Final Letter To Secretary Sebelius & Next Steps

Thank you for sponsoring the letter to Secretary Sebelius. In less then a week, we received 150 organizational sign-ons. This speaks on the need for funding of community based organizations, as well as state and local health departments.

For this letter to have impact, I need you to do the following:

• Call Secretary Sebelius
• Call Your Congressional Members and Ask Them To Call Secretary Sebelius

Call Secretary Sebelius
Please call or email Secretary Sebelius, Deputy Secretary for HHS - Bill Corr, or the Assistant Secretary for Health – Dr. Howard Koh. Ask them to use of the Prevention and Wellness Fund to support 100 additional directly funded community based organization in CDC program announcement (FOA) PS10-1003.

Also remember to ask for additional funding for your state or local health department. Mention the budget cut backs and it’s impact on HIV prevention services.

Due to the additional screening of all mail because of the anthrax crisis, please call or email HHS. You can reach them toll free: 1-877-696-6775 or you can email Secretary Sebelius at Kathleen.Sebelius@HHS.gov, Deputy Secretary Bill Corr at Bill.Corr@HHS.gov or Assistant Secretary For Health Dr. Howard Koh at Howard.Koh@HHS.gov

Call Your Members Of Congress
Also call your members of Congress and ask them to call Secretary Sebelius. It is amazing what a call or email from a member of Congress can do to move an issue. The message should be the same, ask them to call or email Secretary Sebelius and request that HHS use of the Prevention and Wellness Fund to support 100 additional directly funded community based organization in CDC program announcement (FOA) PS10-1003 or for additional funding for your state or local health department.

Please be sure to forward a copy of the letter. You should attach a note that gives your agency’s city and zip code so they know you are a constituent. As with HHS, due to the additional scrutiny of mail, please call, email or fax your members. To reach the House of Representatives, please go to https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml. To reach the Senate, please go to http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm.

If you missed the deadline for the letter, please feel free to add your name and forward it to your member of Congress and/or Secretary Sebelius.

To be honest, I am not sure we will be successful. Sometimes I feel like Don Quixote chasing after windmills. I would rather say “I tried” then sit on the sidelines as a victim of the system. If the history of the AIDS movement has taught me anything, it’s that we are not victims. Our voices deserve to be heard, our strength is our passion and commitment, and our courage comes from all those who went before us.

Thank you for your support. Paul


May 17, 2010

Secretary Kathleen Sebelius
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201

Dear Secretary Sebelius,

Thank you so much for your commitment to the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS). The 150 organizations who have signed this letter (see below) look forward to working with you to implement the Health and Human Services (HHS) components of this plan. We also appreciate all your work on health care reform. This letter is to begin a dialogue on the Prevention and Wellness Fund within the health care reform bill and how to distribute these important funds. As you know, HIV is a leading cause of preventable death for people of color, particularly for women, transgender women, gay men and men who have sex with men. We would like you to consider the following:

1. Increase the number of community based organizations (CBOs) that receive funding from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for program announcement (FOA) PS10-1003
2. Make-up budget shortfalls in state and local HIV/AIDS prevention programs and
3. Include HIV/AIDS Prevention in the Community Transformation Grants

As we await the final NHAS, we know that full implementation will take money. Yet these are very difficult times and the prospect of significant new resources to meet the growing demands for HIV/AIDS prevention are limited. Thank you so much for your commitment to use a portion of these funds for HIV/AIDS prevention, now we want to make sure that the money gets to the community based organizations and health departments that can make the most difference.

Directly Funded CBO Program
In the Fall of 2009, the CDC announced funds for HIV prevention projects for minority and other community based organizations serving populations at increased risk of acquiring or transmitting HIV infection. Over 500 applications were submitted. Currently a review is underway to determine which CBOs to fund. The current funding level will allow for 150 (approximately) applications to be supported. They are slated to start July 1, 2010. We are asking HHS via the Prevention and Wellness Fund to support an additional 100 applications at $30,000,000 per year for five (5) years for program announcement (FOA) PS10-1003.

We make this request because

• These projects are shovel ready and slated to start July 1, 2010
• The applications have undergone a federal review so there will be no delay is getting funds to these qualified CBOs
• The organizations funded are expected to support the goals and objectives within the NHAS.
• Without new money, it will be very challenging to implement a comprehensive NHAS.

Budget Shortfalls In State and Local HIV/AIDS Programs
According to the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD), in FY2009 more then $170 million was cut from state HIV/AIDS budgets. 25 jurisdictions (55% of the respondents) reported cuts to their HIV prevention programs. For FY2010 there are already an additional $18.5 million in cuts to the HIV and viral hepatitis budgets. When you factor out new monies for testing initiatives that only certain states were eligible to apply, federal funding for core state HIV/AIDS cooperative agreements has also decreased by $23 million.

