Volunteer Opportunity: HPCPG Seeks New Members

The DC HIV Prevention Community Planning Group is looking for volunteers to help the DC Department of Health stop the HIV epidemic in the District. The group’s goal is to develop a comprehensive HIV Prevention Plan for the District.

The HPCPG is comprised of a diverse group of community members from different racial/ethnic, gender and age groups who represent the perspectives of the groups most affected by the epidemic, including injection drug users, heterosexuals and men who have sex with men,

The group includes individuals with expertise in behavioral science, epidemiology and evaluation, as well as individuals with knowledge of the HIV prevention needs of District residents. Approximately 20 percent of the members are people living with HIV.

The group meets approximately 8 times a year. Members serve 2-year terms.

We are seeking individuals who can represent the perspectives of various risk groups, either because they identify with or can advocate for these groups, including youth (men and women 13-24), PLWH, Black MSM, Black male IDUs, Black heterosexual men and women, and transgender women.

The HPCPG is also seeking behavioral scientists, epidemiologists and evaluators.

Applications may be submitted until October 26, 2009.

To obtain an electronic copy of the application or for additional information please e-mail donald.babb@dc.gov.

HIV Prevention Community Planning Group (CPG)-August Meeting Review

At the August meeting of the CPG, Dr. Hader engaged the CPG in a discussion about what HAA needs from the CPG as we move forward from the after-math of the reorganization of the CPG. Dr. Hader stressed that while she cannot tell the CPG how to accomplish our goals and tasks, she can outlay the needs of HAA to the CPG. At a minimum, the CPG should fulfill all CDC prevention mandates, including annual applications, population prioritization, gap analysis and the prevention plan for DC per the schedule provide by HAA. Additionally, the CPG must be a diverse body consisting of members with various skill sets which can be used to accomplish tasks. HAA would prefer that mandated processes (i.e., member recruitment, prioritization) utilize point people whom HAA can go to for information, clarification and to help ensure that processes are not stalled. Optimally, in addition to the minimum requirements, Dr. Hader encourages CPG members to engage in dialogue with HAA and provide insight about the prevention needs in the District that go beyond the CDC grant application. Dr. Hader also looks forward to having meaningful engagement with and from the Operations committee of the CPG and beseeched the committee institute a method that will ensure that HAA is aware of the progress of CPG activities and vice versa. The CPG requested that going forward that processes and communications from HAA be transparent as possible, and that there is mutual accountability for deadlines and task completion.
At the July CPG meeting, the bylaws were changed, resulting in the eradication of all standing committees and the installation of an Operations Committee. At the August meeting two members were voted on two the operations committee: Melina Afzal and I, Zenovia Wright. A motion was made to increase the size of the Operations Committee from five members to seven; this motion will be discussed and voted on at the next meeting of the CPG. Should this motion be approved, the two other CPG members who were nominated for the Operations Committee (Ron Simmons and Cyndee Clay) will be considered to fill the two remaining spots on the committee. Melina Afzal will serve a one-year term on the Operations committee and serve as chair of the ad-hoc Membership Committee. I will serve a two-year term and chair the ad-hoc Data/Prioritization Committee. Ad hoc committees are open to input and participation from all CPG and community members. Meeting dates and times TBA.
HAA was recently notified that the CDC Interim Progress Report is due from HAA on 8/22/08, approximately three weeks earlier than normal. As HAA is in the process of reviewing an RFA, they cannot identify how funds will be distributed throughout the city, however they can report that there are more funds available this year ($2mil compared to last year’s $1.4mil), and that they are looking at all target populations as well as some special populations. The report will also discuss the progress being made; final funding decisions will be made by October 1. The CPG authorized the Operations committee to review the IPR on its behalf and provide HAA with a letter of concurrence, non-concurrence or concurrence with reservations. HAA will provide a draft to the CPG by 8/22. The Operations committee will meet on 8/26 and notify HAA and the CPG of its decision.
The next meeting of the full CPG will be held on September 11, 2008 at 5:30 PM at 64 New York Ave NE. All are welcome to attend.

CPG Meeting Recap for 7/10/08

Since the current prevention plan has been extended through 2009, the CPG is taking the opportunity to explore ways to increase the group’s productivity and increase/maintain community input involvement. At last night’s meeting the CPG voted on proposed changes to the Bylaw’s concerning CPG membership.

