The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) proposed an initiative, “Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America” to utilize developments in HIV prevention, diagnosis and treatment that will lead to a 75% reduction in new HIV infections by 2025 and 90% reduction by 2030. HHS agencies such as the CDC, HRSA, NIH, and SAMHSA decided to come together to provide jurisdictions with the needed resources and infrastructure to accomplish these goals.

The EHE initiative is a ten-year plan beginning in 2020 and ending in 2030 that that is currently in Phase I. Phase I focuses on 48 counties, Washington, D.C, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is important to note that 50% of HIV diagnoses occurred in these locations from 2016–2017. Phase I also includes seven states with high HIV diagnoses in rural areas.

Each EHE Jurisdiction created their own EHE Plan to address HIV service needs and gaps according to the four EHE pillars: Diagnose, Treat, Prevent and Respond. New Jersey’s jurisdictions are Essex and Hudson counties which have the highest burden of HIV in the state. New Jersey has one EHE federal plan that addresses the needs of both counties.

The EHE Roll out in New Jersey consisted of several different grants with the three main grants being: the HRSA Part A grant, planning grant, and implementation grant. The HRSA Part A Grant was given directly to Ryan White Part A recipients in Essex and Hudson counties to bolster existing Ryan White programs and address gaps in care services.

The planning grant was given to NJ DOH, DHSTS to facilitate community engagement activities and to coordinate collaboration between the State and Part A regions to create an EHE plan specific to Essex and Hudson counties.

Lastly, the implementation grant was given to NJ DOH, DHSTS who in turn will fund external agencies throughout Essex and Hudson counties to promote novel approaches to address HIV care and prevention.

Money will be given out via the Request for Application (RFA) process. DHSTS is currently drafting the EHE implementation RFA and are planning for a start date of those grants for 9/1/21. Please look out for the webinar series to come that will explain the EHE plan and RFA process in more detail.

DHSTS received the planning grant in October 2019 to begin community engagement activities with the goal to engage both traditional partners and consumers as well as non-traditional partners (e.g. faith-based org, non-profits, grassroots org). Before COVID-19 hit, DHSTS in collaboration with Essex and Hudson counties began to hold monthly in-person meetings to allow community members to have a space to discuss emerging needs and gaps in service.

Unfortunately, COVID-19 hit and the group decided to utilize local agencies to assist with community engagement and feedback. DHSTS funded several CBOs (African American Office of Gay Concerns (AAOGC), Hyacinth AIDS Foundation, Hudson Pride Center, and The North Jersey Community Research Initiative (NJCRI)) in Essex and Hudson to administer community level surveys addressing social determinants of health (SDOH) and HIV care/prevention.

From survey feedback, drill-down focus groups were held to gain a deeper understanding of indicated needs. DHSTS plans to continue community engagements activities throughout the entirety of the grant to allow of continuous feedback and critique of EHE activities and coordination

Please check back for more information regarding grant funded activities in Fall 2021.