TPAN Receives $2.5 Million From SAMHSA for New Substance Abuse Program

Chicago, Illinois, -- On October 2, 2012 Test Positive Aware Network (TPAN) received notification of having been awarded a five-year, $2.5 million grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The funding is for a new substance abuse treatment program which will address the gaps in services for young African-American men between the ages of 18 and 29 in Chicago, Illinois.

Healthy Outcomes Through Treatment, Empowerment, and Recovery (HOTTER) will aim to reduce the impact of behavioral health problems, reduce HIV risk and incidence, and increase access to treatment for individuals with co-existing behavioral health, HIV, and hepatitis conditions. HOTTER will ensure that individuals who have or are at high risk for a substance use and/or a co-occurring mental disorder and who are living with or most at risk for HIV/AIDS have access to appropriate behavioral health services. TPAN is partnering with Lutheran Social Services of Illinois and Chicago Lakeshore Hospital for this endeavor.

"TPAN is extremely honored and excited to have been selected for this program, which will enhance our existing substance abuse and mental health services that were started with our first SAMHSA capacity expansion grant in 2007," said Executive Director Bill Farrand. "More importantly, we feel that HOTTER will directly fill an urgent need for the community that is most at risk for HIV by providing treatment and prevention for the co-factors that make them vulnerable."

Now in its 25th year, TPAN's mission is to empower everyone living with or at risk for HIV/AIDS to live open, healthy, and productive lives. TPAN innovates to deliver peer-led support programs and collaborative wellness services and to communicate comprehensive information. TPAN will do so until HIV/AIDS is eradicated.