Indian Health Service Grant for HIV/AIDS and Methamphetamine/Suicide Prevention Outreach and Education

The MSPI is a national pilot demonstration project aimed at addressing the dual problems of methamphetamine use and suicide in Indian country. The awardee shall work closely with the IHS Division of Behavioral Health (DBH) MSPI Project Officer Team and community-based pilot project funded under the MSPI to help ensure successful implementation of proposed projects.

HIV and AIDS are a critical and growing health issue within the AI/AN population. The IHS National HIV/AIDS Program seeks to avoid complacency and to increase awareness of the impact of HIV/AIDS on AI/ANs. All activities are part of the IHS’s implementation plan to meet the three goals of the President’s National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) to: reduce the number of people who become infected with HIV, increase access to care and optimize health outcomes for people living with HIV, and reduce HIV-related disparities. AI/ANs are ranked third in the nation in the rate of HIV/AIDS diagnosis compared to all other races and ethnicities. This population also faces additional health disparities that contribute significantly to the risk of HIV transmission such as substance abuse and sexually transmitted infections. Amongst AI/AN people, HIV/AIDS exists in both urban and rural populations (and on or near Tribal lands); however, many of those living with HIV are not aware of their status. These statistics, risk factors, and missed opportunities for screening illuminate the need to go beyond raising awareness about HIV and begin active integration of initiatives that will help routinize HIV services. If the status quo is unchanged, prevalence will continue to increase and AI/AN communities may face an irreversible problem. Therefore, the National HIV/AIDS Program is working to change the way HIV is discussed to change and improve the way HIV testing is integrated into health services, and to firmly establish linkages and access to care. The IHS HIV/AIDS Program is implemented and executed via an integrated and comprehensive approach through collaborations across multi-health sectors, both internal and external to the agency. It attempts to encompass all types of service delivery ‘systems’ including IHS/Tribal/Urban (I/T/U) facilities. The IHS HIV/AIDS Program is committed to realizing the goals of the President’s NHAS and has bridged the objectives and implementation to the IHS HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan.