FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the HIV Planning Council?
The New Haven HIV Planning Council is a community planning group that oversees the prioritization and allocation of Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act (RWTMA) Part A funds. It is also called the Planning Council or Ryan White Council.
What does the Council do?
The Council has several major duties, including:
The Council has a mandate to focus on people who are not in care (i.e. not receiving medical care) by assessing their needs and developing programs to bring them into care.
The Planning Council and its Committees use parliamentary procedure or Robert’s Rules of Order to conduct meetings. If you want to learn more about this procedure, access the link on the website called Decision Process.
When and where does it meet?
The Council meets on the second Friday of every month from 12 noon to 2 p.m. with alternating locations in New Haven or Bridgeport. Additional meetings may be scheduled as needed.
There are three (3) working committees of the Council—the Membership/Finance, Quality Improvement and Strategic Assessment & Planning committees.
Each committee usually meets once a month. The Council can create ad hoc work groups to address short-term projects. Meeting dates and times are subject to change.
For current meeting information, please see the Meeting Calendar link
How does one find out about Council meeting times and agendas?
The Planning Council has a website, www.ryanwhitecare.org which includes upcoming Council meeting times and agendas, locations, and minutes from full Council and committee meetings. It links to documents such as the Comprehensive Plan and other useful Council information.
How does one contact Council members or staff?
The Professional Staff for the Planning Council can be reached by phone at 866-990-1203.
Who is on the Council?
There are a maximum number of 45 seats on the Council. The federal legislation prescribes a number of areas of representation such as people living with HIV, community-based organizations, housing providers, and medical providers. It also specifies that organizations funded under other parts of the RWTMA, such as Parts B and C, and other federal programs be represented.
The membership must reflect the demographics of the epidemic in the EMA. The members of the Council represent the broad range of people involved in the fight against HIV in New Haven and Fairfield counties.
Are people with HIV/AIDS on the Council?
The legislation mandates that at least 33% of Council members be unaffiliated consumers meaning they are not employed by or on the Board of Directors of any Part A funded organization in the EMA and that they reflect the demographics of the epidemic in our area. The Council has also decided that a majority of Council members should be people living with HIV/AIDS. In addition, at least one Council co-chair usually is a person living with HIV.
How does one join the Council?
Membership application forms are available clicking the link at the end of this question, from Council staff or on the page, Planning Council Membership. The Membership/Finance Committee reviews applications of potential applicants on an ongoing basis. The Membership/Finance Committee selects nominees and forwards names to the full Council. The Council votes on the applicants, and the names are forwarded to the Mayor for appointment. The Membership Committee strongly recommends that persons thinking about applying to the Council attend several Council or committee meetings first.
Who appoints the members?
All members are appointed by the Chief Elected Official (CEO) of the largest jurisdiction in the EMA, in accordance with the legislation. The CEO for the New Haven/Fairfield Counties EMA is the Mayor of New Haven.
What is the term of office?
Council members are appointed for a three-year term. Members can re-apply for additional three-year terms, as long as they are members in good standing with the Council. Council members must meet the meeting attendance requirements to stay in good standing.
Can one participate without becoming a member?
All Council meetings and committee meetings are open to the public. Public comment is taken at the beginning of each full Council meeting and during the meeting on each agenda item. Members of the public are encouraged to participate in the discussions at committee and work group meetings.
What area does it cover?
The Council represents New Haven and Fairfield Counties.
Funding is allocated to five sub-regions based on the proportion of living AIDS cases in each county. Regional planning consortia convene on a monthly basis for each of the five (5) strategic planning regions in the EMA :
What is the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act?
The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act was recently reauthorized in December of 2006. It redefined funded areas into two subsets:
Prior to 2007, the legislation had been known as the Ryan White CARE Act. This federal legislation was originally passed in 1990 and reauthorized in 1995, 2000 and 2006. It authorized spending federal dollars for HIV health services through five different titles or parts.
It was envisioned as a disaster relief bill to help cities and states overwhelmed by the costs of caring for people with HIV/AIDS. It helps support a comprehensive continuum of HIV health services for low-income people living with HIV.
What is Ryan White Part A?
Part A (previously Title I) funds go directly to the urban areas hardest hit by HIV/AIDS. Provides assistance to Eligible Metropolitan Areas (EMA's) and Transitional Grant Areas (TGA'S)—locales that are most severely affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
When the first Part A grants were awarded in FY 1991, there were 16 EMA's. Today, 24 EMA's and 32 TGA's receive funding.
