# C2SPARC: Implementing mobile, POC COVID-19 testing in partnership with a community-based organization to reach women who use drugs.

> **NIH NIH R01** · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $451,330

## Abstract

Project Summary
 Marginalized populations such as women who use drugs (WWUD) have elevated risk of COVID-19
with risk mitigation techniques owing to the social nature of drug use procurement, drug use and sex work.
High rates of structural vulnerabilities (e.g., homelessness, hunger, incarceration) in combination with low
levels of healthcare utilization are key drivers of this high burden of disease. Through the “C2SPARC”
study, we propose expanding the depth of our understanding of drivers of POCT uptake in both research
and service delivery contexts. Specifically, we propose adding a 6-month follow-up visit (“C2SPARC visit”)
to the CARE study to more robustly examine trends in POCT uptake over time. Secondly, in partnership
with a leading harm reduction organization that serves WWUD, we propose designing and implementing
POCT on their nighttime mobile outreach van that provides harm reduction (e.g., condoms, naloxone,
syringes) and basic necessities (e.g., food, clothing). C2SPARC will employ Andersen’s Behavioral Model
(Aim 1), PRISM (Practical, Robust, Implementation, and Sustainability Model) (Aim 2), and the Theoretical
Framework of Acceptability (TFA) (Aim 3) to meet the following aims: 1) to examine predisposing (e.g.,
social - homelessness, food insecurity; individual - drug use, race/ ethnicity, health beliefs) factors as well
as enabling (past COVID-19 testing, vaccine uptake) factors that predict uptake of POCT over a six-month
period among WWUD (N=250) in Baltimore, Maryland; 2) to collaborate with the SPARC Center to develop
and implement POCT on their mobile outreach van that primarily serves WWUD in Baltimore City,
Maryland; and to examine the feasibility (e.g., testing uptake) and acceptability (e.g., participant burden,
testing self-efficacy) of mobile POCT testing among WWUD (N=250) who are clients of SPARC outreach.
C2SPARC is innovative its leverage of the Phase I cohort to evaluate POCT testing uptake longitudinally
which will inform the implementation of COVID-testing in the context of a meaningful community
partnership. Situating COVID testing in the context of trusted service provider is urgency needed. The
study’s impact and sustainability will also be enhanced by a community advisory board (CAB). Study results
can be quickly disseminated to policy makers and the target population through products (i.e., fact sheets,
manuscripts) and events (i.e., community forums) to inform community-based testing and eventual
vaccination programs targeting WWUD and similarly marginalized populations.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10408931
- **Project number:** 3R01DA041243-05S3
- **Recipient organization:** JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Susan G. Sherman
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $451,330
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2021-09-15 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10408931

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10408931, C2SPARC: Implementing mobile, POC COVID-19 testing in partnership with a community-based organization to reach women who use drugs. (3R01DA041243-05S3). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10408931. Licensed CC0.

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