Building Bridges: A Community-Based Institution’s PrEP Program Success Story
How can a community-based organization (CBO) establish a thriving PrEP program that addresses the unique needs of its population, particularly in a resource-constrained environment? Us Helping Us, based in Washington, DC, wrote its first PrEP prescription February 21st, 2019, and has since enrolled and offered PrEP to over 450 individuals, particularly Black sexual and gender minority individuals and Black cisgender women, in the greater Washington, DC area. This session explores the experience of Us Helping Us while equipping participants with the tools and strategies to overcome barriers to HIV prevention by developing effective, community-centered PrEP services. Facilitators will guide attendees through experiential learning and hands-on activities, demonstrating how to establish partnerships, develop tailored PrEP protocols, and address common challenges such as client engagement, stigma, and resource constraints in a resource-limited setting. By the end of this interactive session, participants will be prepared to transform their respective organizations into a “one-stop shop” that eliminates access barriers and contributes to the goal of ending the HIV epidemic by 2030.
