# Community-based, client-centered prevention homes to address the rural opioid epidemic

> **NIH NIH UH3** · UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON · 2021 · $788,168

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
In response to RFA-DA-17-014, HIV, HCV and Related Comorbidities in Rural Communities Affected by Opioid
Injection Drug Epidemics in the United States: Building Systems for Prevention, Treatment and Control
(UG3/UH3), we propose a multi-phase, mixed-methods study that aims to implement and evaluate a novel
community response model, which we have named the Community-Based, Client-Centered Prevention Home.
Using the organizational infrastructure of a large, multi-site syringe service program serving a geographically
disperse population of people who inject drugs in rural communities across Northern Wisconsin, we will build
locally responsive systems to facilitate uptake of evidence-based prevention services for high-risk clients. The
Client-Centered Prevention Home model incorporates prevention case management and mobile health
information technology into traditional harm-reduction services delivered at syringe service programs, which we
hypothesize will increase use prevention services. During the UG3 phase, we will perform needs assessments
in 6 rural Wisconsin counties in partnership with local stakeholders, and use respondent driven sampling to
conduct a cross-sectional epidemiologic evaluation to estimate the prevalence of HIV, viral hepatitis and
sexually transmitted infections. Contingent upon meeting recruitment and data collection goals, in the UH3
phase of the project we will deploy and evaluate the Client-Centered Prevention Home model in the 3 counties
demonstrating highest vulnerability to worsening epidemics of opioid injection. The 3 remaining counties not
selected for implementation will serve as comparison sites in a quantitative evaluation of program effectiveness
during year 5. The growing problem of opioid injection in rural Wisconsin is highly significant because it
exemplifies trends observed nationally indicating severe vulnerability to worsening epidemics of HIV, HCV, and
opioid overdose deaths in rural communities that are substantially underserved by evidence-based prevention
interventions. This proposal is highly innovative because it will be the first study to use an evidence-based
mHealth strategy and a formal implementation science approach to enhance coordination of prevention
services in syringe service programs. It has potential for high impact because of our team's state-wide reach,
broad access to at-risk individuals, and robust infrastructure for conducting a rigorous, multi-site evaluation of
our proposed model.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10241935
- **Project number:** 5UH3DA044826-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
- **Principal Investigator:** David W Seal
- **Activity code:** UH3 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $788,168
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-08-15 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10241935

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10241935, Community-based, client-centered prevention homes to address the rural opioid epidemic (5UH3DA044826-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10241935. Licensed CC0.

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