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Ryan White Program
2012 Comprehensive Plan Process

You are cordially invited to participate in developing the 2012 Houston Area Comprehensive Plan... 

As you may be aware, every 3 years the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) requires us to create a new Comprehensive HIV Services Plan to address HIV/AIDS service delivery in our area. The plan is used to set long-term goals, objectives and strategies for delivering those services. All of the major institutions will be working with us throughout the process: the City Health Department, the Hospital District, the Homeless Coalition, possibly HISD and many others. Most of the work will be done in the next seven months with a due date of May 2012. We need you to participate so that we can create a great plan that will help clients in the Houston area and give Washington the best plan ever!

Five workgroups and an oversight committee were developed for this process; each workgroup has its own tasks in creating the plan. Descriptions of the workgroups, including meeting date, and time are as follows. Please sign up to participate on one of these workgroups. If they seem overwhelming, don't worry, we will make them interesting and fun and we will all learn a lot from the process: 

Coordination of Effort: Identify goals for ensuring access to care through coordination within the Ryan White Program and between Ryan White programs and other service providers. Propose ways to coordinate efforts between Ryan White programs and non-HIV programs.  Meets on the 4th Monday of the month at 1:00 p.m.

Evaluation: Evaluate the 2009 Comprehensive Plan and make recommendations for areas of need. Provide guidance on data collection. Review outcome measures and other indicators for use in monitoring the goals and objectives. Align the 2012 plan with other local, state and national initiatives/plans. Design the Evaluation and Monitoring Plan for the 2012 Plan.  Meets on the 1st Tuesday of the month at 1:00 p.m.

Gaps in Care and Out of Care: Identify goals for finding individuals who are aware of their HIV status but not in care (i.e., unmet need) including ways to improve retention in care. Propose solutions for closing gaps and addressing duplication of services.  Meets on the Wednesday after Council at 12:00 p.m.

Prevention and Early Identification: Identify goals regarding individuals who are unaware of their HIV status (EIIHA) to identify individuals who are HIV+ and inform them of their HIV status, refer to services and link to HIV care. Propose ways to coordinate efforts between Ryan White and prevention programs.  Meets on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 2:00 p.m.

Special Populations: HRSA identified populations for the 2012 planning process are: adolescents, IDUs, homeless and transgender; this workgroup will focus on these and other populations as determined. Identify goals for improving HIV care and propose solutions for meeting the needs of each population.  Meets on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 10:00 a.m.

Leadership Team: The "steering committee" of the planning process providing guidance and ongoing feedback. Provide a "big picture" perspective on HIV care and services. Help identify individuals to serve on the workgroups. Participate in the design of the community vetting process (e.g., community meetings, etc.). Review draft sections of the plan. Facilitate review of and concurrence with the plan by partner organizations.  Meets on the 4th Monday of the month at 2:00 p.m.

The Comprehensive HIV Planning Committee is responsible for the development of the Comprehensive Plan so most committee meetings will either be cancelled or scheduled to meet immediately after the Leadership Team meeting adjourns. Members of the Comprehensive HIV Planning Committee and the Ad Hoc EIIHA Strategy Committee are especially encouraged to sign up for a workgroup.

Please email if you would like additional information about any or all workgroups and which workgroup(s) you would like to join (diane.beck@hctx.net).  Meeting notices and packets will be sent via email approximately one week prior to the meeting date so you will have time to review the materials.

Your knowledge and experience are critical to this process. We look forward to working with you to develop this very important plan!