In short, the Executive Committee proposed the following changes:

• Reducing the maximum number of voting members from 31 to 23.
• Holding 6 regular meetings of the full CPG each year (as opposed to 12) with the possibility that additional meetings can be called depending on the committee’s workload.
• Members must attend at least 4 meetings each year. An alternate may represent the member at one meeting each year.
• Eliminate all standing committees.
• Incorporate an allowance for ad hoc committees to be formed to address specific tasks as these situations arise.
• Transforming the Executive Committee into an Operations committee composed of the government co-chair, community co-chair, community co-chair elect, and four members of the CPG, with 2 chosen by the membership and 2 appointed by the CPG chairs.
  

The CPG discussed the proposed changes and decided:

• To keep the membership cap at 31 until/unless we could determine a reasonable justification for changing this number. The thinking behind the proposed change is that we could retain CPG members; however some CPG members are concerned that reducing the membership cap could negatively impact the diversity (community representation) of the CPG.
• The CPG decided to eliminate all standing committees, including the Executive committee.
• The CPG approved the installation of an Operations Committee, but with the following changes: Instead of being a body of 7 members, it has been reduced to a body of 5 members, with two members from the CPG instead of 4. Both members will be chosen/nominated by the full CPG.

Also important to note:
At the present time, all future full CPG meetings will continue to begin at 5:30 PM on the 2nd Thursday of the month in which a meeting is scheduled. The meetings are scheduled around times the CPG is needed to perform CDC mandated CPG tasks. Meetings will be held August 14, September 11 and November 13, 2008. In 2009, meetings will be held February 12, April 9, and June 11.

Currently, the Operations committee will meet monthly via conference call at 11:30AM on the first Thursday of each month. Two members from the CPG will be approved at the August 14, 2008 meeting.

As always, the community is welcome to attend all meetings and engage in the community process. Meetings are held at 64 New York Ave NE at 5:30PM in the 5th floor conference room. Thank you.

12/13/2007 Community Planning Group Meeting Re-Cap

At Thursday's CPG meeting, members of the committee were provided the results of the DC Appleseed report. For more details, check out the blog by David. The next Report card will be issued this summer and will most likely measure the same content areas.

While at the HIV Prevention conference in Atlanta, GA, Tiffany West had the opportunity to exchange ideas with other jurisdictions regarding the development of the Community Services Assessment for DC. Bidding on the contract for the completion of the CSA will begin next year. The prevention plan will still be completed by the September/October timeline.

A. Toni Young also reports that at the UCHAPS meeting held during the prevention conference, there was discussion around the move to combining HIV, STD, TB and Hep bureaus within various levels of government within different jurisdictions. At the meeting, there was discussion around beginning to think of ways to prepare CBOs to increase their capacity to focus on more than one of the aforementioned health issues. The concern is that if local governments merge resources, that CBOs will be expected to increase their capacities, and that those who can not keep pace, may lose funding. Ms. Young also informed us that the CDC is releasing both the Latino and African-American Heightened Responses to HIV in cities across the US.

The CPG will be testing out a new meeting format that will increase CPG member activity in committee's as well as minimize volunteer hours, thus maximizing the productivity of the CPG. The CPG meeting will be still begin at 5:30, but the entire meeting time will be extended by 30 minutes. During the first 1.5 hours, the CPG members will meet with their committees, after which the full CPG will convene and go over committee reports. The new meeting format will begin in January, at which point it will be tweaked as needed (less time in committees and more time as full CPG or vice versa). Many of the CPG members present at the meeting expressed positive thoughts about the new plan as it will enable members who were not able to make committee meetings previously, to be able to more fully participate.

The next meeting of the CPG will be January 10, 2008 at 5:30 PM with various committee meetings to be held in various rooms (posted in the building lobby) of 64 New York Ave NE. The full CPG will convene at approximately 7:00 PM. All are welcome to sit on on both or either part of the meeting. Thank you.

DC HIV Prevention Community Planning Group Meeting Re-cap

At last night’s meeting the CPG was officially introduced to Dr. Shannon Hader. Dr. Hader described the HIV/AIDS epidemic as “modern” citing that eradicating the epidemic will require modern and innovative solutions. Dr. Hader is looking forward to continued work with the DC community once the surveillance data is officially released and available to the public. She believes that together we can come up with innovative prevention strategies and use the results to determine how to further promote routine HIV testing.

