Targeted Capacity Expansion HIV: Substance Use Disorder Treatment for Racial/Ethnic Minority Women at High Risk for HIV/AIDS (Short Title: TCE-HIV: Minority Women) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the TCE-HIV: Minority Women grant opportunity?

The Targeted Capacity Expansion HIV: Substance Use Disorder Treatment for Racial/Ethnic Minority Women at High Risk for HIV/AIDS (TCE-HIV: Minority Women) is a discretionary federal grant opportunity intended to strengthen and expand community capacity to deliver integrated services at the intersection of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, behavioral health, and HIV-related prevention and medical services.

Which federal agency administers this grant?

This opportunity is administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), specifically the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT).

What is the Funding Opportunity Number and CFDA number?

The Funding Opportunity Number is TI-16-011, and the CFDA number is 93.243.

What is the overall purpose of the program?

The program is designed to build capacity for integrated, coordinated care so that women can access substance use treatment, behavioral health supports, and HIV-related prevention and medical services in a more seamless way, rather than having to navigate disconnected systems.

Who is the primary target population?

The primary target population is women age 18 and older from African American, Hispanic/Latina, and other racial and ethnic minority groups who are living with HIV/AIDS or are at elevated risk for HIV/AIDS.

Does the program include women of different sexual orientations and gender identities?

Yes. The population emphasis is explicitly broad and inclusive, encompassing heterosexual women as well as lesbian, bisexual, and transgender women.

Are previously incarcerated women included in the target population?

Yes. The opportunity recognizes heightened vulnerability among previously incarcerated women and includes them within the population emphasis.

Is the program limited to women living with HIV, or also women at risk?

It includes both. The program focuses on minority women who are living with HIV/AIDS and those who are at elevated risk.

Does the target population include women with co-occurring mental disorders?

Yes. The target population includes women with substance use disorders as well as women with co-occurring substance use and mental disorders, reflecting an emphasis on addressing overlapping behavioral health needs together.

Who are the intended applicants or service settings?

Funding is primarily aimed at substance use disorder treatment providers that need to integrate HIV-related services into their existing treatment settings, including through strong coordination with HIV prevention and medical services.

What does "integrated, coordinated care" mean in this opportunity?

It refers to a combined service model where clients can access substance use treatment, behavioral health supports, and HIV medical care in a coordinated, less fragmented way, with the goal of reducing barriers, improving continuity, and increasing retention in care.

What are the main program goals described in the announcement?

The opportunity describes goals that include: reducing HIV infection and transmission among high-risk minority women; addressing substance use behaviors linked to HIV vulnerability; incorporating responses to violence and trauma; expanding culturally appropriate, women- and family-centered, trauma-informed treatment paired with HIV and viral hepatitis services; providing education and empowerment related to safer sex and risk reduction; and implementing evidence-based interventions.

Which substances or patterns of use are specifically called out as part of HIV risk reduction?

The announcement specifically calls out reducing use of alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, heroin, injection drug use (IDU), and prescription drug misuse as part of reducing HIV vulnerability and transmission risk.

Why does the grant emphasize trauma and violence?

The opportunity identifies violence and trauma as major drivers of both substance use disorders and HIV risk, and notes that untreated trauma can undermine treatment retention and increase the likelihood of ongoing high-risk behaviors.

What does "trauma-informed" mean in the context of this program?

Based on the announcement description, it means applicants are expected to incorporate approaches that identify and respond to trauma and violence as part of service delivery, recognizing trauma as a key factor affecting engagement, retention, safety, and outcomes.

What does "women- and family-centered" mean here?

The opportunity emphasizes treatment approaches that are culturally appropriate and centered on the needs of women and families. It also allows services and supports to extend to participants significant others when that involvement helps improve engagement, retention, safety, and health outcomes.

Can services extend to a participants significant other?

Yes. The opportunity allows services and supports to extend to participants significant others when doing so helps improve engagement, retention, safety, and health outcomes.

What HIV-related services are emphasized?

The program focuses on integrating HIV-related prevention and medical services with SUD and behavioral health care, and includes prevention education (such as safer sex practices and condom use) alongside coordinated access to HIV medical care.

Are viral hepatitis services included?

Yes. The inclusion of viral hepatitis is explicit, with the opportunity noting HIV and hepatitis B and C testing as key elements alongside substance use and behavioral health services.

What kinds of education and empowerment activities does the grant highlight?

The opportunity highlights education and empowerment so women can better understand and adopt safer sex practices, including condom use, and make informed choices about behavioral health and trauma-related risk behaviors.

Are funded projects required to use evidence-based interventions?

Yes. The opportunity requires implementation of evidence-based interventions, meaning prevention, treatment, and engagement strategies supported by credible research or established best practices.

How many awards were anticipated, and what was the maximum award amount?

SAMHSA anticipated making about 22 awards. The award ceiling was $500,000 per award.

What fiscal year is associated with this funding opportunity?

The opportunity was released for FY 2016.

When was the opportunity posted, and what was the application deadline?

The posting and creation dates were February 29, 2016, and the application closing date was April 29, 2016.

What is the stated eligibility category?

Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement, indicating applicants typically needed to consult the official notice to confirm whether their organization type and proposed approach met SAMHSA requirements.

What kinds of system changes is this grant trying to support?

This opportunity is framed as a capacity-expansion and service-integration initiative, intended to help programs build out staff, partnerships, clinical workflows, and culturally responsive practices to better serve minority women facing compounded risks related to substance use, trauma, and HIV.

What outcomes is the program ultimately trying to improve?

The opportunity aims to reduce new HIV infections and transmission risk, improve engagement and retention in treatment and care, and improve health outcomes for women living with HIV, by integrating behavioral health and HIV medical care and addressing trauma, substance use, and prevention needs together.