The BRIDGES Project: Bridging Resources to Engage Women in Integrated HIV Care and Support Services

The BRIDGES Project seeks to test a program intended to help women living with HIV who face specific barriers due to culture, gender, violence, trauma, adverse mental health, and substance use to be able to better access HIV care. This program was created and tried with women living with HIV, as previously studies have indicated that women with these experiences are less likely to have stable HIV care. The BRIDGES Project will use Peer Navigators, who are other women living with HIV who have had similar experiences and have been successful in accessing care, to help other women living with HIV to access HIV care and stay in HIV care. The BRIDGES Project will also provide support to women through group sessions co-facilitated by a licensed clinical therapist and Peer Navigator. Through participation in BRIDGES, women will: (1) build skills to cope with HIV care and treatment barriers (e.g., violence, trauma, adverse mental health, substance use); (2) be connected to HIV treatment and other support services (e.g., domestic violence, mental health, substance use); and (3) learn interpersonal skills to connect with support (e.g., service providers, peers, friends, family) when faced with new or ongoing barriers.