Targeted Capacity Expansion-HIV Program: Substance Use Disorder Treatment for Racial/Ethnic Minority Populations at High Risk for HIV/AIDS (Short Title: TCE-HIV: High Risk Populations) | TI 17 011

Targeted Capacity Expansion-HIV (TCE-HIV): High Risk Populations (TI 17 011) - FAQs

What is the TCE-HIV: High Risk Populations funding opportunity?

TCE-HIV: High Risk Populations (Funding Opportunity Number TI 17 011) is an FY 2017 discretionary cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through SAMHSA, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT). The program is designed to expand and strengthen service capacity for people with substance use disorders (SUD), and in many cases co-occurring substance use and mental disorders (COD), who are living with HIV or at high risk of acquiring HIV.

What is the central goal of this program?

The central goal is to improve how effectively racial and ethnic minority individuals with SUD (and often COD) are engaged in care when they are HIV positive or at high risk for HIV, with an emphasis on stronger linkage and retention across behavioral health and HIV systems of care.

How does this opportunity relate to the HIV 90-90-90 goals?

A major theme is supporting progress toward HIV 90-90-90 goals by improving real-world systems that (1) increase awareness of HIV status, (2) ensure access to treatment, and (3) improve viral suppression through effective, sustained care.

Which populations does the program focus on?

The program explicitly focuses on populations that experience disproportionate HIV burden and barriers to treatment access, especially racial and ethnic minority communities and sexual and gender minority groups.

What specific high risk groups are highlighted in the opportunity?

The opportunity highlights groups such as Black young men who have sex with men (YMSM) ages 18 to 29, Latino YMSM, and men who have sex with men (MSM) age 30 and older. It also includes gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals who have a SUD or COD and are either HIV positive or at elevated risk for HIV.

What kinds of service approaches are applicants expected to design?

Applicants are expected to design culturally responsive approaches tailored to the realities of the targeted communities, including approaches capable of addressing stigma, trauma, and structural barriers that can interfere with staying connected to treatment.

What is meant by "linkage and retention" across systems of care?

It refers to improving how people move between and remain engaged with multiple service systems over time, particularly behavioral health (SUD/COD treatment and recovery supports) and HIV care systems, so clients are not left navigating fragmented services.

What are the core activities supported by funded projects?

Funded projects are intended to support a coordinated set of activities that bring substance use treatment, HIV-related services, and supportive services into a more seamless pathway. Core activities include linkage to care for racial and ethnic minority individuals with SUD and/or COD needs who are HIV positive or at high risk for HIV, with emphasis on delivering or connecting clients to evidence-based SUD/COD treatment and recovery support.

Does the program support HIV testing and case management?

Yes. The opportunity supports HIV testing and case management, including active linkage to HIV medical care and treatment when someone is diagnosed or re-engaged.

Are hepatitis-related services included?

Yes. The opportunity includes hepatitis-related services such as testing, vaccination, and referral or linkage to treatment and case management, recognizing common co-morbid health risks.

Can cooperative agreement funds be used for housing support services?

Yes. Housing support services are permitted, reflecting the role housing stability can play in appointment attendance, treatment adherence, and maintaining recovery.

Is outreach part of the expected project activities?

Yes. The program calls for outreach efforts as part of the coordinated approach to engaging the intended populations and improving connection to ongoing care.

Does this program emphasize one-time enrollment or sustained engagement?

Sustained engagement. The opportunity specifically calls for service capacity and infrastructure enhancements aimed at retaining clients in both SUD/COD treatment and HIV/AIDS care over time, not simply enrolling them once.

What outcomes does SAMHSA expect from these cooperative agreements?

Expected outcomes include increases in the number of people with SUD/COD who are HIV positive and linked to HIV care, including measurable increases in people receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART). Additional expected results include reduced impact of behavioral health problems, lowered HIV risk behaviors and ultimately HIV incidence, attention to trauma-related conditions that often co-occur with substance use and HIV vulnerability, and improved access to and retention in overlapping behavioral health, HIV, and hepatitis services.

What is the role of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in expected outcomes?

Projects are expected to increase access to HIV medical care and treatment, including a measurable increase in the number of people receiving ART.

How does the program address trauma and structural barriers?

The opportunity describes the need for service approaches that address stigma, trauma, and structural barriers that can prevent people from staying connected to treatment, recognizing these factors as common challenges for the populations of focus.

What is the funding mechanism for this opportunity?

This is a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant, which typically means recipients should expect more substantial federal involvement in the project through collaboration, monitoring, and technical assistance expectations.

When was the opportunity issued and when did applications close?

The opportunity was issued on March 3, 2017, and the application closing date was May 3, 2017.

What is the award ceiling and approximately how many awards were anticipated?

The award ceiling was $500,000, and SAMHSA anticipated approximately 57 awards.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The listing includes CFDA 93.243.

Who is eligible to apply?

The eligibility category is noted as "Others," with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement.

Is there a key condition on who can be served with cooperative agreement funds?

Yes. A key funding condition is that cooperative agreement funds must be used to serve people diagnosed with a substance use disorder as the primary condition. The SUD treatment and recovery framework is the anchor point, with HIV and related supports integrated around it.

What does it mean that SUD is the "primary condition" for services under this award?

It means the funded services must be anchored in serving people diagnosed with SUD first and foremost, while integrating HIV prevention/treatment supports and related services (such as case management and hepatitis services) around the SUD treatment and recovery framework.

What is the overall intent behind integrating behavioral health and HIV-related services?

The underlying intent is to ensure people with SUD and/or COD who are HIV positive or at the highest risk do not have to navigate fragmented systems, and instead receive appropriate behavioral health services alongside HIV prevention and treatment supports through a more coordinated pathway.