Office of Minority Health

Metropolitan Charities
3170 3rd Avenue North, St. Petersburg, FL 33713-7602
(727) 321-3854 (Phone)
(727) 327-7670 (Fax)
http://www.metrotampabay.org/

Metropolitan Charities, Inc., is a nonprofit organization committed to providing premier HIV services, social networking, and other health and wellness programs that enhance the quality of life. The organization strives to promote a healthy environment for all and to foster diversity within the community as a whole, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or economic status.

Family Centered Services for HIV-Positive and At-risk Minorities in Transition from Substance Abuse Treatment and/or Incarceration
$447,121
Lynne Mullen
(727) 321-3854 ext. 234
lynnem@metrotampabay.org

The purpose of the Family Centered Services project is to improve health outcomes, particularly HIV/AIDS-related outcomes, for individuals and the families of individuals who have been recently released from incarceration or substance abuse programs in Pinellas County, Fla. The project will address the current fragmentation of medical and social services and the barriers that contribute to HIV/AIDS incidences among racial and ethnic minorities. Metropolitan Charities will provide HIV prevention and substance abuse counseling and case management, and establish a Health and Social Service Resource network comprised of Metropolitan Charities, the AIDS Service Association of Pinellas, the Florida Family Aids Network, the Pinellas Care Clinic, the Boley Centers and Daystar Life Center. Collectively, this network will provide medical treatment for low-income individuals with HIV, housing assistance, emergency services, and other HIV-related services for affected youth and adults. An evaluation will be conducted to determine if the project diminishes the gap between the need for medical and social services and the availability of those services and increases the access for health care. Data will be regularly collected and analyzed through pre-program and post-program participant surveys. Regular meetings with the partners will also be held to assess program implementation and efficacy.

OMH objective(s) toward which the project's results most contribute (check all that apply):

• Increased awareness, education, and outreach to address racial/ethnic minority health and health disparities problems
• Improved access to, and appropriate utilization of, health and 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)

Key (not more than five) Healthy People 2010 objectives or subobjectives (by number and name) towards which your project's results most contribute (see Appendix 3 of OMH's Evaluation Planning Guidelines at).

• HP 2010 13-1: Reduction in new AIDS cases
• HP 2010 13-6: Condom use
• HP 2010 13-7: Knowledge of serostatus
• HP 2010 13-8: HIV Counseling and Education for persons in substance abuse treatment
• HP 2010 13-13: Treatment according to guidelines