Comprehensive Planning: The process of determining the organization and delivery of HIV services; strategy used by a planning council or consortium to improve decision-making about services and maintain a continuum of care for PLWHAs.

Consortium/HIV Care Consortium: A regional planning entity established by many State grantees under Part B of Ryan White to plan and sometimes administer Part B services; an association of health care and support service providers that develops and delivers services for PLWHAs under Part B of Ryan White.

DHS (Division of HIV Services): The division within the Bureau of Health Resources Development (BHRD) that is responsible for administering Part A and Part B of the Ryan White program.

EMA (Eligible Metropolitan Area): The geographic area eligible to receive Part B funds. The boundaries of the metropolitan area are defined by the Census Bureau. Eligibility is determined by AIDS cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Some EMAs include just one city, other EMAs are composed of several cities and/or counties; and some EMAs extend over more than one State.

Epidemic: The spread of an infectious disease through a population or geographic area.

Formula Grant Application: The application used by EMAs and States each year to request an amount of CARE Act funding which is determined by a formula based on the number of reported AIDS cases in their location and other factors. The application includes guidance from DHS on program requirements and expectations.

FY: Fiscal Year

Grantee: Another term for the recipient of Part A funds. As the official recipient of those funds in the EMA, the CEO is the grantee. However, the CEO usually delegates his or her authority to administer Part A funds to an organizational unit within the city or county government (e.g., the health department). Often, this entity is also referred to as the grantee. Use of the terms CEO and grantee helps to distinguish between the person ultimately responsible for the CARE Act grant (the CEO) and the entity which actually carries out the day-to-day operations associated with it (the grantee).

HDHHS: Houston Department of Health and Human Services.

HIV Disease: The entire spectrum of the natural history of the human immunodeficiency virus, from post infection through the clinical definition of AIDS.

HOPWA (Housing Opportunities for People With AIDS): A program administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development which provides funding to support housing for PLWHAs and their families.

HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration): The agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that is responsible for administering the Ryan White Program.

HTBMN (How to Best Meet the Need)

IGA (Intergovernmental Agreement): A written agreement between a Part A grantee and another governmental agency in the EMA; these agreements usually address the allocation of funds across agencies or jurisdictions.