From 2012 to 2021, an annual average of 25 newly diagnosed HIV cases were identified by CT DPH HIV Prevention Program's funded agencies. These agencies were originally responsible for implementing an intervention named Counseling, Testing and Referral (CTR). This intervention required individuals at high risk for HIV to come into CTR sites for HIV testing. In an effort to increase the number of newly diagnosed cases identified, in 2013 the CT DPH HIV Prevention program decided to change its HIV testing intervention model from CTR to a newer model named Outreach, Testing and Linkage (OTL) which targeted HIV testing in non-healthcare settings by having staff conduct HIV testing in outreach settings and non-traditional venues. This changed the way HIV testing was conducted by using outreach staff to find individuals at the highest risk for HIV and testing them in the community instead of relying on individuals to come to HIV testing sites. This decrease was due to fewer agencies being funded to implement the OTL intervention and fewer HIV tests being conducted. From 2019 to 2021, the funded agencies were not able to fully implement the OTL intervention due to COVID-19.  The majority of HIV newly diagnosed individuals in 2020 and 2021 were among Men who have sex with men (MSM). The 150 (i.e., 1% of 15,000) newly diagnosed HIV cases target was generated using CDC's requirement of 1% seropositivity rate of HIV newly diagnosed cases based on the proposed number of HIV testing events conducted by the OTL intervention.  Historically, Connecticut never reached a 1% seropositivity rate in the CTR/OTL intervention.

Note. YR 2021 data updated on March, 2022; YR 2022 data will be updated on: June, 2023

Key partners that are impacted by the objective(s) are: DPH HIV Prevention Program staff; The Connecticut HIV Planning Consortia (CHPC); Ending the Syndemic Commission, CT HIV Funders Group; HIV Prevention Services Funded Agencies; Consumers & Clients; The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); HRSA; CT DPH STD program; Disease Intervention Specialists; CT DPH HIV Surveillance Program; and Healthcare and Support Services.

Strategies based on best practices or evidence-based criteria used or needed to achieve the objective. Linkages to Care Models aimed at increasing HIV testing in non-clinical areas and linking newly diagnosed into care. Performance Standards, Measures and Targets are based on: The National HIV AIDS Strategy provides a roadmap for addressing the domestic HIV epidemic. It was designed to rely on sound science and to include measurable goals, timelines, and accountability mechanisms. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Core Performance Indicators for HIV Care and Prevention The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Performance Measures and Standards for HIV Testing and Linkage to care activities. The CDC National HIV Monitoring and Evaluation (NHM& E) Healthy People 2020- Summary of Objectives for HIV

Community mapping; social networks; social media targeting; Outreach, Testing, and Linkage (OTL) Strategy: This strategy is based on several Linkages to Care Models, aimed at increasing HIV testing in non-clinical areas and linking newly diagnosed into care.