DC HIV Prevention Community Planning Group Meeting Highlights 7/13/2007

On August 20, a special meeting of the CPG was held to discuss the Interim Progress Report (IPR) and HAA budget for 2008. On August 30, 2007 the CPG issued a vote of concurrence with the IPR and budget. HAA submitted the application to the CDC on 9/4/2007. Noteworthy is the fact that the 2008 budget includes provisions to provide funding for needle exchange in DC, pending the ban on support of needle exchange with DC dollars is lifted. As discussed in yesterday’s meeting, the budget requested from CDC for next year remains relatively unchanged; most of the increase in the request is due to the rise in personnel costs. In 2007, DC was awarded $5.7million, $1.6mil less than the budget requested for next year. While HAA does not expect to receive the total amount of money requested from the CDC, the hope is that DC can maximize funding allotted and be awarded at minimum, the base award of $5.9mil. It is also helpful to know that DC did receive $1.46mil from CDC to support HIV testing which should alleviate some of the stress associated with the post-award notification re-configuration of the 2008 budget.

Due to all of the recent attention given to the condom campaign, the surveillance report will not be released this month but will most likely be available in October. The condom campaign controversy has also impacted the timeline for completion of the community services assessment (CSA) and resource inventory. The CSA will still be completed in collaboration with George Washington University but the contract has not yet been put in place. The time lines will be adjusted with updates to follow.

In response to all of the negative publicity around the condom campaign and effectiveness of the DC condoms, the DC condoms will be pulled and replaced with name brand condoms to be distributed to the community. Although some community members have the perception that the DC condoms are ineffective, DOH and HAA want to stress that the DC condoms are as safe and effective against transmission of HIV, STIs and pregnancy as any other latex condoms. The CPG approved a statement drafted by three members of the CPG’s Executive Committee which basically supports the condom distribution and makes a few suggestions to HAA for formation of a more solid distribution program. HAA recognizes the need for a more deliberate plan to distribute the condoms to the community members and will increase collaboration with CBOs to do this in the future. There are no definite plans to re-design a “DC Condom” but should HAA decide to once again explore this route in the future, community input, market research, and focus groups will be enlisted to provide insight into the design and how to market the condoms. Until a more community focused condom distribution plan emerges, condoms can still be requested by using the online request form or calling 202-671-4994 and speaking with Betty Jones.

There are currently seven vacancies on the CPG. Recruitment for new members will begin in January 2008. For more information about the CPG and how to become involved, please visit the CPG section of the DOH website.

The next meeting of the full CPG will take place Thursday, October 11, 2007 at 5:30 PM at 64 New York Ave NE Suite 500. Thank you.