HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today announced seven grants totaling $1.6 million to integrate substance abuse and mental health services with HIV care for American Indians and Alaska Natives.

“Our goal is to provide HIV-positive American Indians and Alaska Natives with the best care possible, while reducing the spread of this horrible disease.”  Secretary Thompson said.  “Sexually transmitted diseases, chemical dependency and depression, often contribute to HIV exposure and a more rapid progression of this virus that causes AIDS.  Today’s awards will help grantees integrate their services to meet the multiple needs of HIV-positive individuals and help stop or slow the spread of HIV in their communities.”

Today’s grants are intended to help those Alaska Natives and American Indians with alcohol or drug abuse problems, with sexually transmitted diseases including HIV infection and/or who experience mental illness by:

• increasing the number of infected individuals who know their HIV status;
• assuring appropriate and consistent health care;
• reducing the further spread of HIV infection; and
• increasing the number who adhere to anti-retroviral therapies and other medical treatments.

HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) awarded the grants under its Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS) program, which supports the development of innovative HIV/AIDS service delivery models that have the potential for replication in other areas, locally and nationally.  HRSA’s HIV/AIDS Bureau manages the SPNS program, which is considered the research and development arm of the Ryan White CARE Act.

A list of the seven grants is below:

# # #