West Contra Costa County has been hard hit by the AIDS epidemic with 25% of those living with AIDS residing in the City of Richmond. Unfortunately, a large percentage of those living with HIV/AIDS are of low income having to rely on Basic Health Care (BHC) for their medical care, or forced to pay for their medical care, because they do not qualify for BHC services. The County’s AIDS Program works closely with other staff in Public Health Division, physicians and medical social workers at Contra Costa Regional Medical Center and Health Centers, community-based partners, and private providers throughout the County to reduce the transmission of HIV, improve access to health care, and to enhance quality of life for those with HIV. Contra Costa County has been awarded this grant since 1999.
On May 18, 2021, the Board of Supervisors approved Grant Award #28-637-29 with HRSA, to pay the County in an amount not to exceed $217,954, for the Ryan White, Part C, HIV Early Intervention Services Program, for the period from May 1, 2021 through April 30, 2022.
This Grant Award is late due to delays from HRSA issuing the notice of award until May 5, 2022, as well as some internal leave delays within the Department.
Approval of Grant Award #28-637-30 will allow the County’s AIDS Program to continue to receive funding to provide outpatient medical services to low-income HIV-positive recipients in West Contra Costa County through April 30, 2023.
If this grant is not approved, the County will not receive funds to assist the low-income HIV-positive recipients in West Contra Costa County with outpatient medical services.