June | 2021
In this newsletter, you will find updates about HIV and STIs in Michigan. If you have any questions or feedback about the newsletter, please reach out to us at: MDHHS-DHSPSupplies@Michigan.gov
June 5th marks 40 years since the first five cases of what later became known as AIDS were officially reported. This is a time for us to reflect on how far we have come and look to a future where we can end the HIV epidemic. June 5th is also HIV Long-Term Survivors Awareness Day. A day to honor long-term survivors of the epidemic and raise awareness of their needs and journeys.
To commemorate June 5th, federal agencies are holding a series of Live with Leadership sessions hosted by Harold Phillips, Chief Operating Officer for Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S., to reflect upon and honor the anniversary. The sessions include:
-
Community Dialogue: June 5th & Long-Term Survivors, Saturday, June 5 at 2:00 pm ET. Featuring Gina Brown, Community Engagement Manager, Southern AIDS Coalition, Jesse Milan, President and CEO, AIDS United, and Arianna Lint, Executive Director, Arianna’s Center.
-
40 Years of HIV: Federal Leadership, Thursday, June 17 at 1:00 pm ET. Featuring Laura Cheever, Associate Administrator, HIV/AIDS Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration and Dr. Jonathan Mermin, Director, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention.
-
40 Years of Progress: HIV Testing, Tuesday, June 22 at 4:00 pm ET. Featuring Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, Director, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, CDC.
|
The Annual HIV and STI Conference theme this year is Together We Are Resilient. This virtual conference will be held on August 18-19, 2021. Please mark your calendars for this event and we look forward to seeing you. Registration details coming soon.
If you are interested in being an exhibitor for this year’s conference please click here for more information.
Early in 2020, an increase in new HIV diagnoses were identified in Northern Michigan. The new diagnoses were primarily focused in the area around Grand Traverse County. Thanks to local early intervention specialists and HIV support staff, all newly diagnosed individuals have been linked to HIV care. The State of Michigan is working closely with District 10 Health Department and the Munson Hospital System to respond to this increase. Interventions that are ongoing include: supplying HIV self-test kits to high-risk individuals who may be worried about the stigma around HIV testing, working with Munson medical providers to ensure local providers are well versed in CDC HIV testing guidance, and creating and distributing posters that educate the public about the importance of STI and HIV testing. Finally, the State of Michigan is assembling a dedicated team to ensure evidence based epidemiological data is guiding targeted care services and prevention interventions in our rural areas.
|
Each newsletter we will be highlighting a funded agency of the Division of HIV and STI Programs.
Deaf Community Advocacy Network – DEAF C.A.N.! is a non-profit organization established in 1981 to provide direct client services to individuals and families, as well as community education and information for professional groups.
DEAF C.A.N.! also provides medical case management, linguistics, and transportation services to Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing individuals, living with HIV in Michigan, as well as their family members and caregivers.
|
Medical Case Management: Is provided to improve linkage to and retention in health care.
Linguistics: Is provided to improve communication and facilitate service delivery through the provision of interpretation and translation services.
Transportation: Is provided to improve access to HIV-related healthcare through the provision of transportation assistance.
- Currently, Nicole Gaines is the Case Manager who is also a part of the Deaf, Deafblind and Hard of Hearing community.
- Interpreters are used for client appointments, meetings and trainings related to HIV care when not provided by the office or agency.
- DEAF C.A.N.! contracts with the deaf and hard of hearing services in Grand Rapid for case management, assisting with care coordination, and training staff about people living with HIV (PLWH) who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Please feel free to view the Living with HIV videos in American Sign Language (ASL):
Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.
For more information on the full array of services offered, please feel free to visit their website or contact the agency directly.
248-332-3331 | deafcan@deafcan.org | DEAF C.A.N.!. - Home
Using nine staff from the established Covid Case Investigation and Contact Tracing Team, the Detroit/Wayne County Gonorrhea (GC) Project was designed with two goals in mind; improved data and disease intervention. It was a successful collaborative project across several units including Surveillance. The project also had cooperation and a positive response from our local health departments, STI funded agencies, and our private providers. The “COVID turned GC Investigators” really enjoyed doing this work.
Because we only had the interviewers for a few weeks, program outcomes for February and March were focused on improving data completeness and accuracy through provider phone calls and patient interviews. Likewise, patient education and partner notification was conducted using the patient interview process. As the infographic shows, in a very short time, these efforts paid off!
