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Reengagement in HIV Care
Three Strategies to Break Down Barriers to Reengagement in HIV Care

Released: October 16, 2025

Brandon B. Williams
Brandon B. Williams, LCSW, LSSW
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Key Takeaways
  • Three key strategies for reengaging people in HIV care are information gathering, goal setting, and breaking barriers.
  • Across all 3 strategies, it is best to help people discover their own motivations for staying in care, with a supportive, welcoming attitude.  

While working in HIV care as a medical case manager, a social worker, a patient navigator, and a mental health clinician, I learned a few strategies that aided my successes in this work. Here, I discuss my lived experiences of breaking barriers to reengage individuals back into HIV care. 

Strategy 1: Information Gathering
I am a firm believer that if you want to understand the ending of a story, you must first look at the beginning. To successfully reengage individuals back into HIV care, it is important to consider the factors that led the person to drop out of care in the first place.

The first aspect to consider is the initial process of rebuilding rapport with the patient. In my experience, it is like you are meeting and engaging with the individual for the first time. While rebuilding rapport, it is important to be nonjudgemental and welcoming. This approach has been successful when working with youth and young adults, helping them understand that no matter what the struggle or barrier that caused them to fall out of care, we are still here for them to welcome them back.

Strategy 2: Goal Setting
Another important factor to consider is the person’s initial goal with HIV care. I’ve found that helping people remember their goals is a good starting point to rebuild rapport. From there, I help them to establish new goals.

I believe that my successes with this approach can be attributed to motivational interviewing. Motivational Interviewing is a proven, evidence-based approach that empowers the client to tap into their internal motivation to determine their own personal reasons for engagement in care. Motivational interviewing puts the patient in the driver's seat and in control of their care. Talking through reasons for engagement in care helps to establish realistic, attainable treatment goals and gives the person something to work towards. 

Strategy 3: Breaking Barriers
Finally, I work with my patients to identify and overcome their personal barriers to care. I consider the ability to give patients the tools to do this my greatest success. I help my patients overcome their barriers to care by showing them how to apply these tools to own life circumstances, which often extend beyond the social determinants of health.

One of my most effective strategies is helping each person tap into their own resilience, motivating them to continue to fight and persevere. People often need someone in their corner to support them, cheer them on, hold them accountable, and celebrate their successes. In all of the roles I’ve had the privilege of serving, this has proven to be especially true. 

I believe reassuring people that someone is always “rooting for them” is critical to reengagement in care. Continued motivation is a key component of that because it lets the person know that someone is always going to be in their corner, motivating them and praising their efforts, no matter what.

Your Thoughts
What strategies do you employ when reengaging people in care? How do you motivate patients and make them feel welcome? Leave a comment to join the discussion!

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