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Grantee Information

Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center
730 Polk Street, Floor 4, San Francisco, CA 94109-7813
(415) 292-3400 (Phone)
(415) 292-3404 (Fax)

The Asian & Pacific Islander (A&PI) Wellness Center has a long history of providing a continuum of services to A&PI communities. Their mission is to educate, support, empower, and advocate for A&PI communities, particularly A&PIs living with or at-risk for HIV.

Grant Project Information

Sangam Project
$225,000
Dr. Bhupendra Sheoran
(415) 292-3400 x320
sheoran@apiwellness.org

Abstract

The purpose of the project is to provide a culturally competent, comprehensive approach to health care by ensuring a seamless continuum of prevention, care and treatment for Asian and Pacific Islanders at high risk for or living with HIV/AIDS in Santa Clara County. This approach includes integrating mental health, substance use, primary care and other community-based health and social services. Asians and Pacific Islanders (A&PIs) are at high risk for HIV/AIDS due to misperception of risks, stigma and shame, fatalism, and high risk behaviors. From 2001 to 2004, A&PIs were the only racial group with a statistically significant percentage increase in annual HIV/AIDS diagnosis rates. Therefore, the project will target A&PI communities. The project plans to implement the following interventions:

• Engage and develop leadership across Santa Clara County about HIV, mental health, substance abuse, primary care, and other minority-serving, community-based organizations (MSCBOs) targeting A&PIs,
• Conduct culturally and technically competent group-level provider trainings to respond to identified needs,
• Provide one-on-one technical assistance to enhance programmatic and administrative infrastructure,
• Spearhead annual anti-stigma events,
• Provide specialized anti-stigma capacity development and
• Develop and disseminate a replication package using a toolkit format. The project expects to develop a cohesive network of HIV, mental health, substance abuse and primary health care providers, increase provider HIV knowledge and cultural competency for A&PIs and increase awareness of HIV-related stigma and A&PI cultural nuances. Performance indicators include, but are not limited to:
• Increase number of MSCBOs aware of the project and its purpose,
• Ninety percent of training participants report high levels of satisfaction with training and technical assistance services,
• Seventy-five percent of MSCBOs report increase in programmatic and administrative infrastructure,
• Number of event attendees,
• Number of HIV tests conducted and referrals made at events and
• Nine anti-stigma capacity development requests are completed.

The project team will evaluate program implementation through meeting notes, outcomes, and impacts through surveys, focus groups, and case studies. The evaluation will be carried out by the Sangam Project team and the evaluation manager, who will collect data through utilization of record review, qualitative analysis of focus groups, and quantitative analyses to make comparison between baseline and follow-up.

• Increased awareness, education, & outreach to address racial/ethnic minority health & health disparities problems
• Improved access to, and appropriate utilization of, health & other community-based services and systems through user-centered design for racial/ethnic minorities (e.g., health IT, culturally/ linguistically appropriate services, service provider education/training, workforce diversity)
• Strengthened leadership and coordination to leverage resources and enhance effectiveness and efficiency of individual and collective efforts (including, but not limited to, research and data)