The Chicago Area HIV Services Planning Council met Sept. 20 to discuss topics of importance to those impacted by or living with HIV/AIDS in the Chicago area. At the top of the council's agenda was a review of three proposed FY03 scenarios, developed by the priority-setting committee.
Co-chair David Munar gave an overview of his committee's recommendations and allowed for the review, consideration and discussion of several possible scenarios. The discussion focused on the fact that as more monies are siphoned away from non-profit organizations, like those who support Chicagoans living with HIV/AIDS, volunteer organizations like the Planning Council must step up their efforts and communicate with their elected officials to make sure there are adequate dollars in the next fiscal year's budget for supportive and preventive programs.
The funds discussed were both for general Title I dollars and for Minority HIV/AIDS Initiative Title I funds. According to Munar, the committee has already spent a substantial amount of time examining a number of critical issues that will inform the priority-setting process for the first year of the next three-year cycle, in 2003. Issues of importance include geographic equity, definitions of service categories and core or priority service categories.
The possible funding scenarios include: level funding for FY03, decreased or increased funding for FY03. The debate focused on how to approach legislators once it is determined whether funding will remain constant, increase or decrease in the new budget. While most council members do not anticipate a significant cut in awards from last year's amount to the new budget, several questions did arise regarding how to proceed should cuts be so severe as to necessitate the elimination of certain services.
For example, a three percent cut would roughly equate to $500,000. Because there is no cap on the amount of cuts that the city can take, it was recommended that should the cut be five percent or greater, the priorities setting committee would need to reconsider its recommendations on how funds will be distributed.
Also on the agenda was a presentation by the HPPG committee, presented by CDPH Assistant Commissioner Christopher Brown, who identified four populations that they believe deserve priority in HIV/AIDS intervention programming ( and in no particular order ) : Men who have sex with men ( MSM ) ( both adults and youth ) , Intravenous Drug Users ( IDUs ) , High-risk heterosexuals, and people living with HIV/AIDS.
With the presentation of cake and warm wishes, the council also said goodbye to Tracy Fischman, who is leaving CDPH [ see Sept. 18 Windy City Times ] and the council for an opportunity with Chicago Planned Parenthood. While comments were given by Martin Gonzalez-Rojas and David Munar, what council members appeared to appreciate most was Fischman's diligence at forwarding the need for advocacy and policy changes at the federal level.
The Chicago Area HIV Services Planning Council is a group which is mandated by law to assess needs for HIV/AIDS services, decide funding priorities and evaluate how federal Ryan White Title I funds are disbursed to the community. The Planning Council is composed of a diverse group of individuals affected by HIV/AIDS...HIV-infected persons, service providers and public health officials among others. The Council is currently recruiting members. Call Dan Noonan, ( 312 ) 747-9646; deadline Oct. 21.
Meanwhile, the city announced last week that it was seeking a third-party administrator for the $20 Million Ryan White HIV Services Contracts. The Title I program supports medical and social services for people living with HIV in the Chicago area.
It is not known how this outsourcing will impact the Planning Council.
And in other news, it appears CDPH will be losing another one of its workers in the HIV/AIDS office with the departure of Deborah Beet, who will be returning to school for her Master of Divinity degree.
