The BEACON Project

HIV is a manageable disease that requires regular basic medical care for effective monitoring and treatment.  Last year, of the 5,292 people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in the Saint Louis region, 45% had no evidence of this essential medical care.  Personal, societal and structural barriers, including HIV-denial, stigma, poverty, and limited access to appropriate services inhibit many PLWHA from receiving this basic medical care.  As a result, more than 2,000 PLWHA in the Saint Louis region are at risk of developing life-threatening opportunistic infections.  In addition, research has shown that PLWHA who are on effective anti-retroviral medications are less infectious.  Thus, if we could reduce these barriers for PLWHA, we would not only help them, we would also reduce the risk of HIV infection for everyone in the Saint Louis region.

To address this critical issue, Saint Louis Effort for AIDS, in partnership with the Saint Louis City Health Department and Washington University’s Project ARK, is implementing a uniquely personal and proactive intervention, The Barrier Elimination and Care Navigation (BEACON) Project.  The BEACON Project team will connect with people living with HIV who have no evidence of receiving medical care for over 12 months.  If they choose, they will be enrolled with one of two care Navigation Teams made up of a case manager, two peer advocates also living with HIV, and a community nurse.  Once these individuals have been enrolled, The BEACON Project will provide: 1) intensive case management to assist in navigating the structural barriers of the healthcare system; 2) ongoing peer support to address intrapersonal barriers; 3) creative, client-based solutions to address other barriers (childcare, housing, transportation, etc.)  Through these efforts, The BEACON Project will minimize barriers to care, improve the health outcomes of the people we serve and ultimately help bring an end to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in our region.

This essential service is made possible through a national access-to-care grant awarded to EFA by AIDS United, the Corporation for National & Community Service, Missouri Health Foundation, Incarnate Word Foundation and individual donors.  The grant is a Social Innovation Fund Access to Care initiative and requires 1-to-1 matching dollars each of the 3 years of the program.

For more information on The BEACON Project, email Steve Houldsworth or call 314.333.6670.