HAA received word that the CDC Prevention Grant was officially extended an additional year to provide funding through December 2009. While this is exciting, it brings up many questions pertaining to the determinants for which agencies currently receiving funding through this grant will continue to do so as well questions around whether or not the DC HIV Prevention Plan will be extended or if this will be an opportunity to re-work the plan, using the surveillance data to determine where funding should be allocated. Potentially, a committee of CPG members will be formed to work with HAA to determine what the performance indicators will be for measuring the CBOs use of previously awarded funds. This seems like a great opportunity to re-vamp the Prevention Plan and align it with the epidemic in DC according to the data.

The surveillance report is completed, at the printer and expected to be released the week of 11/27 at several launch events. This report provides a thorough analysis (130 pages) of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the District and includes survival, mortality and perinatal data. A cautionary note to end users from Tiffany West: the report provides information on what is happening with the epidemic in DC, but not the why. The “why” will be included in the Epidemiologic Profile to be released in the summer of 2008 and will include information on a few special populations. The Scope of Work (SOW) for the CSA should be completed next week. Development of the Resource Inventory is underway and will be sent to the CPG for comment shortly. It will include questions around prevention efforts in use by CBOs as well as questions pertaining to care and treatment. The survey mechanism for CBOs will be finalized by the end of December. Although the initial deadline for completing the SOW has passed, Tiffany West assured us that there should be no problem completing the entire CSA on schedule (August 2008).

The next meeting of the CPG will be held on 12/13/2007 at 5:30 PM at 64 New York Ave NE.

Next HPCPG Meeting-11/15/2007

Please join us for the next HIV Prevention Community Planning Group (CPG) Full Committee Meeting on Thursday, November 15th, from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM. The meeting will be held at at 64 New York Avenue, NE - 5th Floor Conference Room.

Parking is available at this location after 5:30pm. To gain access through the security gate push 3# on the call box and mentioned that you are attending the CPG Meeting. It is also acessable by metro (red line NY Ave. Station) and by bus (90, 92, and 80 route). All are welcome to attend this meeting.

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.

DC HIV Prevention Community Planning Group Notes 7/12/07 Meeting

HAA reports that the application to the CDC for additional funding to support prevention programs is near completion. The CPG has provided the letter of support that will need to be filed with the application.

The issues with the logistical support contract have been temporarily resolved. The contract has been extended one month (the original contract expired 6/30/2007) in order to sort out remaining issues. At the end of the month, if the new contract is not completed, the contract will be extended once again through August. Once the new contract is complete, it will be implemented in such a way that the contractor will support each planning body (the CPG and the Ryan White Planning Council) as separate entities; the support needs/challenges of one body will not impede on the support needs of the other.


The IPR is due September 15, 2007. The process of declaring concurrence, non-concurrence or concurrence with reservations, is based around the IPR. HAA plans to provide a timeframe for when each step of the process will occur and provide supporting documentation for the process to the CPG.

Currently there are four vacant positions on the CPG. The Memberships and Bylaws committee will begin an open recruitment process in the coming weeks. More to come about this in a future update.

To date, there has been no response from the office of Eleanor Holmes Norton in response to the letter the CPG sent requesting that she advocate for increased CDC prevention dollars for the District of Columbia.

At the last meeting a decision made at an executive committee meeting to keep the CPG meeting time at 6PM was ultimately vetoed by HAA. As a result, despite short notice, this month’s meeting was scheduled to begin at 5PM. As a compromise to the meeting times, future meetings will be held at 5:30PM. A. Toni Young, Community Co-Chair, has requested a meeting with Dr. Gregg Pane to discuss underlying issues in the relationship between the CPG and HAA, which may have lead to the disagreement regarding the meeting time. The CPG is also considering submitting a letter of concern to the Mayor and Dr. Pane regarding the status of appointment of a Director of the HIV/AIDS Administration. This suggestion has been tabled for the next meeting, when more members are represented.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, one DC Resident mentioned that upon trying to obtain condoms from HAA for distribution, he was met with opposition. Leo Rennie assured him that there are plenty of condoms available for distribution. If you are interested in obtaining condoms for distribution please contact 202-671-4900 or complete the online condom request form at http://doh.dc.gov/doh/cwp/view,A,1371,Q,602297.asp .

