Integrating HIV prevention and care services: the Seattle "Collaboration Project"

The "Collaboration Project" explored whether human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention providers in Seattle-King County refer their HIV+ clients into care services and whether HIV care service providers discuss sex and drug use risk reduction or make referrals for clients with ongoing risk reduction needs. Data uncovered demographic disparities between provider populations that may impact cross-system collaboration, particularly regarding provider demographic reflectiveness of the consumers being served. Ninety percent of prevention providers referred clients to care services; only one quarter discussed sexual risk reduction, while half discussed drug use risk reduction. Knowledge of cross-system resources was generally high, although gaps emerged between providers in several resource areas. Based on these findings, several key changes have been implemented.