse, mental health, or housing services. Data will be collected at baseline and follow up (at six and twelve months) through client questionnaires, selected medical chart data (visit dates, laboratory tests and values) and intervention encounter forms on approximately 375 HIV positive adults. The data collected for this study will allow us to assess changes in: (a) retention in HIV primary care, (b) viral load suppression, (c) health-related quality of life, (d) self-efficacy, and (e) HIV knowledge that may be associated with an enhanced peer intervention.