The next meeting of the DC HIV Prevention Community Planning Group will be held at 5:30PM at 64 New York Avenue NE, 5th floor conference room. All are welcome.

HIV Prevention Community Planning Group Update 6/15/2007 Meeting

At the June meeting of the CPG we discussed HAA’s request for CDC funding in clinical settings for African-American men and women. The application is for $1.5 million to be used toward partner counseling, testing and referral and will mostly be distributed to contract sites. 20% of this funding can be applied to non-clinical settings, but HAA plans to use 100% of the award in clinical settings. HAA will continue its work with the Bureau of STDs. In order to complete the application, which is due by 7/16/2007, HAA will need to also submit a letter of support from the CPG.

Brenda Kelly, Chief of the new Capacity Building and Community Outreach Bureau at HAA, met with the CPG at last nights meeting to introduce herself and exchange ideas for the development of the role of this new bureau. Kelly plans to provide internal training to HAA staff and to provide assistance with other programs at HAA. She is also currently changing HAA’s 90 Day Progress Report to a 120 Day Progress Report. This office is responsible for the online resource guide (which can be found here)- information for obtaining a hard copy of the document is listed within the first few pages.

The letter addressed to Eleanor Holmes Norton to encourage her to request DC’s fair share of $45 million in additional prevention funding to be released by the CDC has been sent out. To date, there has been no response from her office.

Currently there are some issues pertaining to the Planning Council end of the logistical support contract which provides services for the CPG and Planning Council. The specifics of these issues have not been detailed, but they have resulted in the contractor ceasing all activities for both groups. At the time the contract is to be re-negotiated, the wording will specifically indicate the contractor’s responsibilities for both groups. This should prevent the activities of the Planning Council affecting the assistance provided to the CPG and vice versa.

The Bureau of Surveillance is putting their carry over dollars to use for a research contract with George Washington University. The contractor will collect ethnographic data on youth and transgender populations. This will ensure that these populations are properly represented in the next epidemiologic profile and will be prioritized accordingly.

The next meeting of the CPG will take place on July 12, 2007 time TBA (the CPG is considering changing the time of the meeting).

DC HIV Community Planning Group to Meet this Thursday

Please join us for the next HIV Prevention Community Planning Group (CPG) Full Committee Meeting is Thursday, June 14th, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. The meeting will be held at at 64 New York Avenue, NE - 5th Floor Conference Room.

To read Zenovia's summary of last month's meeting, click here.

Parking is available at this location after 5:30pm. To gain access through the security gate push 3# on the call box and mentioned that you are attending the CPG Meeting. It is also assessable by rail (red line NY Ave. Station) and by bus (90, 92, and 80 route).

Even if you are not a member of the DC HIV Prevention Community Planning Group, you are welcome to come to this meeting. The CPG is comprised of people living with HIV/AIDS, those at high risk for HIV, and representatives of affected populations from the community, as well as epidemiologists, behavioral and social scientists, HIV/AIDS service providers, health department staff, and other representatives of organizations that serve persons with, or at risk for, HIV infection. All members work as a team to analyze the course of the HIV epidemic in the District of Columbia, assess and prioritize HIV prevention needs, identify HIV prevention interventions to meet those needs, and develop a comprehensive HIV prevention plan the District of Columbia. All members are provided opportunities for orientation and skills building, and have meaningful involvement in the process and an equal voice in voting and other decision-making activities.

DC HIV Prevention Community Planning Group 5/10/2007 Meeting Update

The recent visit of Janice Norwood, CDC Project officer to HAA and the DC CPG, proved to be productive. During this visit the CDC reviewed HAA’s Interim Progress Report and questioned items such as why the Community Based Organization (CBO) reports were undone as well as what specific staffing costs were on the budget. HAA is currently working on a response to the suggestions and questions presented to them by Ms. Norwood and expect to complete this task within the next two weeks.

The CPG has questioned why the HAA budget includes funding for the STD Division and its staff. HAA explained that once funding was allocated to the STD Division it could not be returned to HAA. Furthermore, as part of the CDC’s review of HAA, they recommended that the STD Division and HAA form a more collaborative relationship to foster a more “official” PCRS program, of which DC is currently lacking. Ideally, CBOs would identify new HIV infection cases and provide this information to HAA, who would in turn submit the name to the STD Division who would then inform partners and recommend support services. Currently, the responsibility of PCRS rests on the shoulders of the CBO. Janice Norwood and her STD Division counterpart at the CDC are working on suggestions for how HAA and the STD Division can develop this partnership. A representative from STD informed the committee that the data they collect can be shared with HAA and the CPG. The executive committee will determine which data sets are important to the work of the CPG and make a formal request to STD for specific types of information.

