(a) Upon an appropriation for the purpose described in Section 122425 in the annual Budget Act for the 2015–16, 2016–17, and 2017–18 fiscal years, the department shall award funding, on a competitive basis, to community-based organizations or local health jurisdictions to operate demonstration pilot projects pursuant to this chapter. The department shall determine the funding levels of each demonstration project based on scope and geographic area. Funds may be used to support other activities consistent with the goals of this chapter, including the purchase of hepatitis C viral infection (HCV) test kits, syringe exchange supplies, or other HCV prevention and linkage to care materials and activities.
(b) An applicant for funding shall demonstrate each of the following qualifications:
(1) Leadership on access to HCV care and testing issues and experience addressing the needs of highly marginalized populations in accessing medical care and support.
(2) Experience with the target population or relationships with community-based organizations or nongovernmental organizations, or both, that demonstrates expertise, history, and credibility working successfully in engaging the target population.
(3) Experience working with nontraditional collaborators who work within and beyond the field of HCV education and outreach, including homeless services, veterans’ medical and service programs, substance use disorders treatment, syringe exchange programs, women’s health, reproductive health, immigration, mental health, or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention and treatment.
(4) Strong relationships with community-based HCV health care providers that have the trust of the targeted population.
(5) Strong relationships with the state and local health departments.
(6) Capacity to coordinate a communitywide planning phase involving multiple community collaborators.
(7) Experience implementing evidence-based programs or generating innovative strategies, or both, with at least preliminary evidence of program effectiveness.
(8) Administrative systems and accountability mechanisms for grant management.
(9) Capacity to participate in evaluation activities.
(10) Strong communication systems that are in place to participate in public relations activities.
(Added by Stats. 2015, Ch. 18, Sec. 20. (SB 75) Effective June 24, 2015.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018