INTRODUCTION:
public health responses to hiv increasingly emphasize integration with mental health, substance use, and ageing services. However, workforce training gaps and fragmented service delivery persist, particularly in home and community based service settings serving immigrant and older adult populations. Reliance on homecare, linguistic isolation, and limited health literacy can heighten vulnerability while hiv prevention and referral opportunities remain underutilized outside clinical environments.

METHODS:
a multi level workforce development programme was implemented in massachusetts to integrate hiv awareness, mental health screening, substance use risk identification, and trauma informed care into home and community based services. The programme operated across three linked platforms: a geriatric human services agency providing in home care, a workforce training institute delivering structured education to nurses and home health aides, and a nonprofit implementation arm administering a two year internship and preceptorship programme. Twenty one trainees participated across certificate, bachelor, master, and doctoral levels. Training emphasized applied learning, cultural responsiveness, supervision, and systems navigation in immigrant and ageing focused home settings.

RESULTS:
the programme demonstrated the feasibility of embedding hiv relevant competencies into non traditional public health and social care settings through workforce development. Trainees reported improved confidence in identifying behavioral health and substance related risk factors, enhanced engagement with older adults and clients with limited literacy or language access, and increased recognition of homecare workers as critical actors in prevention and referral.

CONCLUSIONS:
integrating hiv, mental health, and substance use competencies into home and community based workforce systems represents a scalable and equity oriented public health strategy. Strengthening frontline capacity in home based care can extend prevention and linkage to care for populations often missed by clinic centered approaches and supports health systems strengthening in migrant receiving and ageing societies.