A representative from NASTAD came to discuss the specifics of the $45million being released by the CDC to jurisdictions with a high incidence of infections amongst the African-American community as well as NASTAD recommendations for CDC funding going forward in FY2008. Further information on this can be found at http://nastad.org/Docs/highlight/200759_CDC%20HIV%20Funding%20Needs.pdf.

The letter to Congresswoman Norton has been finalized and will go out on CPG letterhead sans a signature from Leo Rennie, who as a government employee cannot sign the document.

Last month HAA provided the CPG with the budget they requested in August. HAA is requesting CPG member comments/questions/concerns regarding the budget to ensure it provides us with the data we need to develop a CSA and prioritize at-risk populations.

Upcoming meetings:
Program Initiatives Committee: 5/17 at 6PM.
Epi Data/Needs Assessment (EDNA): 5/29 6PM
Membership and Bylaws Committee: 5/31 at 6PM.
Evaluation Committee: 6/12 at 6PM


The next meeting of the DC HPCPG will be Thursday, June 14 at 6:00 PM. All meetings are held at 64 New York Ave, NE (Full CPG meetings on the 5th floor, committee meetings on the 1st).

DC HIV Prevention Community Planning Group Meeting This Thursday

Please join us for the next HIV Prevention Community Planning Group (CPG) Full Committee Meeting is Thursday, May 10th, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. The meeting will be held at at 64 New York Avenue, NE - 5th Floor Conference Room.

Parking is available at this location after 5:30pm. To gain access through the security gate push 3# on the call box and mentioned that you are attending the CPG Meeting. It is also assessable by rail (red line NY Ave. Station) and by bus (90, 92, and 80 route).

Even if you are not a member of the DC HIV Prevention Community Planning Group, you are welcome to come to this meeting. The CPG is comprised of people living with HIV/AIDS, those at high risk for HIV, and representatives of affected populations from the community, as well as epidemiologists, behavioral and social scientists, HIV/AIDS service providers, health department staff, and other representatives of organizations that serve persons with, or at risk for, HIV infection. All members work as a team to analyze the course of the HIV epidemic in the District of Columbia, assess and prioritize HIV prevention needs, identify HIV prevention interventions to meet those needs, and develop a comprehensive HIV prevention plan the District of Columbia. All members are provided opportunities for orientation and skills building, and have meaningful involvement in the process and an equal voice in voting and other decision-making activities.

DC HIV Prevention Community Planning Group 4/12/2007 Meeting Update

HAA provided the CPG with a comprehensive budget, which provides information for how CDC and District-appropriated funds totaling approximately $3.1 million will be used during 2007. This funding, which reflects .08% of the DOH $1.7 billion budget, will be distributed according to the categories of prevention community planning; counseling, testing & referral (CTR); health education & risk reduction; capacity building and evaluation. Also included in the information provided to the CPG was a comparison of the amount of funding available during 2006 and 2007 and the list of the RFA funded groups and the amounts awarded to each organization.

The Executive Committee and HAA selected two CPG members, Darby Hickey and myself, to attend the HIV Prevention Leadership Summit in New Orleans (May 20-23), sponsored by National Minority AIDS Council (http://www.nmac.org/conferences___trainings/hpls/4690.cfm). At the conference the CPG members will receive additional training and will provide a report on the experience at a later CPG meeting. The Executive committee also proposed to new committees to the full CPG- Budget and Policy. The Budget committee will review the annual HAA budget in the interim progress report to the CDC to determine how well it reflects that priorities set out in the HIV Prevention Plan. Responsibilites of the Policy committee will include identifying policies and trends that affect HIV Prevention in the District and reporting those relative to the work and function of the CPG to the Executive committee.

At the last two meetings, the CPG engaged discussed contacting Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton to urge her to meet with CDC officials regarding the release of "A Heightened Response to HIV/AIDs in the African-American Community." Many CPG members were disturbed by the lack of interventions in support of African-American women included in the report. The letter to be sent will ask her and Mayor Fenty to do their parts to ensure that DC gets its fair share of the $35 million that will be distributed amongst high incidence jurisdictions.

