Linking young HIV-positive African American and Latino men who have sex with men to medical care, supportive services, and antiretroviral treatment is essential to improving their health outcomes, their quality of life, and their ability to achieve viral suppression. Unfortunately, due to persistent structural and societal inequities, these populations generally fare worse in linkage to HIV care than their non-Hispanic White counterparts. The Illinois Public Health Association’s (IPHA) nationally recognized HIV Care Connect outreach program works to address this critical disparity in linkage to HIV care through a trained team of outreach workers that link marginalized clients who are newly diagnosed with HIV, who have fallen out of HIV care, or who may not know their HIV status, to a broad range of services.

In this webinar, Melvin Laureano and Mike Maginn of the Illinois Public Health Association, along with community member Dion McNeal, shared how the HIV Care Connect outreach program links vulnerable HIV-positive individuals to these essential services — resulting in retention in care, adherence to medication, viral suppression, reduced HIV transmission rates, and better overall health outcomes.

Presenters

• Melvin Laureano,  Assistant Director of HIV Programs, Illinois Public Health Association (IPHA)
• Mike Maginn, HIV Prevention Director, Illinois Public Health Association (IPHA)
• Dion McNeal, Member, Illinois HIV Integrated Planning Council (IHIPC)