Saint Louis Effort for AIDS

Geographic areas served: Metropolitan Saint Louis

Programs: Saint louis effort for aids provides education on the prevention of hiv/aids and comprehensive support services for those affected by the disease. Our vision is for individuals and communities to be educated about hiv/aids and fully empowered to address this preventable disease without stigma, fear or hate. As an advocate and comprehensive service provider for people living with or at risk of being infected with hiv/aids, efa's mission and vision are aligned with the national hiv/aids strategy (nhas) of zero aids-related deaths, zero new infection, and zero discrimination. In 2014, 19 staff in the client services department provided ryan white case management to 1,393 people living with hiv/aids. All case managers provide assistance in locating, expediting, planning and coordinating medical and support services to clients, conduct biopsychosocial assessments and connect clients with appropriate services, including treatment for substance use or behavioral health disorders, and eliminate other barriers to care. The barrier elimination and care navigation (beacon) project directed by efa is one of 13 national social innovation fund access-to-care initiatives, which is now in its fifth year. More than 300 people who were living with hiv/aids but had been out of care for more than 12 months have been enrolled in beacon. This evidenced-based model includes an evaluation component coordinated through aids united by johns hopkins. Outcomes from beacon include having 80% of clients linked to care, with over 50% linked within 30 days. Of the clients who have been enrolled for 18 months, 82% have a suppressed viral load, and 76% of beacon clients have been connected and retained in case management. Starting in 2013, efa and 15 partnering organizations established a statewide network through efa's access program using certified application counselors to assist vulnerable populations in getting enrolled in the affordable care act's insurance exchanges. Efa's access team conducts outreach and health literacy activities, has enrolled 900 individuals into the insurance exchanges, and distributed more than 10,000 pieces of health insurance literacy information. Efa's prevention services conducts outreach and education on hiv and other sexually transmitted infections (stis) and provides hiv/sti testing and sti treatment. Treatment services are implemented on a public health model that focuses on disease prevention and health promotion for the whole community in an effort to further reduce health disparities. In 2014, efa's team of six prevention specialists provided services to 7,227 direct clients with emphasis on men who have sex with men, and african american men, women and youth. The paws program provides pet food or veterinary care for the pets of people living with hiv/aids who would otherwise have to give them up when their companionship is most needed. Most recently, efa began collaborating with other providers to assess ways in which the region could provide more integrated treatment and care for people with co-occurring disorders, specifically people living with or at risk of being infected with hiv and individuals with co-occurring mental health and/or substance use disorders.