The next full committee meeting of the HIV Prevention Community Planning Group will be held on Thursday May 10, 2007 from 6:00PM-8:00PM at 64 New York Avenue, NE in the 5th floor conference room.

DC HIV Prevention Community Planning Group 3/8/2007 Update

The discussion around HAA's budget and its availability to CPG members continues. There seems to be no disagreement that the CPG should have access to this information to develop a comprehensive HIV prevention plan, yet requests for the info have not been answered to the CPG's satisfaction. Leo Rennie of DOH informed meeting attendees that the process of breaking down the budget information by specific categories is arduous, but basic budget info has been available to the CPG since September 2006.

To move forward on this issue, community co-chair A. Toni Young will provide HAA with a detailed chart that outlays how info should be broken down to the CPG for use towards developing the prevention plan. Also, DOH is making CDC awards now. Once this is complete, the CPG can expect to receive information on how the funds were designated by next full CPG meeting.

In other CPG news, A. Toni Young will be contacting the CDC project officer for DOH to schedule a time for her to meet with the CPG. This need for this meeting comes from the fact that the CPG submitted letters of non-concurrence to the CDCfor the last two years. In response, the CDC issued the CPG and HAA a corrective action plan. HAA reports completing all required actions; now the project officer requires an update from the CPG. Young will coordinate this meeting with the executive committee and more seasoned CPG members.

Also coming next month- a full update of the events from the UCHAPS conference and an update on the committee structure for the CPG. The executive committee met on this issue and will report to the full CPG with new committees and what the responsibilities these committees will have. Once new committees have been placed, the CPG looks to complete a work plan (to determine how the HIV Prevention Plan will be developed) within four months.

DC HIV Community Planning Group Meeting on Thursday

The DC HIV Prevention Community Planning Group will hold a full committee meeting on March 8th, 2007 - 6:00pm to 8:00pm. The meeting will be held at 64 New York Avenue, NE - 1st Floor Conference Room. Parking is available at this location after 5:30pm. To gain access through the security gate push 3# on the call box and mentioned that you are attending the CPG Meeting. It is also assessable by rail (red line NY Ave.Station) and by bus (90, 92, and 80 route).

Even if you are not a member of the DC HIV Prevention Community Planning Group, you are welcome to come to this meeting. The CPG is comprised of people living with HIV/AIDS, those at high risk for HIV, and representatives of affected populations from the community, as well as epidemiologists, behavioral and social scientists, HIV/AIDS service providers, health department staff, and other representatives of organizations that serve persons with, or at risk for, HIV infection. All members work as a team to analyze the course of the HIV epidemic in the District of Columbia, assess and prioritize HIV prevention needs, identify HIV prevention interventions to meet those needs, and develop a comprehensive HIV prevention plan the District of Columbia.

DC HIV Prevention Community Planning Group Meeting Thursday November 9th

The DC HIV Prevention Community Planning Group will hold a full committee meeting on November 9th, 2006 - 6:00pm to 8:00pm. The meeting will be held at 64 New York Avenue, NE - 1st Floor Conference Room. Parking is available at this location after 5:30pm. To gain access throughthe security gate push 3# on the call box and mentioned that you are attending the CPG Meeting. It is also assessable by rail (red line NY Ave.Station) and by bus (90, 92, and 80 route).

Even if you are not a member of the DC HIV Prevention Community Planning Group, you are welcome to come to this meeting. The CPG is comprised of people living with HIV/AIDS, those at high risk for HIV, and representatives of affected populations from the community, as well as epidemiologists, behavioral and social scientists, HIV/AIDS service providers, health department staff, and other representatives of organizations that serve persons with, or at risk for, HIV infection. All members work as a team to analyze the course of the HIV epidemic in the District of Columbia, assess and prioritize HIV prevention needs, identify HIV prevention interventions to meet those needs, and develop a comprehensive HIV prevention plan the District of Columbia. All members are provided opportunities for orientation and skills building, and have meaningful involvement in the process and an equal voice in voting and other decision-making activities.

