Ending the HIV, HCV, and Syphilis Epidemics in Indian Country (ETHIC)

ETHIC Program Overview

The ETHIC Program is focused on improving the health of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities by addressing the interconnected syndemic of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), sexually transmitted infections (STIs), viral hepatitis, and substance use.
 
Grounded in the Indigenous HIV/AIDS Syndemic Strategy, the program works across individual, family, community, and systems levels to strengthen prevention, testing, diagnosis, treatment, linkage to care, harm reduction, and public health response through culturally responsive and community-driven ways.

Projects & Initiatives

Services Offered

Technical Assistance

SPTHB provides technical assistance to Tribes, Tribal health programs, Indian Health Service IHS, Urban Indian Organizations, clinics, and community organizations to strengthen HIV, STI, viral hepatitis, substance use, and syndemic prevention efforts.

Support may include:

Program planning and implementation
Clinical and community capacity building
Prevention and testing program guidance
Quality improvement support
Policy and procedure development
Referral and linkage to care strategies
Educational materials and resource development

Community Outreach & Health Education

SPTHB partners with Tribal communities to provide education, outreach, and prevention resources throughout Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas.

Services include:

Health fairs and outreach events
Safer sex education
Youth education
Opioid prevention education
Sexual health resource distribution

HIV & Syphilis Self-Test Kits

Through the Native Test Program, individuals nationwide can receive free HIV and syphilis self-test kits along with educational resources and support to help understand results and get connected to care.

Visit NativeTest.org or text “Native Test” to 55251 to get started today!

Bulk Supply Requests

Tribal Nations and Tribal partners within our service area of Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas can request health resources and supplies in bulk. Available items may include condoms, lubricant, dental dams, HIV self-test kits, syphilis self-test kits, condom dispensers, educational materials, and other related resources. Supplies vary based on available funding and inventory. To request supplies, contact nativetest@spthb.org

PrEP and PEP Navigation

Our team helps individuals understand HIV prevention options and helps connect them with services. Pre-exposure prophylaxis is a medicine that you can take to prevent HIV (HIV PrEP) and STIs (Doxy PrEP). When taken as prescribed, PrEP can stop the spread of HIV and STIs from one individual to the next. PrEP is highly effective for preventing HIV from sex (99%) and injection drug use (74%).

HIV PrEP works by preventing HIV from replicating in the body. HIV PrEP can be taken in different forms – daily pill, injectable, or on demand pill regimen.

Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) is a pill you take within 72 hours after sex to help prevent certain STIs. DoxyPEP helps with chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis. HIV PEP helps prevent HIV infection.

To learn more about PrEP or PEP, receive personalized education, or get connected with a healthcare provider, visit NativeTest.org or text “PrEP Talk” to 55251 to get started today.

Partnerships & Collaboration

We collaborate with Tribal Nations, Indian Health Service, Urban Indian Organizations, state and local health departments, universities, and community organizations to strengthen integrated syndemic prevention and response efforts.

Partnership opportunities include:

Community events
Outreach initiatives
Training and education
Resource sharing
Public health planning
Capacity building
Collaborative projects
Technical assistance

Careers With SPTHB

We provide excellent compensation and benefits, a work-life balance focused schedule, and a diverse and innovative work environment. Come grow with us!

Meet Our Staff

Learn more about the leaders, advisors, evaluators, and advocates who maintain an unwavering focus on improving health outcomes for tribal nations and communities in KS, OK, and TX.

Programs & Projects

We provide public health services in epidemiology, data management, data analysis, training, health promotion/disease prevention, and research through outreach and creative partnerships.

Native Test Program Staff