Implementation of Evidence-Informed Behavioral Health Models to Improve HIV Health Outcomes for Black Men who Have Sex with Men – Evaluation and Technical Assistance Provider | HRSA 18 053

Opportunity Information: Apply for HRSA 18 053

This grant opportunity, HRSA-18-053, comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB). It is a discretionary funding announcement that uses a cooperative agreement mechanism, meaning the funded organization is expected to work closely with HRSA rather than operating entirely independently. The focus is on improving HIV health outcomes for Black men who have sex with men (BMSM) by strengthening how behavioral health services are integrated into HIV care, with an emphasis on reaching and keeping especially vulnerable people engaged in ongoing treatment and supportive services.

The award is designed to fund one organization for up to four years to serve as an Evaluation and Technical Assistance Provider (ETAP). Instead of running direct service programs itself, the ETAP will support and evaluate a separate cohort of up to seven demonstration sites that are funded under a companion announcement (HRSA-18-047). Those demonstration sites will be the places adapting and implementing evidence-informed interventions or models of care. The ETAPs job is to help those sites succeed by providing structured technical assistance and by running a coordinated, multi-site evaluation that looks across the entire group of projects.

The underlying goal of the demonstration work is to better engage, link, and retain BMSM in HIV medical care and supportive services by directly addressing behavioral health needs that can interfere with care continuity. The interventions or models of care the sites implement are expected to include strategies that integrate behavioral health services into HIV care settings. That integration explicitly includes substance use disorder treatment, along with other behavioral health supports, because co-occurring mental health and substance use challenges can be major barriers to medication adherence, viral suppression, consistent appointment attendance, and long-term retention in care. In practical terms, the initiative is centered on building care approaches that treat HIV management and behavioral health as connected parts of the same pathway, rather than separate or siloed services.

A major responsibility of the ETAP is evaluation across multiple levels. This includes programmatic outcomes (how well the sites implement the model and deliver services as intended), clinical outcomes (changes in key HIV-related health indicators and care continuum measures), and client-level outcomes (participant experiences and changes that reflect engagement, retention, and wellbeing). Beyond outcomes, the ETAP is also expected to assess costs associated with implementation of the evidence-informed interventions or models of care. That cost focus is important because it helps HRSA and future adopters understand what it takes to run these integrated approaches in real-world settings, what resources are required, and how scalable the models might be.

Another core deliverable is dissemination. The ETAP will coordinate development of implementation toolkits, training materials, and other products that capture what worked, how it was carried out, and what others would need to replicate it. These materials are meant to support broader uptake across the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) and potentially other healthcare settings. The intention is not just to evaluate the demonstration sites in isolation, but to translate successful strategies into practical guidance that other clinics and programs can adopt to improve HIV outcomes for BMSM.

Because the ETAP and the demonstration sites are funded through separate but connected notices of funding opportunity (HRSA-18-053 for the ETAP and HRSA-18-047 for the sites), close coordination is treated as essential to success. HRSA explicitly encourages applicants to this ETAP opportunity to read the companion announcement and understand expectations across both awards, since the evaluation design, technical assistance approach, data collection, and implementation support all need to align with what the demonstration sites are required to do.

Key administrative details from the source information include the opportunity number HRSA 18 053, CFDA 93.928, and an anticipated single award (ExpectedAwards: 1). The original posting date was December 5, 2017, and the original closing date was February 5, 2018. The eligible applicant category is listed as "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)," indicating that eligibility is more specific than a simple predefined list and would require checking the full eligibility language in the complete announcement. The award ceiling is shown as 0 in the provided record, which typically indicates the ceiling was not specified in that particular summary field rather than implying no funding.

• The Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Implementation of Evidence-Informed Behavioral Health Models to Improve HIV Health Outcomes for Black Men who Have Sex with Men – Evaluation and Technical Assistance Provider" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.928.
• This funding opportunity was created on Dec 05, 2017.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 05, 2018. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for HRSA 18 053

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