Highlights/takeaways include:

• CDPH has approved Kings County Needle Exchange application.  Needle exchange services will be provided at the following four fixed site health clinic locations: Hanford, Lemoore, Corcoran, and Avenal.
  
• To access the OA Surveillance, Research and Evaluation Branch’s WebEx training on the Medi-Cal Waiver Program (MCWP) AIDS Regional Information and Evaluation System (ARIES) data contact Michael Foster at micheal.foster@cdph.ca.gov

• To view the “End Hep C San Francisco Strategic Plan,” visit www.endhepcsf.org
  
• Presentation slides from the recent Getting to Zero (GTZ) quarterly meeting, discussing findings from CROI 2017 and GTZ accomplishments since the previous quarterly meeting, are available on the GTZ blog at https://www.gettingtozerosf.org/blog/
  
• An emergency Truvada program is now available for youth who are unable to use patient assistance programs.  Medication can be picked up at the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital (ZSFGH) pharmacy.
  
• The GTZ Retention and Re-engagement Committee will focus their future work on reinforcing activities that could impact viral load suppression among persons who are homeless/marginally-housed (33% viral suppression) with a special awareness on people < age 40, African Americans, Latinos, PWID and women.

A presentation by Shannon Weber reported that:

• The number of patients seen at ZSFGH HIVE Clinic on PrEP is increasing
  
• In San Francisco, no infant has been born HIV+  since 2004 but  nine maternal deaths occurred – seven from HIV related causes
  
• The 2015 HIVE HIV treatment cascade showed that viral suppression decreased overtime after delivery from 91% (at delivery) to 67% 6 months postpartum, to 44% 12 months postpartum.  

The CRUSH (Connecting Resources for Urban Sexual Health) Project has ended.  On March 23, 2017 a CRUSH report back Community Meeting brought together a diverse group of approximately 100 HIV/AIDS stakeholders. Some lessons learned and recommendations regarding clinical implementation, patient retention, access and adherence, and outreach and community partnerships are highlight.  For more details, download the 2-page summary here.

• Clinics that serve multiple populations in different capacities should collaborate across clinic teams to improve patient flow and navigation, and establish timely solutions
  
• Hiring caring people from represented groups served by the clinic and assuring requite staff training improves the client care experience but challenges of employing people who represent the patient population must not be overlooked
  
• One size does not fit all.  Adjustment to different client preferences and levels of support, and having knowledgeable PrEP, PEP and health insurance navigators help empower clients and improve care retention
  
• Respecting and being flexible to clients’ dynamic lives is important and can be addressed in non-punitive ways by instituting non-traditional clinic hours (e.g., weekends, late and drop-in hours)
  
• Community engagement and partnerships matter.  They help keep people in care at sexual health clinics, overcome barriers, and normalize sexual health care 

On March 17th, Get Screened Oakland convened 40+ people, forming a coalition of HIV/AIDS stakeholders to address HIV in AC.  The group decided to adopt the 90-90-90 HIV targets and end the HIV State of Emergency in Alameda County.  The next meeting scheduled for May 1, 2017, 2:45-4:30 will discuss strategies and next steps.   Contact Marsha Martin at mmartingso@gmail.com for more information and/or to participate in the follow up meeting.

March 2017, The AIDS Community Research Initiative of America (ACRIA) released Research on Older Adults with HIV 2.0 Alameda County Focus Group Report.  Participants discussed factors that facilitate positive aging, challenges and unmet need, desired services/changes, and caregiving.  For more details or a copy of the report, contact Rebecca Erenrich at retenrich@ACRIA.ORG

Key Findings:

• Coping with aging and being HIV positive requires numerous approaches.  Opportunities to participant in religious/spiritual life, embracing personal growth, having a positive attitude, and taking on work or volunteer responsibilities that feel meaningful foster resilience.
• Social support from family, friends and neighbors, participation in support groups in the community, and dedicated spaces to bolster social support (e.g. community gyms) are vital and help participants adapt to living with HIV.
• Challenges exist including housing instability and poverty, loneliness and isolation, mental health problems, physical co-morbidities, bureaucratic obstacles to accessing services, mobility and transportation concerns, and lack of opportunities to exercise.
• Concern that current vital services might be reduced or eliminated and a need for improving coordination of HIV services.
• Concern for meeting their future needs for care as well as quality-of-life, availability of retirement communities that would be welcoming to people with HIV or sexual minorities, growing older without a partner, and becoming a burden to others.