Significant Number of ASOs/CBOs Temporarily Close Offices and Eliminate Services Due to COVID-19 Pandemic 

HealthHIV’s State of ASOs/CBOs National Survey Identifies Major Financial Constraints Impacting Service Delivery

Washington, DC – Nearly half (49%) of AIDS service organizations and community-based organizations (ASOs/CBOs) nationwide will have to eliminate key services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and 19% have temporarily closed their physical offices, according to HealthHIV’s Second Annual State of ASOs/CBOs National Survey^TM. The survey findings indicate that ASO/CBO sustainability and viability are at stake due to financial constraints, despite increased flexibility of national and local regulations and the ability of ASO/CBO management to remain responsive and proactive.

HealthHIV released a comprehensive report of HealthHIV’s Second Annual State of ASOs/CBOs National Survey^TM findings, which includes first-of-its-kind data on the state of ASOs/CBOs and COVID-19. The report indicates that ASOs/CBOs need support to further develop leadership in their organizations, increase the sustainability of their services, generate/diversify revenue sources, and prepare for and respond to public health emergencies. Survey findings emphasize the need for more diverse, interdisciplinary training and technical assistance opportunities. The ASOs/CBOs surveyed also joined the updated HealthHIV ASO/CBO National Online Directory, which documents the availability and breadth of HIV services available to health care consumers across the country.

Key findings from the 550 ASOs/CBOs surveyed demonstrate challenges to ASO/CBO sustainability, including:

Services & Program Expansion

• 19% of ASOs/CBOs will close physical offices and 49% will reduce or eliminate services as a result of COVID-19.
• ASOs/CBOs expanded and integrated a number of services in the past 12 months, including: offering HCV screening (77%), harm reduction services (88%), PrEP services (66%), extra-genital STI screening/testing (43%), and linking to onsite clinical providers for HIV treatment (48%).
• Some ASOs/CBOs (22%) are conducting COVID-19 testing onsite.
• Most ASOs/CBOs (76%) plan to provide telehealth services to meet demand.

Fiscal Sustainability/Revenue Generation

• Half of ASOs/CBOs saw increases to their budgets in the last 12 months, but the majority of ASOs/CBOs (66%) still cite lack of financial resources as their largest barrier to expanding services.
• 24% of ASOs/CBOs anticipate that they will lose grant funding as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Most ASOs/CBOs (72%) anticipate using organization reserves in the coming months.

Staffing & Workforce

• Half of ASOs/CBOs (48%) have 20 or fewer staff members.
• Over a quarter of ASOs/CBOs (27%) will lay-off staff as a result of COVID-19.
• There remains a small number of ASOs/CBOs (12%) in rural areas where health system gaps, stigma, poverty, and lack of insurance prevail.

Training & Technical Assistance Needs

• ASOs/CBOs are most in need of training and technical assistance on organizational development and sustainability, leadership development, revenue generation and diversification, and telehealth.
• The most needed, and least received, training topics are: Revenue Generation and Diversification (43%), Unit Cost Calculation for Services (36%), and Performance-Based Payment Models (35%).

“Now, more than ever, ASOs/CBOs across the country have tremendous responsibility and also are the most at risk. ASOs/CBOs are critical not only to ending the HIV epidemic, but also to addressing the COVID-19 pandemic since they reach populations that are disproportionately impacted,” said HealthHIV’s Health Systems Capacity Building Director Marissa Tonelli. “Our survey findings show that ASOs/CBOs must fiscally diversify in order to sustain these essential services. They report needing training and guidance on organizational and leadership development and revenue diversification to ensure sustainability of their HIV programs.”

“ASO/CBO leaders and staff are working diligently to ensure continuity of services in their communities through the duration of this pandemic,” said HealthHIV’s Executive Director Brian Hujdich. “This survey further supports their need for training and technical assistance to implement effective telehealth programs so that their clients stay engaged in and have access to healthcare, from prevention services and treatment to behavioral health and other critical support services. Through their critical work addressing racial health disparities and reaching disproportionately impacted communities, ASOs and CBOs are at the epicenter of ending the HIV epidemic and meaningfully managing the COVID-19 pandemic.”

HealthHIV’s State of ASOs/CBOs National Survey^TM is fielded online annually via SurveyMonkey^TM. It is distributed through HealthHIV and its partners to hundreds of ASOs/CBOs in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and major U.S. territories.

HealthHIV’s Second Annual State of ASOs/CBOs National Survey^TM Report documents the key survey findings and their implications on ASO/CBO sustainability.

In conjunction with the survey, HealthHIV released an update of the HealthHIV ASO/CBO National Online Directory. The Directory of over 600 ASOs/CBOs is searchable and serves as a catalogue for organizations to initiate partnerships and streamline service delivery in their jurisdictions. Organizations can add their information to the HealthHIV ASO/CBO National Online Directory by completing the submission form here.

View HealthHIV’s Second Annual State of ASOs/CBOs National Survey^TM Report at www.HealthHIV.org and access the HealthHIV ASO/CBO National Online Directory at www.HealthHIV.org/Directory.

For More Information:

To learn more about the survey, report, or Directory, please contact:

Marissa Tonelli,
Director of Health Systems Capacity Building
Office:  202.507.4731 
Email: [email protected]

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