Dissemination of Evidence-Informed Interventions to Improve Health Outcomes along the HIV Care Continuum – Implementation Technical Assistance Center

implement evidence-informed interventions adapted from previous SPNS initiatives.  The successful awardee will also select and fund these performance sites as contracted organizations. The ITAC will be expected to work very closely with a Dissemination and Evaluation Center (DEC) to be funded under a separate announcement.  In its first year of funding, the DEC will adapt four implementation-ready evidence-informed interventions from previous SPNS initiatives.  These initiatives are Enhancing Linkages for Those Newly Released from Jails (2007-2012, more commonly known as the SPNS Jails Initiative);[1] An Evaluation of Innovative Methods for Integrating Buprenorphine Opioid Abuse Treatment in HIV Primary Care (2004-2009, commonly known as the Buprenorphine Initiative);[2] Targeted HIV Outreach and Intervention Model Development and Evaluation for Underserved HIV-positive Populations Not in Care (2001-2006, more commonly known as the SPNS Outreach Initiative);[3] and the Secretary’s Minority AIDS Initiative Fund (SMAIF) Retention and Re-Engagement Project (2011-2014, also known as the Peer Re-Engagement Project).[4]  The DEC will develop web-based materials for dissemination of each intervention, listing its components, theoretical foundations, staffing and training requirements, costs (if available) and previously published research and evaluation reports and journal articles.  The DEC will also design and implement a multi-site evaluation to assess the fidelity, effectiveness and costs of these interventions when implemented.  ITAC applicants should carefully read the requirements for the DEC under Funding Opportunity Announcement Number HRSA-15-030 to learn more about the DEC’s role. During its first year of funding, the ITAC will work in close collaboration with the DEC, providing assistance in the development of implementation plans for the four interventions.  Assisted by the DEC, the ITAC will lead the development of technical assistance (TA) agendas informed by those implementation plans.  In the second half of Year 1, the ITAC will select and fund up to 12 contracted performance sites, which must be Ryan White-funded medical provider organizations willing to implement an intervention developed by the DEC.    The selection and number of performance sites to be funded will be made in consultation with the SPNS Program and the DEC.  To assure their diverse representation, selection criteria will include target population and geographical location. During the intervention implementation phase, the ITAC will provide implementation-related TA to the performance sites to assure optimal implementation of the interventions.  During this period, the ITAC will continue to work closely with the DEC, which will implement a multi-site evaluation and provide evaluation-related TA to the performance sites.  The ITAC also will be responsible for coordinating the logistics for annual national meetings of the initiative throughout the project period.  The principal goal of this initiative and its evidence-informed interventions is the improvement of health outcomes along the HIV Care Continuum, with an emphasis on viral suppression. [1] See http://hab.hrsa.gov/abouthab/special/carejail.html [2] See http://hab.hrsa.gov/abouthab/special/buprenorphine.html [3] See http://hab.hrsa.gov/abouthab/special/outreachandintervention.html [4] See http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01616940