In FY 2010, approximately $679.1 million was appropriated for Part A spending.
What is Ryan White Part B?
Part B (previously Title II) provides grants to States and U.S. Territories.
Part B grants include a base grant, the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) award, ADAP supplemental grants, grants to States for Emerging Communities, and an award for Minority AIDS Initiative activities.
For FY 2010, $1.25 billion was appropriated for Part B programs, and $835 million was earmarked for ADAP.
For FY 2010 $8.4 million was awarded for MAI activities in 33 States, the District of Columbia , Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands
What is Ryan White Part C?
Part C (previously Title III) provides grants for community-based organizations, clinics, hospitals, and other health facilities that provide early intervention services to people infected with HIV/AIDS through intravenous drug use. The FY 2010 appropriation for Part C EIS was $206.8 million. Since FY 1991, approximately $1.85 billion has been appropriated for Part C programs.
In FY 2009, 253 organizations received grants totaling approximately $187.1 million.
What is Ryan White Part D?
Part D funds family-centered primary for women, infants, children, and youth with HIV/AIDS and specialty medical care and support services. Since 1994, the Part D Program has provided more than $681.6 million in funding to States and communities. The Part D Program has played a significant part in reducing mother-to-child HIV transmission.
What is Ryan White Part F?
Part F covers: the AIDS Education and Training Centers (AETC) training for health care providers.
It's responsible for the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Dental Reimbursement Program (DRP) for agencies to reimburse the uncompensated costs incurred by agencies in providing oral health treatment to PLWHA as well as funds the Community Based Dental Partnership Program (CBDPP) which provides oral health care in the community and also trains dental professionals. Finally, Part F is home to the Special Programs of National Significance (SPNS) models of care.
Who administers the programs?
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) administers the programs on the federal level. They are a part of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The City of New Haven Ryan White Office (also known as the Grantee or Recipient) provides day-to-day administration on the local level.
What determines how much money NHFF Counties EMA gets?
Congress appropriates the funding for the Ryan White HIV Treatment Modernization Act each year. Half of the money for Part A is distributed through a formula developed by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to estimate the number of people living with HIV/AIDS. The other half is allocated through a competitive grant proposal process, often called the supplemental grant.
What is it used for?
Ryan White funds pay for primary medical care, dental care, substance abuse treatment, mental health care, case management, and dental health services. In addition, 25% of total funds can be used for support services that help people get into medical care or stay in care such as housing assistance. It also pays for Planning Council staff and activities such as needs assessment, evaluation, comprehensive planning and grant administration. The funds are distributed to community-based organizations, public health programs, community health clinics, and hospitals.
Are there things that the funds can’t be used for?
Yes. The Federal government has a number of restrictions on funding. The money cannot be spent on capital improvements or construction. It cannot pay for permanent housing services. It must be used as the payer of last resort, meaning that if a service can be paid for somewhere else, such as billed to Medicaid, it cannot be paid for by Ryan White Part A. Money also cannot be given directly to consumers. The ability to use funds for counseling and testing or prevention services is limited.
Who can get services?
Ryan White Part A services are for people living with HIV/AIDS who are low income and uninsured or underinsured. Programs or agencies may have additional eligibility criteria, such as disability. Services are prioritized for those with the most severe needs, such as those who are homeless or who have multiple diagnoses.
Where are Ryan White Part A services available?
Ryan White Part A services are available at several locations in New Haven and Fairfield Counties. For a full inventory of services in the EMA, visit our 'Finding Care & Services' link on the website.
Who does Ryan White Part A serve?
Over 5,000 people received services in the EMA in 2007. Compared to the demographics of all people living with HIV/AIDS, Ryan White Part A clients are disproportionately poor, people of color, and women. Of those for whom we have demographic information:
What else do we know about CARE clients?
New Haven/Fairfield Counties
Ryan White HIV Planning Council
54 Meadow Street, 9th Floor
New Haven, CT 06519
888-243-0464
Join the planning council. Applications available
ATTEND a COMMITTEE Meeting. Find out how, when & where
GET TESTED!
Find an HIV testing site near you.
HRSA DISCLAIMER
This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-87) via grant H89HA00007.
PHOTOGRAPH DISCLAIMER
The people in the photos on this web site are models and used for illustrative purposes only unless otherwise noted – no representation regarding HIV status is made and should not be inferred.
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