HIV care engagement is disproportionately impacted in southern rural states, yet due to a multitude of social and structural factors there are low rates of engagement across the HIV care continuum. There is an immense need for culturally responsive HIV prevention, care, treatment, and supportive services that are “people centered” and culturally responsive for those living and aging with HIV (LWH). In this workshop, participants will learn about the core elements of a community -based syndemic approach to HIV care engagement [prevention, care, treatment, and supportive services] to enhance capacity to support PLWH throughout the HIV care continuum.

Historically community-based organizations navigate many obstacles to engaging PWH in the care continuum. Care engagement in southern rural states is impacted by the same factors as urban but are compounded by specific factors like transportation, isolation, and smaller funding streams. HIV cannot be viewed as a medical condition alone, but one impacted by multiple social determinants of health such as poverty, isolation, co-morbidities, and lack of accessible mental health services, as well as racism and sexism. These can complicate HIV service delivery and hinder successful movement through the HIV care continuum.

In this session, participants will learn about the core elements of a community -based syndemic approach to HIV care engagement [prevention, care, treatment, and supportive services] to enhance capacity to support PLWH throughout the HIV care continuum. This workshop will demonstrate how community health workers improve involvement in comprehensive prevention services.