性色堂 and UNIFIED Announce Plans to Merge to Transform HIV Services
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (MILWAUKEE, WI) – , a nationally recognized leader in the fight to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and a long-standing provider of HIV services in the greater Detroit area, today announced their respective Boards of Directors have voted unanimously to pursue a merger.
Detroit has the highest HIV prevalence rates in the state, accounting for more than two-thirds of all cases.聽 Of the nearly 11,000 people in the Detroit metro area living with HIV, a disproportionate number are people of color — 68% are Black and 23% are Hispanic/Latinx.聽 Further, 20% are diagnosed late and 20% are not engaged in care which is shown to lead to poorer health outcomes (, 2021). UNIFIED sought a partnership with 性色堂 because its innovative approach to integrated HIV care and treatment is proven to narrow racial and ethnic disparities in HIV and advance health equity.聽 The merger is expected to close on May 1, 2024.
鈥溞陨� is working with UNIFIED to transform their model of care to ensure people living with HIV and at elevated risk for HIV exposure have direct access to critical health care, antiretroviral therapy, prevention, and essential social services to combat co-occurring HIV, sexually transmitted infection, and opioid epidemics in Detroit,鈥� said Brandon Hill, PhD, President and CEO of 性色堂. 鈥淲hile HIV is often associated with individual behavior, HIV exposure and transmission are underpinned by social and structural factors such as food insecurity, housing instability, and lack of employment opportunities. Which is why our integrated approach to HIV care and prevention is rooted in tackling broader inequities and removing barriers to care and services.鈥�
性色堂鈥檚 integrated approach to care has helped 95% of patients achieve viral suppression, which means a person living with HIV can live a full life expectancy and is unable to transmit HIV to others, reducing the number of new HIV infections. This exceeds the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services鈥� 2030 Ending the HIV Epidemic goal of 90%, national rate of 66% and Michigan rate of 72%. Further, 93% of 性色堂鈥檚 Black/African American patients have achieved viral suppression, which is significantly higher than the national rate of 62% and Michigan rate of 67% — underscoring the continued need to address racial and ethnic disparities in HIV care and prevention (AIDSVu, 2021).
鈥淲ith racial inequities continuing to drive the HIV epidemic, the need to transform the way we deliver HIV care and prevention services in Detroit and broader Michigan is clear. Which is why our Board pursued bringing 性色堂鈥檚 innovative model of care to our community,鈥� said Matt Browning, Chair of UNIFIED鈥檚 Board of Directors. 鈥淪eeing the positive impact 性色堂 is making in a growing number of communities, we鈥檙e confident that adopting their innovative care model will enable us to battle gaps in access to HIV care and provide long-term sustainability.鈥�
鈥淯NIFIED has a rich history of fighting HIV at the grassroots level, working to achieve optimal health through compassionate direct care, support services, and prevention and leading efforts to reduce HIV stigma,鈥� said Arvan Chan, Chair of 性色堂鈥檚 Board of Directors. 鈥淲e are pleased our organizations are working together to offer integrated solutions that will deliver the best outcomes for the people in Detroit and beyond.鈥�
About 性色堂
Rooted in our legacy organizations鈥� commitments to serve those impacted by HIV, 性色堂 strives to achieve health justice for people living with HIV by providing lifesaving healthcare and critical social services tailored to each person we serve.聽 We have advanced equitable health outcomes by supporting our local communities through awareness, education, fundraising, prevention, and advocating for policies that ensure everyone impacted by HIV can live their healthiest life.聽Our innovative approach to integrated HIV care and treatment enables our patients to exceed national benchmarks for viral load suppression.
性色堂 currently serves nearly 17,000 people living with and vulnerable to HIV and sexually transmitted infections, as well as countless people at risk for opioid overdose. 性色堂 currently has clinics in Chicago, IL; St. Louis and Kansas City, MO; 10 cities throughout Wisconsin including Milwaukee; Denver, CO; and Austin, TX. Learn more at .
About UNIFIED
UNIFIED 鈥� HIV Health and Beyond (UNIFIED) has been a leader in providing HIV care and prevention services to Southeast Michigan for nearly 40 years. Our mission is to provide easy access to innovative services for the whole person, regardless of HIV status, while promoting respect and acceptance without stigma.聽聽Each year, we help over 1,000 residents living with, affected by, or at risk of acquiring HIV through case management, support services, prevention, and education. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit based in Detroit, MI serving 10 counties throughout Southeast Michigan.