Part of the ACCELERATE Research Program at Northwestern University
Helping to End HIV in Chicago through Low-Barrier Care
To end the HIV epidemic, all people with HIV (PWH) need to be engaged in HIV care and achieve viral suppression. However, prioritizing care can be especially difficult for PWH experiencing complex needs (e.g., homelessness, substance use challenges). Low-Barrier Care (LBC) is a potential solution that makes it easier for these individuals to access and stay in care.
The Collaborative to Enhance Access for Suppression to End HIV (CEASE-HIV) aims to implement and evaluate LBC in the Chicago Eligible Metropolitan Area. Resources developed through CEASE-HIV and provided on this website are intended to help HIV care agencies plan for, integrate, and monitor their LBC programs in Chicagoland and beyond.
Chicago’s Models of Low-Barrier Care
We worked with 10 HIV care agencies and the Chicago Department of Public Health to adapt the original standalone LBC model for integration into existing Ryan White programs.
Standard Operating Procedure Templates
We developed user-friendly resources to help agencies create their own tailored protocols for Chicago LBC/RBC.
Tools for Tracking Implementation
We developed tools to help agencies track and assess their Chicago LBC/RBC program for quality assurance/improvement and evaluation purposes.