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.

Inclusion Criteria:

- HIV-positive; AND

- Age 18 years or older; AND

- Identifies as belonging to one or more of the following racial/ethnic groups:
American Indian or Alaskan Native, Asian, Black or African-American, Hispanic or
Latino, native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander; AND

- New patient to clinic (including newly-diagnosed) whose initial assessment or intake
form indicates a need for substance abuse treatment, mental health or housing
services, or a past history of substance abuse or mental health services; OR

- The individual has been out of medical care at your clinic for 4 months or more.