Last week, the HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB) of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) issued a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) that will support between 5 and 10 new Part C programs offering HIV early intervention services (EIS) in areas of the country where the HIV epidemic is increasing, demand for services has increased, and the availability of other HIV/AIDS services is limited. This funding opportunity stems from President Obama's 2011 World AIDS Day initiative to expand primary HIV medical care and support services for people living with HIV/AIDS and it supports implementation of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy across the country.

Ryan White HIV/AIDS Part C programs provide HIV primary medical care in the outpatient setting. Applicants must propose to provide a comprehensive continuum of outpatient HIV primary care services in the targeted area including HIV counseling, testing, and referral; medical evaluation and clinical care; other primary care services; and referrals to other health services. In addition, Part C funded services should target the following 3 populations:

• Newly diagnosed/ identified persons with HIV infection,
• Previously diagnosed persons living with HIV/AIDS who have never been in care, and
• Persons living with HIV/AIDS who have dropped out of care.

Eligible applicants for this funding announcement include:

• Organizations in the U.S. and U.S. territories that are not currently funded by Part C EIS Public or nonprofit private entities, including Federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics, and family planning grantees
• Organizations including State and local governments, their agencies, and Indian Tribes or tribal organizations with or without Federal recognition; as well as community-based and faith-based organizations.

HRSA’s Associate Administrator for the HIV/AIDS Bureau, Dr. Deborah Parham Hopson, provides an overview of the funding announcement in this video:Read more details on HRSA’s Funding Opportunities page and apply at Grants.gov by May 25, 2012.