This project was very impactful not only for our patients and partners but also for our program. It allowed for positive outcomes in terms of changes in systems for obtaining provider data; for distributing materials to providers such as the recent updates in the GC Treatment Guidelines and changes in Michigan’s Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT) Guidance.
We have since been able to restart the GC Project and look forward to more positive outcomes!
As HIV treatment improves, majority of people living with HIV (PLWH) are aging over the age of 50. Advancing age and common comorbid conditions (e.g., heart disease, diabetes) increase the risk of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). For PLWH, it is increasingly important that HIV clinicians are able to differentiate between symptoms of HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder (HAND) and MCI/AD for proper treatment.
In conjunction with the Alzheimer's Association, the Michigan Alzheimer's Disease Research Center is presenting a clinician focused webinar “Cognitive Dysfunction in HIV and Alzheimer's: Similarities and Differences". The webinar will be presented on:
Tuesday, June 15, 2021 from 5:30-7pm. To register, click here
Tuesday, June 22, 2021 10:30am-Noon. To register, click here
If you have any questions, please contact Kate Pierce at Kpierce@alz.org or 248-996-1036.
The Ending the HIV Epidemic (ETE) Initiative is a federally funded program that aims to put an end to the HIV epidemic by 2030. There are 42 Phase I jurisdictions across the country including Wayne County in Michigan. The goal is to reduce 75% of new HIV infections by 2025 and 90% by 2030. The initiative consists of four pillars: 1) diagnose all people with HIV as early as possible, 2) treat people with HIV rapidly and effectively to help them achieve and sustain viral suppression, 3) to prevent new HIV transmissions through Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and syringe service programs (SSPs), and 4) respond quickly to increases in HIV to get people treatment and prevention services as they need them. ETE implementation in Michigan began in summer 2019 but due to COVID over the last year, application and execution of projects has been a slow-moving process.
Click here to read the full update on Michigan's Ending the Epidemic projects.
The Link-Up program at the Detroit Health Department has been working hard to increase HIV awareness through social media. Link-Up Detroit developed and launched the “In Plain Sight” campaign in summer of 2020. The campaign aims to educate and link the Detroit LGBTQ community with HIV assistance while challenging the stigma around HIV.
To develop the campaign, Link-Up Detroit coordinated a focus group of young Black MSM from Detroit. The focus group came up with the campaign name, logo, theme, and events. Link-Up Detroit partnered with LGBT Detroit on design and campaign implementation. Link-Up Detroit utilized Facebook and Instagram to share HIV awareness messaging and to promote various events held as part of the campaign. Weekly Instagram livestreams, hosted by the program’s Linkage Specialist, were held to engage with social media followers. Through the campaign, Link-Up Detroit was able to grow their reach on Facebook and Instagram. Events were also a huge part of the campaign. Link-Up Detroit partnered with the Ruth Ellis Center in December 2020 to host an HIV and COVID testing event and in April 2021 to host a career fair. Upcoming events as part of the campaign are a ball and a discussion about sexual behavior and HIV risk. To learn more about the campaign, visit linkupdetroit.com or contact Lateef Hudson at hudsonl@detroitmi.gov or 313-378-4553.
|
In April, the CDC published their annual STI surveillance report. From the CDC:
Reported STDs in the U.S. reach all-time high for sixth consecutive year.
More than 2.5 million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis were reported in 2019.
CDC published Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Surveillance, 2019, its annual report highlighting trends in reportable infections. Reported cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis have increased for the sixth consecutive year – reaching a new, all-time high. These infections remain common, costly, and challenge the health and wellness of millions of people across the United States.
In 2019, U.S. health departments reported:
- 1.8 million cases of chlamydia, an increase of nearly 20 percent since 2015.
- 616,392 cases of gonorrhea, an increase of more than 50 percent since 2015; and
- 129,813 cases of syphilis (all stages), an increase of more than 70 percent since 2015.
While the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing challenges, it has also challenged the field to deliver accessible, high-quality STD services through innovations such as STI express clinics and telehealth/telemedicine. Together, and with the STI National Strategic Plan as our roadmap, we can rise above these unprecedented times to take action and keep our communities healthy.
