At the height of the opioid epidemic, small towns across Southeast Ohio faced a rising tide of substance use and overdose yet reported surprisingly low rates of infectious disease. In 2019, the Southeast Ohio Partnership formed to close this gap by expanding Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and HIV screening across 14 counties. What began as a modest collaboration evolved into a resilient, flexible, cross-sector network unified by deep community ties and a shared mission.

Despite screening fewer than 2% of the intended population in its first year, the project laid critical groundwork through relationship-building, centering lived experience and recognizing that in communities where “everybody knows everybody,” personal connection is infrastructure. Guided by servant leadership and shared leadership, the partnership grew even amid systemic challenges.

This presentation traces the Ohio FOCUS HIV/HCV Partnership evolution, from early setbacks and outdated policies to transformative progress made possible through adaptive strategies, including the integration of a mobile testing model in partnership with Central Outreach Wellness Center. The model brought walk-in, judgment-free care directly to those most at risk, helping remove barriers to treatment. Additional partners, such as Ohio University, enhanced capacity through data coordination and evaluation.

Presenters will explore how community-rooted leadership and flexible service delivery yielded increased screening, improved linkage to care, and a potential framework for health infrastructure. Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of how trust, humility, and shared purpose can transform fragmented services into a coordinated, patient-centered response to infectious disease in resource-limited settings.