Peer Engagement to Improve Linkage to Care and Retention in Care for Youth, Women, Infants, and Children

University Health (UH) uses peers and patient navigators to provide support, reduce barriers, and improve linkage and retention to care for women and youth with HIV. Two peers with lived experience were hired as Outreach Specialists to spearhead the program, which is named FAM210. Their duties include planning and facilitating support groups, connecting clients to patient navigators, and developing innovative ways to engage youth and women. Outreach Specialists also share similar experiences, encourage medication adherence and use of services, and provide mentoring. The intervention was successful in moderately improving the numbers of clients linked to care, retained in care, and virally suppressed.