Mental Health HIV/AIDS Services Collaborative

African Americans and Hispanics/Latinos are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS, which increases the risk for mental disorders along with the complex health challenges it presents.

JBA led a national evaluation of the Mental Health HIV/AIDS Services Collaborative, which supported effective, culturally competent services for individuals in minority communities living with HIV/AIDS and mental disorders.

The process and outcome evaluation included 16 grantee sites serving more than 4,000 individuals. The majority of participants were unemployed, one-third were disabled, and almost half lived in unstable housing situations. To accommodate multiple needs, services were provided in a variety of settings. The evaluation examined the effects of contextual factors on selected outcomes and the relationships between process and program variables. Mental and physical health were significantly improved, as demonstrated by decreases in depression symptoms, decreases in detectable viral loads, and other outcomes.