Supported Employment to Create a Community Culture of Rapid Testing Among People Who Inject Drugs: PeerConnect2Test

Background: This study proposed a novel community-engaged strategy to improve the accessibility of rapid tests through a supported employment program for people who inject drugs (PWID) to train to become peer health workers (PHW) to deliver SARS-CoV-2 rapid testing to other PWID.

Materials/Methods: The study built upon previous research and existing partnerships to establish the employment program for PWID PHW, evaluate the benefits on PHW, and examine the reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance (RE-AIM framework) among PWID.

Outcome/Impact: This study developed a transformative community-driven intervention to promote widespread access to rapid testing among PWID. Findings from the study have broad public health implications for leveraging supported employment programs for PWID to prevent the transmission of other infectious diseases.