COVID-19 has had a significant impact on housing stability for many people in Michigan. As eviction moratoriums wind down, housing instability is likely to increase. The Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) is providing funding through local agencies to renters facing pandemic-related hardships at risk of eviction through its COVID Emergency Rental Assistance (CERA) program. CERA supports rental households with incomes less than 80% Area Median Income (AMI) who have:
- qualified for unemployment benefits or had a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced other financial hardship due directly or indirectly to coronavirus; and
- can demonstrate a risk of homelessness or housing instability evidenced by a past due utility or rent notice.
Depending on household income, CERA participants can possibly receive up to 12 months of rental assistance, which may include up to 3 months of future rent assistance.
While significant funding is available, there is high demand and there are paperwork requirements. Professionals working with clients are encouraged to help clients with the application process and organizing supporting documents. Providers are encouraged to learn more about the CERA program at MSHDA - COVID Emergency Rental Assistance (CERA) (michigan.gov). Clients can apply at this same website.
On May 13, the White House announced it will invest $7 billion from the American Rescue Plan to hire and train public health workers in response to COVID-19. Included in this funding is a $1.13 billion dollar investment to strengthen the DIS workforce to support COVID-19, STIs, and other infectious diseases. This money will be awarded to project areas through their CDC STD PCHD cooperative agreement over 5 years, beginning in 2021. Michigan will receive a supplement to their existing award of $5.5 million per year. This is an incredible opportunity; we are busy planning in anticipation of the Notice of Funding Opportunity due to be released very soon.
|
The Division of HIV/STI Programs (DHSP) is currently working on building a new customer relationship management system that will be accessed via Mi-LOGIN. The STI/HIV Operations and Resource System (SHOARS) will allow partners to engage with the diverse resources of the Division of HIV/STI Programs (DHSP). In SHOARS, users will be able to create a profile and centralize all interactions with the division including grants and contacts processes; surveys; trainings; registration for conferences and other events; requests for data, information, technical assistance, supplies/materials; and access to reporting and other systems. SHOARS will allow grant subrecipients, local health departments, community agencies, clinic and hospital staff, laboratorians, along with all Michigan residents to communicate with all areas of DHSP via a centralized location. We are expecting to launch SHOARS in late fall 2021. Please keep an eye out for updates in the coming months.
We are excited to share that we are in the reviewing proposals stage for the integrated HIV and STI Surveillance, Prevention, and Care application. The new application will be called MIDASH (Michigan Integrated Data Application for STI and HIV). Developing the application will be an inclusive effort and we will need the input of everyone who is impacted. We will share more about involvement opportunities in the months to come. For now, here is a bit more information:
What is being integrated? Currently we have six different systems that we use to collect and share information about people who have been diagnosed with and are living with HIV and/or STIs. These systems are eHARS, HIVLMS, CAREWare, Aphirm, MDSS, and MIDAP. When complete, the new MIDASH system will combine the functionality of all six systems into a single application – so that duplicate entry of information is no longer needed, and everything is located in one place.
Why are we doing this? It is inefficient and time consuming to work with six different systems. Having all HIV and STI data in one place will significantly improve the work that we do. We are now in a fortunate position to have the resources and time to develop the integrated application.
When will this happen? We expect it will take a couple of years to fully develop the application and transition from the systems we are using today. We will work closely with all of those who will be impacted to make sure we are ready and prepared to make the switch when the time comes. Our highest priority during this process is to not disrupt services to the people we serve.
Getting Involved: In the coming months we will have more information about how to get involved in the project.
Updated Michigan Adult HIV Case Report Form
The Michigan Adult HIV Case Report Form has been updated. The new form replaces all previous versions and should be used for anyone 13 and over; this is effective Monday, May 17, 2021. All patients with evidence of HIV, including Stage 3 HIV infection, should be reported within seven days of diagnosis. The completed form should be faxed to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and addressed to the HIV Surveillance Unit along with the name of the Surveillance staff assigned to the case. The secure fax to MDHHS is 313-456-1580.
The new form and the instruction manual (which gives an overview of each section of the form and details the completion process) can be found on our website - www.michigan.gov/HIVSTI. Below are the direct links:
Case Report Form
Instruction Manual
If you have any questions, please reach out to Genna Owens, the HIV/STI Surveillance Unit manager - owensg1@michigan.gov, 517-245-3300.
Thank you for reading our newsletter!
DHSP newsletters come out four times a year. Please send any feedback to MDHHS-DHSPSupplies@Michigan.gov. Please feel free to share this newsletter.
Michigan.gov/HIVSTI
|