Building Empathy, Transforming Access
HPTN 096 (also known as BETA: Building Empathy, Transforming Access) is a research study focused on helping men in the American South get better access to HIV prevention and treatment. We provide practical solutions for men’s sexual health, from 1:1 support to better equipping local health providers and organizations.
Looking at the whole picture:
We’re simultaneously addressing four key aspects of men’s lives to make it easier to access effective and empathetic HIV prevention and treatment. We aren’t just looking at results but how this model can be put into practice across wider communities.
1:1 Support
Sometimes the best help comes from someone who’s been there
Dedicated and highly trained, we connect men with our Peer Supporters to provide practical, nonjudgmental support and guidance that goes beyond what’s offered in a clinic. Peer Supporters share many lived experiences with the men in their community, so they can relate to the challenges faced in getting care—and can provide trusted guidance and encouragement that actually makes a difference:
- Honest information on sexual health topics
- Real talk on how you can stay safe and healthy
- Emotional support to help you feel connected and empowered
- Knowledge of supportive local clinics
- Direct connections to local community resources
- Help accessing affordable testing, prevention, treatment
- and more
Talk to someone who gets it
Health Care Facilities
Improving the healthcare experience itself
Healthcare spaces that are supportive and prepared strengthen the connection between communities and the care they deserve. This part of the study is called PHASE: Promoting Human Autonomy, Support, and Empathy. By providing tailored trainings and quality improvement, we enable clinics and health centers to:
- Create environments where men feel respected, heard, and supported
- Increase the number of men getting tested, accessing prevention and treatment options, and staying consistent with their care
- Help more men living with HIV achieve viral suppression (Undetectable = Untransmittable)
Health Access Coalitions
Local health coalitions are foundational to this work
The dedication of organized, community-wide responses creates lasting change in men’s sexual health care. We help facilitate local coalitions in their ability to:
- Bring together local leaders and organizations to challenge social barriers and normalize prevention
- Raise awareness and build educational campaigns so more men know about their options
- Advocate for policies that increase access to HIV resources
Together, these four components aim to increase PrEP usage in men not living with HIV, increase care retention in men living with HIV, and increase the number of local health care facilities involved in this strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Focusing on the South:
The southern U.S. has some of the highest rates of new HIV cases in the country, and many men face barriers to accessing care. HPTN 096 is an approach designed to break down those barriers and create a model of support that actually makes a difference.
Designed by and for the communities we support, we’re currently working in:
- Dallas, Texas
- Fort Lauderdale/Miami, Florida
- Montgomery, Alabama
