Behavioral Health Co-location to Facilitate HIV and HCV Care in the Non-Metropolitan South

This session will discuss the implementation, outcomes, and future directions associated with the Health Services Center, Inc. Behavioral Health Co-location (BHC) Project. HSC is the sole provider of free HIV and Hepatitis C (HCV) services to a population facing multiple barriers to care (e.g., poverty, education and stigma) in a largely rural 14-county area of northeast Alabama.

Learning Objectives

1. Increase understanding of unique barriers to accessing HIV, HCV, and behavioral health care experienced by underserved, high risk populations (e.g., persons with HIV, LGBTQ populations and persons in poverty) in the deep South.
2. Increase understanding of the rationale for co-location of HIV and HCV healthcare and behavioral health care services.
3. Increase understanding of challenges and successes associated with implementing evidence-based programs in underserved 'real world' care settings.