Purpose

DCPCA’s HIV Policy Working Group brings together health center staff who provide front line HIV prevention and treatment services to collaboratively develop policy strategies for improving the District’s response to the HIV epidemic and strengthening the safety net’s capacity to better serve low-income residents at risk for or living with HIV.

Agenda

The HIV Policy Working Group will continue to evaluate the current need for HIV testing and treatment in underserved communities, methods for improving HIV surveillance and other vital data collection, ways to maximize local and federal funding and health care programs, strategies for increasing capacity for HIV services among safety net providers, and general oversight of the HIV/AIDS Administration.

Priorities

I.  Improving our understanding of the epidemic

A. Ongoing collection and dissemination of HIV/AIDS surveillance data.
B. Publication of existing HIV surveillance data.
C. Implementation of names-based reporting for HIV.

II.   Improving planning and coordination of services

A. Consolidation of planning bodies and councils.
B. Centralization of information and referral resources.

III. Improving efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery

A. Integration of HIV services into comprehensive primary care.
B. Enhanced diagnosis of HIV in non-traditional settings.
C. Comprehensive HIV prevention for people with a history of injection drug use.