DC HIV/AIDS Community Planning Group - Unreasonable Barriers to Participation

UPDATE: THE CPG IS FULLY COMMITTED TO PROCESSING ALL APPLICATIONS BY THE END OF THIS YEAR, AND HOPEFULLY HAVING NEW CPG MEMBERS PARTICIPATE IN THE DECEMBER MEETING. ALL CPG APPLICANTS HAVE ALSO BEEN CONTACTED SINCE THIS WAS POSTED.

Back in August I encouraged folks to apply to serve on the HIV/AIDS Community Planning Group (CPG). Well at least two of you out there did exactly that, which I find greatly encouraging (Daniel & Zenovia). What I find greatly discouraging though, is that two months have passed and the CPG has not been in contact with the folks who have applied.

So when I found out that there was a CPG meeting last night, I decided to go and find out what was happening. I only found out about the CPG Meeting through a colleague at work. Despite the fact that I've expressed interest in attending, I didn't hear anything about the meeting. And the folks I know who have applied to serve on the CPG didn't hear about the meeting either. (Also, somewhat discouraging).

At the meeting I learned a 'select' group of folks who applied to be on the CPG (the folks they know already know or like), will be interviewed shortly. The folks they don't know will have to wait until February before they hear anything about whether or not they will get an interview.

So with regards to the folks they don't know, it will take the CPG more than six months to process their application. By then, I imagine several of the folks who volunteered will have either lost interest or simply lost confidence in the CPG.

If you're not an 'insider', you have no way of knowing what the CPG is or how you can volunteer (The only place I saw the application deadline posted was right here on our website). And even if you DO figure out how to apply, you have to wait six months before you hear anything from them.

The folks I know who have applied to serve on the CPG haven't heard anything from the CPG about the status of the application, weren't invited to the meeting last night, and don't know what the heck is going on. That's not cool. The CPG has a responsibility to represent the community, and you can't do that if you choose don't communicate with the community. So let me make the following suggestions.

1. Everyone who has expressed an interest in the CPG should be invited to every meeting. These meetings are open to the public, and there is no excuse for not providing this information to interested parties.

2. Taking six months to process an application is unacceptable. The CPG should be able to cut that process down to at least three months. While the applications are pending, CPG applicants should be encouraged to attend meetings, and to volunteer for committees (you don't need to be a member to serve on a committee).

3. CPG Meetings can't truly be open to the public if nobody knows about them. So every CPG meeting should be announced or advertised in some way. I don't care if they send the meeting information to the calendar of local newspapers, or post it on their website, or buy a small ad in the city paper. I don't care how they do it, but the CPG needs to let folks know these meetings are going on.

Going forward I hope to be notified about future CPG meetings, which are generally held the second thursday of the month. And I'll be sure to post information up on this site as I receive it. I also hope the CPG will consider the three suggestions I've listed above.

Deadline Approaches for DC HIV Prevention Community Planning Group Applications

The District of Columbia HIV Prevention Community Planning Group (CPG), in collaboration with the Department of Health, Administration for HIV Policy and Programs, invites residents of the District, members of community based organizations, universities, faith organizations, professional associations, businesses, AIDS service providers and social service providers to apply for membership. A broad variety of representatives is needed to ensure that the CPG truly reflects the diversity of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Washington, DC.

The CPG seeks residents of the District of Columbia who are capable of expressing the views, behaviors, and norms of their community, while participating as group members in objectively weighing the overall priority HIV prevention needs of the DC community.

MEETING REQUIREMENTS

Each member of the CPG is appointed for a two-year term and is expected to demonstrate commitment to the work of the CPG during their tenure. Members are required to attend all meetings and committee activities and engage in meaningful participation. The CPG meets regularly on the second Thursday of each month from 6 pm to 8 pm. Meetings are held at various sites in the community throughout the city. CPG members shall also be active members of at least one standing committee of the CPG, which will require approximately four additional hours of service each month. The time and location of Standing Committee meetings are determined by the membership. New members are required to attend a one-day orientation before they are eligible to vote on the CPG.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Submit completed applications to:

Donald Babb
Department of Health
Administration for HIV Policy and Programs
64 New York Avenue NE, Suite 5001
Washington, DC 20002

Questions should be directed to (202) 671-5087, Fax Number (202) 671-4860.
A copy of the applicant’s most recent resume’ may be submitted with the application, but will not be a substitute for a completed application. Current members of the CPG and the Administration for HIV Policy and Programs will review applications.

You can download the application form as a PDF File on the DC Department of Health website right here.

The Deadline is August 31st.