Respond Carolinas is a community‑centered initiative aimed at improving HIV prevention, testing, and care engagement among Black and Latino men and transgender women in Charlotte, NC, and the surrounding area. The project is led by Ann Dennis, MD, MS, the principal investigator and an associate professor of infectious diseases at UNC; Meagan Zarwell, PhD, the co‑investigator and an associate professor of epidemiology and community health at UNC Charlotte; and other experts at UNC and UNCC. Respond is working to implement an enhanced version of the CDC’s Social Network Strategy in communities experiencing rapid and recent HIV transmission.
Three components have been utilized to achieve the project’s goals:
- The enhanced SNS intervention
- Integrated molecular epidemiology
- Community Advisory Group led by Alicia Diggs, the UNC CFAR Office of Community Engagement Manager.
Focus group discussions and in‑depth interviews with HIV service providers, public health staff, and community members have helped ensure the interventions are culturally aligned, community‑driven, and practical. Additionally, the CAG has guided the project to invest in transparent communication and community‑led messaging. Molecular epidemiology combined with social network approaches has led to transmission networks being identified more precisely, helping guide where resources including testing, PrEP outreach, and re‑engagement in care should be directed.
“This work is about partnership. Public health staff, community organizations, and community members themselves are all essential to building a stronger, more equitable HIV response.” – Ann Dennis
Read more about Respond Carolinas here.