# The Juntos Referral Network: Planning an Implementation Strategy to Enhance the Reach of HIV Prevention and Treatment Services to Latino MSM and Address Intersectional Insecurities

> **NIH NIH P30** · UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI CORAL GABLES · 2021 · $301,000

## Abstract

HIV disparities among Latino men who have sex with men (LMSM) are fueled by intersectional insecurities tied
to inequity. Our research with LMSM in Miami-Dade County (MDC) found that interlocking oppressive systems
(e.g., intersectional stigma, immigration, structural barriers) prevent LMSM from obtaining HIV-prevention (e.g.,
pre-exposure prophylaxis/PrEP, non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis/nPEP) and treatment (e.g., rapid
ART). Yet, LMSM’s peers can facilitate the extended reach of services. We also found that HIV services in
MDC are fragmented, creating challenges for stakeholders to navigate LMSM to existing, potentially useful HIV
services that address intersectional insecurities (e.g., free transportation, drop-in services, rapid service
delivery, and co-located ancillary services) and therefore block access to evidence-based interventions.
Accordingly, we will employ community engaged methods to develop an implementation strategy (the Juntos
referral network) to improve the reach of PrEP, nPEP, and rapid ART to LMSM. The implementation strategy
will improve reach by (a) strengthening relationships and cross referrals between HIV organizations and (b)
increasing consumer demand via LMSM’s access to information about HIV and ancillary services addressing
intersectional insecurities and peer support for services. The planning project will be conducted in partnership
with implementing and community partners (Florida Department of Health, Care Resource, LMSM advisory
board). Aim 1: Identify LMSM and stakeholder priorities for the content, design, and implementation of
Juntos. Interviews (based on the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research and Health Care
Disparities Framework) with LMSM (N=20-30) and stakeholder focus groups (1-2 groups) will identify priorities
for Juntos’ content (e.g., information to be included about HIV organizations), design (e.g., interactive features
with peers), and implementation (e.g., anticipated uses). Surveys with LMSM (N=200) and stakeholders
(N=100) will further assess priorities. To expedite translation of the implementation strategy into the field,
qualitative data will be analyzed via rapid qualitative analysis and surveys will be analyzed descriptively with
subgroup comparisons (e.g., immigration, language). Aim 2: Identify services. Interviewer-administered
surveys and web-based data extraction will identify local HIV organizations’ available services (N=30+),
mapped on to priorities identified in Aim 1, informing the content of Juntos. Aim 3: Develop and pre-test
prototypes. We will produce prototypes of Juntos and gather feedback via theater testing with LMSM (N=10-
15 individual tests) and stakeholders (N=1-2 group tests). Interviews and surveys will elicit feedback on the
content and design of Juntos as well as implementation outcomes (acceptability, appropriateness, feasibility).
The project will add value by creating an implementation strategy tailored to LMSM’s intersectional inse...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10394554
- **Project number:** 3P30MH116867-03S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI CORAL GABLES
- **Principal Investigator:** Steven A Safren
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $301,000
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2019-03-22 → 2023-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10394554

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10394554, The Juntos Referral Network: Planning an Implementation Strategy to Enhance the Reach of HIV Prevention and Treatment Services to Latino MSM and Address Intersectional Insecurities (3P30MH116867-03S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-02 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10394554. Licensed CC0.

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