The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009 is divided into five major sections: Part A, B, C, D and F.  The Houston Area Ryan White Planning Council is only responsible for activities under Part A.  See Ryan White Part A Planning Council Primer and Ryan White Part A Manual.

Houston’s Council is a 38 member volunteer planning group comprised of community members who have been appointed by the CEO to serve a two-year term.  The CEO is the person who officially receives the Ryan White Program Part A funds and the appointment of the Planning Council is a requirement in order to receive that funding.

Council members, in collaboration with consumers, service providers, and other experts determine what services are most needed by people living with HIV in the Houston EMA.  The Council then prioritizes those services and decides the best way to allocate Houston’s Part A grant award to fund the service categories according to the approved priorities.

The Council also provides input in determining the Standards of Care for each of the funded service categories and for developing a Comprehensive Plan to provide those services.

The Council does not directly fund or contract with agencies to provide client services.  The Administrative Agent (Ryan White Grant Administration), a department of Harris County Public Health, is responsible for contracting with agencies according to the descriptions, priorities and allocations determined by the Council in order to acquire services for people living with HIV in the Houston area.  The Council also evaluates how well the Administrative Agent performs in contracting the provision of services.