Watch our PrEP Campaign Video!
About the T'Cher Take Charge Initiative
What is this study?
This is a multi-year study to make PrEP accessible for women of trans experience . If you are chosen and participate in surveys and messaging, you can possibly earn up to $1055 over a period of two years.
You must be willing to be interviewed, tested for HIV, and willing to text with the T’Cher team for a year. This study is sponsored by the National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH) in an effort to reduce the rate of new HIV transmissions in women of trans experience.
For those who are enrolled, we pay incentives for surveys and check-ins over a period of two years. We will let you know how much each point is and will provide information and a reloadable Visa card for payment throughout the survey.
The study is for individuals 18 years of age and older living in the Baton Rouge and New Orleans metro areas, which include the following parishes: Jefferson, St. Bernard, Plaquemines, St. John the Baptist, St. James, St. Charles, and St. Tammany) as well as the following parishes: West Feliciana, Pointe Coupee, East Feliciana, East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Iberville, Ascension, St. Martin, St. Helena, Tangipahoa, Washington, Livingston, Lafourche, Terrebonne, Assumption, and St. Mary.
What is PrEP?
PrEP (Pre-exposure Prophylaxis) is a medication that can reduce your chance of getting HIV from sex or injection drug use. It is available in pill and injection form.
Side effects?
Side effect can include diarrhea, nausea, headache, fatigue, and stomach pains. These side effects usually go away over time. Please talk to your health care provider if they don’t.
Why is this initiative important?
From 2019-2020 NHBS conducted the first population-based research on transgender women in the New Orleans metropolitan area. 46% of participants were living with HIV and of those trans women, 99% were in care and taking their antiretrovirals for suppression of HIV. 80% had an undetectable viral load. Trans women care about their sexual health and are excited that PrEP is a new tool in pill and injection form that can prevent HIV.
How do I enroll?
We need to have a few conversations with you to see if the program is right for you. Give us a call or email us to start the process.
Part of the enrollment process is a rapid HIV test that we will administer for you. The HIV test is required for enrollment and is free of charge.
Highlights from the T'Cher/Take Charge PrEP Campaign Video Premiere, March 11th, 2023.
Produced by Narquis Barak and the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance Team:
Conchita Iglesias-Mcelwee
Conchita is a Louisiana native and has over two decades of social work background. As a Licensed Master Social Worker and community advocate, she has worked in a wide variety of social justice initiatives such as the creation of equitable work for formerly incarcerated individuals, improved health care for houseless individuals living with a diagnosis of HIV, and emergency medical shelters for those affected by hurricanes in Louisiana. As a social worker in these spaces she has worked to change and create better policies and protections for the trans community. She is currently working on her PhD in Justice Studies with a concentration in social justice initiatives around improving health outcomes for the trans community. As an artist, she has also volunteered her time to at-risk youth programs, cultural events and workshops to teach the public about the beauty and history of her indigenous Mexican roots, spearheading arts collectives and selling her art.
Jasmine Davis
Jasmine Davis – A black woman of trans experience, who has been an advocate and leader in her community working passionately in healthcare and trans advocacy on many different platforms. Jasmine’s focus is the development of the LGBTQIA community both local and nationally to ensure the safety/success of her communities for generations to come, as we remain communities striving to thrive in a world that is already set up for us to fail.
Kyra Kincaid
My name is Kyra Kincaid (she, her, hers), I am a black transgender woman who has been living and thriving with HIV since 2004. I am also a research associate with T’Cher. Before this position, I have been a busy little bee. Ranging from simply volunteering at community-based organizations to most recently, where I had the opportunity to work with the Louisiana Dept of Health. Finally, I'm working specifically with other women of trans experience.