Agenda 04-01-2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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PUBLIC HEALTH TASK FORCE 2004: PRELIMINARY RECOMMENDATIONS PUBLIC HEALTH IMPROVEMENT.PLAN HIV /AIDS PREVENTION AND CONTROL Need Addressed /Rationale The number of new HIV and AIDS cases reported in North Carolina has increased annually since 2000 and although great strides have been made towards eliminating syphilis, much remains to be done. HIV /STDs disproportionately affect minority populations and local health departments, community- based organizations, Historically Black Colleges and Universities and HIV Care Consortia provide the most direct, appropriate and effective links to the communities and populations at highest risk. These organizations and agencies are not adequately funded, equipped or staffed to provide the variety and magnitude of services required to effectively slow the spread of the disease in the affected communities and populations. African Americans currently comprise 72% of the persons living with HIV/AIDS in NC; the rate of HIV infection among Hispanics has increased from 4.1 per 100,000 in 1998 to 15.0 per 100,000 in 2002. Infrastructure /Capacity Improvement This multi - faceted initiative will increase the capacity of Local Health Departments, Community Based Organizations, including HIV Care Consortia and Historically Black Colleges & Universities, and the state agency charged with HIV and STD prevention and care. Existing Community Based Organizations will receive funding to increase their outreach, case management, counseling, staffing and infrastructure. Additional Community Based Organizations and NTSs in underserved high - incidence areas and serving high -risk population will receive financial support for the first time. Local Health Departments in high - impact areas will receive funding to provide enhanced outreach, counseling and case management services and to support the hiring of eight additional Disease Intervention Specialists. These Specialists will work at the local level in local health departments providing direct field follow -up to persons with HIV /STD, and their partners, as well as to support additional clinical, educational and management staff to provide training, consultation and monitoring /quality assurance for the new and existing prevention- focused agencies and programs. The HIV /STD Prevention and Care Branch will hire a Behavioral Epidemiologist to track, analyze and disseminate relevant data and a Public Health Program Consultant II to perform evaluation activities for the prevention program. Budget Total funds required for SFY. 2005 to meet HIV Prevention requirements that are $3,341,,656.-. Of that total, $2_,000,000 is designated for community -based organizations, especially those targeting and serving minority populations and Historically Black Colleges & Universities. An additional. $1,232,064 is designated to go to local health departments. The remaining $109,592 would go to the HIV /STD Prevention and Care Branch to support two (2) Full Time Equivalents —a Behavioral Epidemiologist and a Program Consultant/Evaluation Specialist - including travel and °other operating expenses reauired to swiport the new prevention initiative. 43