Connecticut Children’s Receives Nearly $1 Million Federal Grant To Advance Hiv/aids Care For Women And Children
$850,000 Ryan White Part D HHS grant will help expand access to Connecticut Children’s comprehensive services for underserved children and families
Hartford, Conn– Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, has received a three-year $850,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to help advance and expand comprehensive medical care for HIV-infected women, children, youth, and HIV-exposed infants living in Connecticut. The grant is funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Ryan White Part D HIV/AIDS Program, which helps people who lack sufficient health care coverage or financial resources to manage HIV.
“By receiving this additional funding from the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program, more children living with HIV in our state whose families have a difficult time affording medical care will receive comprehensive HIV/AIDS care available at Connecticut Children’s primary care HIV/AIDS clinics in Hartford and have access to emerging treatments that are improving the lives of patients with HIV,” said Juan C, Salazar, MD, MPH, Physician in Chief, Connecticut Children’s.
Dr. Salazar and the HIV team at Connecticut Children’s, are nationally recognized for the treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS in children and adolescents, and continue to advance the long-term care of HIV positive patients and their affected family members through research and advocacy. Our staff has presented HIV treatment and innovative HIV prevention models developed over the years in our programs on local, state, national and international stages.
Comprehensive care provided at each clinic includes primary medical care, medical case management, behavioral health and nutritional services among other core medical services. The program’s support services also address barriers to comprehensive care that often occur within this underserved population such as lack of transportation, food and other social determinants to health. Ryan White dollars, in partnership with municipal and state agencies, granted to Connecticut Children’s have paid for emergency housing to several HIV infected families who have struggled financially as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our success in continuing to do our work in an extremely competitive environment for securing grants is due to passion and commitment to answer the needs of the communities and populations we serve,” said Danielle Warren-Dias, MS, HS-BC, Family Support Services Director for the CT Children’s and UConn Health Pediatric and Adolescent HIV Program.
The HHS grant targets resources to communities that need the most help within the geographic areas of institutions that receive funds. The grant is designed to provide core medical and support services for women, infants, children, and youth who are living with and affected by HIV: those newly diagnosed or newly identified persons living with HIV/AIDS who are new to medical care; previously diagnosed patients who have never been in care; and HIV/AIDS patients who are returning to care after more than a 12-month absence.
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About Connecticut Children’s
Connecticut Children’s is the only health system in Connecticut dedicated exclusively to the care of children and ranked one of the best children’s hospitals in the nation by U.S. News & World Report and a Magnet®-designated hospital. Connecticut Children’s provides more than 30 pediatric specialties by Video Visit and at lots of locations close to home, along with community-based programs to uniquely care for the physical, social and emotional needs of children. Our team of pediatric experts and care coordinators bring access to breakthrough research, advanced treatments for both rare and common diseases, and innovative health and safety programs to every child. Connecticut Children’s is a not-for-profit organization with a mission to improve access to health care for all children through convenient locations, care alliances and partnerships.