The RWHAP Best Practices Compilation gathers and disseminates interventions that improve outcomes along the HIV care continuum. Explore the Compilation to find inspiration and new ideas for improving the care of people with HIV. Learn more about the Best Practices Compilation and submit your innovation today for possible inclusion.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9
The Alexis Project used social network recruiting and engagement, peer navigation, and contingency management to reach and engage transgender women of color with HIV who were not engaged in HIV care. Participation in the 18-month intervention improved linkage to care and viral suppression.
Emerging Intervention
Transgender women; Women of color; Women
Linkage to HIV medical care; Viral suppression
Support service delivery model; Outreach and reengagement activities
Los Angeles, CA
Enlaces Por La Salud is an HIV linkage, navigation, and education program for Mexican men and transgender women. The intervention is grounded in a transnational framework for providing cultural context to support the delivery of one-on-one educational sessions to Latina(o/x) people with a new HIV diagnosis, as well as people with HIV who are not yet retained in care. After 12 months, the majority of people participating in Enlaces Por La Salud were retained in care and reached viral suppression.
Emerging Intervention
Hispanic/Latina(o/x) people; Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM); Transgender women; People with a new diagnosis of HIV; People with HIV who are not in care
Retention in HIV medical care; Viral suppression
Support service delivery model; Outreach and reengagement activities
Wake County, NC
Mecklenburg County, NC
The Enhanced Patient Navigation for Women of Color with HIV intervention uses patient navigators, who are non-medical staff in clinical settings, to reduce barriers to health care and optimize care. The intervention was effective in improving linkage to and retention in care, as well as viral suppression.
Evidence-Informed Intervention
Women of color; Transgender women; Women
Linkage to HIV medical care; Retention in HIV medical care; Viral suppression
Outreach and reengagement activities; Support service delivery model
Atlanta, GA
Los Angeles, CA
Newark, NJ
In weCare, a cyber health educator sent personalized messages through text, web-based apps, and Facebook to enrolled youth who identified as gay, bisexual, or other men who have sex with men (MSM), or transgender women, and who either had a new diagnosis of HIV or were not in care at the time of enrollment. Messages were personalized to each participant’s needs and were designed to support them as they navigated complicated health care systems as well as other challenges that affect care engagement (e.g., transportation, disclosure). The cyber health educator also moderated and posted information about health and well-being on an optional secret Facebook page that some participants chose to join. Participants were less likely to miss medical appointments and more likely to be virally suppressed after 12 months of the intervention.
Evidence-Informed Intervention
Youth ages 13 to 24; Young adults ages 25 to 34; Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM); Transgender women
Retention in HIV medical care; Viral suppression
Use of technology and mobile health
Winston-Salem and Greensboro, NC
Bienestar developed TransActivate to improve timely engagement and retention in HIV care among Latina transgender women. Linkage coordinators/peer navigators use a strengths-based approach to help clients reach their goals of entering and staying in medical care to ultimately reach viral suppression.
Emerging Intervention
Transgender women; Hispanic/Latina(o/x) people
HIV diagnosis; Linkage to HIV medical care; Retention in HIV medical care; Viral suppression
Support service delivery model
Los Angeles, CA
Howard Brown Health established a specialized drop-in clinic and support groups, and implemented organizational initiatives to provide culturally relevant and gender-affirming services for transgender and non-binary people, including transgender women of color. The goal of this intervention was to optimize engagement in HIV services and primary care. From 2012-2021, the number of transgender and non-binary people served in primary care at Howard Brown Health more than tripled. In addition, after 24 months, participants were more likely to have been prescribed ART and to be virally suppressed than at baseline.
Evidence-Informed Intervention
Transgender women
Prescription of antiretroviral therapy; Viral suppression
Clinical service delivery model
Chicago, IL
Text Me, Girl! is a text messaging intervention that aims to improve linkage to and retention in HIV care, increase adherence to HIV medications, and improve viral suppression and other health outcomes among transgender women ages 18–34 years. The intervention supports young transgender women with HIV, particularly those experiencing barriers to care such as periods of homelessness and/or incarceration, substance misuse, or engaging in sex work. Text Me, Girl! participation was associated with statistically significant improvements in antiretroviral therapy uptake and adherence, and self-reported viral suppression.
Evidence-Informed Intervention
Transgender women
Prescription of antiretroviral therapy; Viral suppression
Use of technology and mobile health
Los Angeles, CA
Healthy Divas focuses on empowering transgender women with HIV to achieve their personal health goals. Three sites implemented the intervention as part of the E2i initiative funded through the RWHAP Part F SPNS program from 2017 through 2021. Both engagement in HIV care and having an antiretroviral therapy prescription improved significantly for clients 12 months after enrollment in Healthy Divas.
Evidence-Informed Intervention
Transgender women
Linkage to HIV medical care; Retention in HIV medical care; Prescription of antiretroviral therapy; Viral suppression
Support service delivery model
Birmingham, AL
Oakland, CA
Newark, NJ
T.W.E.E.T. aims to engage transgender women in HIV care by combining weekly peer-based education and discussion groups, leadership training, community building, and the provision of supportive services. Three sites implemented T.W.E.E.T. as part of E2i, an initiative funded by the RWHAP Part F SPNS program from 2017–2021. Clients had improved outcomes across the HIV care continuum 12 months after enrollment in T.W.E.E.T.
Evidence-Informed Intervention
Transgender women
Linkage to HIV medical care; Prescription of antiretroviral therapy; Retention in HIV medical care; Viral suppression
Support service delivery model
New Orleans, LA
Detroit, MI
San Juan, PR