Fred Molitor¹, Arthur Aguirre¹, Marisol Mendoza¹, Jenny Waltermeyer¹, and Kama Brockmann, PhD, LCSW². (1) ETR Associates, 2210 21st Street, Sacramento, CA 95818, 916.452.8065, fredm@etr.org, (2) State of California Office of AIDS, MS 7700, P.O. Box 942732, Sacramento, CA 94234-7320

Objective: To examine the effectiveness of the California Bridge Project in linking to medical care HIV-positive African Americans who have never been in treatment or who have dropped out of treatment. Methods: The California Bridge Project, which operates in 21 state-funded Early Intervention Program (EIP) sites, was developed to address ethnic and racial disparities in access to HIV medical services in California. Bridge Workers, who come from the communities of color they serve, provide services to both new and former clients. New clients have never received medical services and are recruited by outreach within the community. Former clients have dropped out of EIP and are located by investigative means that often begins with traveling to clients’ last known address. Through a series of contacts with clients, Bridge Workers attempt to assess and address clients’ perceived or real barriers to HIV medical care. Bridge Workers collect data from clients including self-reports of most recent HIV-positive test result and HIV exposure. Referrals to all HIV-related services are recorded by the Bridge Worker. Linkage to medical services is documented by review of EIP service records. Results: Bridge Workers have contacted 334 HIV-positive African Americans, 33% were new clients and 67% were former EIP clients. Thirty-three percent described their HIV exposure as men who have sex with men, 26% as injection drug users. On average, new clients had known their HIV diagnosis 42.7 months (median=13.2 months). For former clients, on average, 10.7 months (median=4.4 months) had elapsed since their last EIP medical appointment. The average number of contacts with a Bridge Workers was 14.1 for new and 11.8 for former clients. Medical records indicate that Bridge Workers linked 62% of new and 73% of former clients to medical services. Conclusion: The Bridge Project was designed to address the barriers that marginalized HIV-positive African Americans face in obtaining HIV medical care. Bridge workers are valuable members of an HIV service team by assisting medical providers in ensuring that patients receive timely and ongoing HIV medical services.

Learning Objectives:

• To identify intervention strategies that are effective in linking HIV-positive African Americans to timely and ongoing HIV medical services

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.