SAMHSA is one of several collaborating HHS agencies leading the Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America. SAMHSA’s goal is to improve prevention, increase testing frequency, and increase referrals and support linkage to HIV treatment when necessary. SAMHSA has concentrated 70 percent of the Minority AIDS initiative grantees within the 48 identified areas with the highest number of new HIV cases. These grantees of the MAI are required to request HIV testing on all individuals upon intake/enrollment and provide linkage to confirmatory testing and services upon positive results. SAMHSA can track the number of positive results and referrals for all grantees.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has issued a funding opportunity announcement (FOA) through its Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) to support substance use treatment service delivery to racial/ethnic minority individuals at risk for or living with HIV. The grant opportunity is supported by Minority AIDS Initiative resources that are appropriated to SAMHSA.

In a “Dear Colleague” letter sent to grantees of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) late last year, Elinore McCance-Katz, M.D., Ph.D., the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, put a spotlight on HIV and viral hepatitis – the often hidden consequences of the substance use disorder epidemic – and called on the public health and substance abuse disorders communities to strengthen coordinated efforts to address them.

World AIDS Day is a time to reflect on those we've lost to HIV/AIDS, as well as on how much progress we've made in the national response to HIV. It's also an important opportunity to assess where we need to improve and what our next steps should be.

HIV.gov readers know that getting people in your community tested and into care is an essential part of addressing the HIV epidemic. For program managers, it’s an ongoing job that requires a broad array of tools, knowledge, and skills. But wait, clients may want to confidentially learn about services when your organization is closed.

HIV.gov provides the HIV Testing Sites & Care Services Locator as a tool to help you serve your audience at all hours. With its location-based information, your site visitors can search at any time for federally funded testing services, housing providers, health centers, and other service providers.