The New Haven, Fairfield County area has been receiving Ryan White funding from the Federal Government since 1993. The Ryan White CARE Act was a Federal program that provided emergency financial aid to communities that were hard hit by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. In December 2006 the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act was signed into law, replacing the CARE Act. The Modernization Act is divided into four parts, Part A, B, C, and D.

Each city or designated area that meets certain criteria, can submit a grant proposal to the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) to receive Part A funding. If approved, the funding is directed to the Chief Elected Official of the largest metropolitan area within the funded area. The Mayor of New Haven, CT is the recipient of the funds in our two county area. Until 2007 our two county area was classified as an Eligible Metropolitan Area or EMA, but with the implementation of the Treatment Modernization Act in March 2007, our designation changed to a Transitional Grant Area or TGA.

The Ryan White Program is designed to give communities some control and input as to how the funding is used to address the needs of the local HIV/AIDS community.  To this end, the Mayor is charged with assembling a planning body to help identify the local needs, and to direct resources to ensure that the dollars are used to provide appropriate services to those living with HIV/AIDS in New Haven and Fairfield Counties. The Planning Council is comprised of 3 Sub Committees, and Executive Committee and the monthly business meeting of the entire Planning Council membership. All Planning Council and Committee meetings are open to the public.

Those wishing to volunteer and become a member of the Planning Council must submit a nomination application, which is reviewed by the Council Membership/Finance Committee for several criteria, then, if approved by the committee and a Council vote, the application is forwarded to the Mayor for review.  If the applicant is approved, the individual will be appointed by the mayor to a 3 year term.

To achieve reflectiveness of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), and representation of those who work within HIV/AIDS arena of care, the Ryan White Planning Council is comprised of representatives from several categories as defined by HRSA.  Additionally, the Planning Council must be reflective of the epidemic in our area, and so must achieve specific ethnic and social demographic representation of PLWHA. The following are some of the HRSA required members: AIDS service providers, local and state health departments, Housing, Substance Abuse and Mental Health providers, People Living with HIV/AIDS, and representatives from other Ryan White Parts.

For more information on the work of the Planning Council, to attend meetings or to become a member please contact:

Staff

Sara Nichols
Collaborative Research, LLC
866-990-1203
sara@collaborativeresearch.us