PrideAlive HIV Testing Successes & Challenges

PrideAlive Mission PrideAlive is a group of gay and bisexual men and our allies working together to stop the spread of HIV and STIs by creating and sustaining a healthy sexual community. We empower individuals to participate in their health through educational, social, political and civic involvement.

PrideAlive Health Educators David Becker Bobbi Gass Sam Robertson Matthew Stewart

HIV Testing at MAP PrideAlive (PA) staff are MDH-trained to provide HIV testing to any MAP clients in a variety of ways: – In-house testing at our office (1400 Park Ave.) – Outreach testing at bars, clubs, parties – Large events (like Balls and AIDS Walk) – In partnership with other community social service providers

PA HIV Testing Data 2012 – Number of HIV tests performed: 568 – Number of reactive tests: – Number of HIV tests performed: 801 – Number of reactive tests: – Number of HIV tests performed (up to Nov.): 893 – Number of reactive tests (up to Nov.): 9

PA Testing Successes House & Ball scene partnership Extended in-house testing hours Continued bar and club outreach testing Pride Institute partnership

House & Ball Scene Testing

Partner for four Balls per year – Upcoming “Keep it S.A.F.E. Ball” on Sunday, December 14 th Primarily BMSM and black transgender women and transgender men who have sex with men Established a streamlined testing strategy for large- scale, high-volume events

House & Ball Scene Testing We incentivize testing at the events (ex. free Ball entry with HIV test, etc.) HIV positive individuals can bypass the test and speak to care linkage specialists – We check in to see if they are engaged in care, and if not, how we can work with them to get them into care and treatment

House & Ball Scene Testing We incentivize post-event care linkage for newly diagnosed HIV positive folks (ex. gift card for coming to care linkage appt., gift card for going to first doctor appt.) Whoever provided the positive result to the client is also the care linkage specialist. We believe this helps build trust between the client and the provider

Extended Testing Hours M, W, Th: 10am-4:30pm Tues: 12pm-8:30pm Fri: 10am-1:30pm Resulted from the creation of a new staff position Increased accessibility for clients, especially on Tuesday nights

Bar, Club, and Party OUTreach We provide HIV testing and safer sex kits at: – The Gay 90s – The Saloon – The Town House – The Eagle (safer sex kits only) – Various community parties (coming soon!) All safer sex kits contain two condoms, two packs of lube, and information about when and how to get tested at MAP!

Bar, Club, and Party OUTreach We usually provide between five to six outreach shifts per month Testing at gay-specific venues helps us access higher risk communities and allows more targeted HIP measures It appears that we test more people from Greater Minnesota through out nighttime outreach efforts than we do in-house

Bar, Club, and Party OUTreach Nighttime outreach is also a great way for us to engage with our volunteers, as well as with community partners like the Ladies of the Lakes!

Pride Institute HIV/HCV Testing We have a partnership to provide monthly HIV/HCV testing and HIV 101 education to the Pride Institute’s In-Patient facility in Eden Prairie We also provide the same services to Pride Institute Out-Patient clients in Minneapolis every other month

Pride Institute HIV/HCV Testing We reach an average of about 50 clients per month through our In- and Out-Patient education and testing initiatives Our HIV 101 seminar covers the basics of HIV & AIDS, transmission, risk factors, safer sex and injection drug use practices, and some information on Hepatitis C

PA Testing Challenges Difficulty in targeted testing for in-house clients – Despite increased hours, we have noticed an increase in low-risk testers at our office We are still working through procedures that will facilitate quicker and more client-centered care linkage – Particular difficulties persist with linking HIV-positive Ball clients (due to many existing barriers to care)

PA Testing Challenges Establishing collaborations with other ASOs and HIV- focused CBOs during an era of funding scarcity Front-line staff (HIV testers, Health Educators, etc.) turnover and training concerns

Questions? Contact us at Call Matthew Stewart at Thanks for your time!