CHAMP is not a research project.

CHAMP is a community health service program that began in 2016 by addressing the disproportionate burden of HIV in Miami's diverse Black communities. Our locally-tailored strategy focuses on the expertise of our Community Health Workers (CHWs): trusted members of the community who provide culturally-informed education, linkage to care, and advocacy in non-traditional locations within South Florida’s Black neighborhoods.

Our services aim to support health and wellness by facilitating free HIV testing and risk reduction education for those who may be unaware of their status . If HIV+, we provide further support through linkage to care, guidance on antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence, and referrals to social services, such as housing, employment, and food resources.

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, CHAMP extended its services to COVID-19 testing, prevention, and vaccine uptake in under-resourced communities in Homestead, Florida City, and adjacent semi-rural areas of southern Miami-Dade County. Black and Hispanic populations have contracted and died from COVID-19 at almost double the rate of White populations. To best support the medically underserved individuals who do not otherwise have access to the formal healthcare system, our COVID-19 service program:

• provides information about COVID-19 risks and scientifically proven methods to prevent the spread of the virus;
• facilitates COVID-19 testing & vaccinations;
• campaigns to overcome vaccine hesitancy and promote vaccine uptake; and
• offers guidance on local vaccination opportunities

CHAMP is evaluated annually to document progress towards the following objectives:

• Delivery of HIV and COVID-19 screening in non-clinical settings targeting Miami’s diverse Black communities.
• Provide comprehensive risk reduction education and services for people living with HIV.
• Provision of HIV and COVID-19 education and prevention resources at the individual and community levels.
• Establish a sustainable, community-centered HIV and COVID-19 prevention system by empowering the community to remain active and engaged in HIV prevention.