Despite local investments, directly funded jurisdictions that shoulder over 1/3 of the US HIV epidemic have not been able to overcome the enormity of state and federal cuts. According to the Urban Coalition for HIV/AIDS Prevention Services (UCHAPS), directly funded jurisdictions have experienced an average 73% loss in state prevention resources since 2006. All directly funded local health departments are facing dire budget deficits in FY 2010, crippling efforts to combat HIV in major urban areas.

Once again, if we are to have a successful NHAS, we need money. We are asking HHS to address state and local budget cuts (55% of the $170 million that was cut in FY2009 plus the $23million in federal cuts) and continued support for urban jurisdictions experiencing the heaviest burdens of HIV.

We make this request because

• CDC has existing state and directly funded city/county cooperative agreements that can quickly funnel money to states, territories, counties or cities
• The money requested is to support state, county or city HIV/AIDS prevention budget/programs where cuts are having a devastating impact on our country’s HIV/AIDS prevention agenda.
• Without new money, it will be very challenging to implement the NHAS.

Community Transformation Grants
In the near future HHS via the CDC will award Community Transformation Grants to state and local governmental agencies and community-based organizations. These grants are for the implementation, evaluation, and dissemination of proven evidence-based community preventive health activities in order to reduce chronic disease rates, address health disparities, and develop a stronger evidence-base of effective prevention programming.

We are asking that HIV/AIDS prevention programs be eligible to apply for the Community Transformation Grants. Unfortunately HIV has a disproportionate impact on communities of color, we need stronger evidence-based prevention programs, and we would suggest that HIV disease to both an infection and a chronic disease. Community Transformation Grants should be used to address fundamental/structural issues of risk and lack of health care utilization in the most affected communities – on the topic of HIV and other health issues affecting these “high impact” communities.

HIV prevention in the US is a collaborative effort between the federal government, state AIDS offices, local health departments, and community based organizations. The rapid response challenges of implementing a National HIV/AIDS Strategy that will successfully reduce HIV incidence require increased resources and a combination approach to funding. We are recommending the first two projects because they are shovel ready and can start this fiscal year. The third recommendation depends on your timeline, we just want HIV/AIDS prevention to be included. The first two projects not only significantly increase our country's ability to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, but they will also save or add much needed jobs and economic stimulus. Without this additional funding, some community based organizations will be forced to close their doors. Not only is this bad for prevention, it is also bad for the economic burden/recovery.

Thank you so much for considering this proposal on how to distribute the HIV/AIDS money in the Prevention and Wellness Fund. We are eager to discuss this challenge or any other HIV/AIDS issue. Please contact Paul Kawata (pkawata@nmac.org) to schedule a meeting.

Sincerely,

A.A.F.I at Calvary Baptist Church
Salt Lake City. UT

The ACCESS Network, Inc.
Ridgeland, SC

Access to Racial and Cultural Health Institute, Inc.
St. Croix, VI

Action for Boston Community Development
Boston. MA

AGUILAS
San Francisco, CA

AIDS Care Service, Inc
Winston-Salem, NC

AIDS Coalition of Southern New Jersey
Bellmawr, NJ

AIDS Community Research Initiative of America
New York, NY

AIDS Foundation of Chicago
Chicago, IL

AIDS Project Hartford, Inc.
Hartford, CT

AIDS Project Worcester
Worcester, MA

AIDS/HIV Services Group
Charlottesville, VA

AIDS-Related Community Services (ARCS)
Mid Hudson Valley, NY

AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin
Wisconsin

Allen Temple Baptist Church-AIDS Ministry
Oakland, CA

The American Academy of HIV Medicine
Washington DC

Asian & Pacific Islander Coalition on HIV/AIDS
New York, NY

Aspirations Holistic Tutorial Services
San Francisco, CA

Austin Health Center of Cook County-CBC Initiative
Chicago, Illinois

A&PI Wellness Center
San Francisco, CA

BEBASHI-Transition to Hope
Philadelphia, PA

Better Existence with HIV
Chicago, IL

Black Educational AIDS Project
Baltimore, MD

Brighter Beginnings
Oakland, CA

Broadway House for Continuing Care
Newark, New Jersey

CAB Health & Recovery Services
Peabody, MA

CALOR, a Division of Anixter Center
Chicago, Illinois

Camillus Health Concern, Inc.
Miami, Florida

The CAPE Project
Mobile, AL

Care for the Homeless
New York, NY

Cascade AIDS Project
Portland, OR

CenterLink: The Community of LGBT Centers
Ft Lauderdale, FL

Central City AIDS Network/The Rainbow Center
Macon, GA

CHAIN (Community HIV Hepatitis Advocates of Iowa Network)
Des Moines, IA

Chattanooga CARES HIV/AIDS Resource Center
Chattanooga, TN

Chicago Recovery Alliance
Chicago, IL

Circle of Care/Ryan White Part D in
Philadelphia, PA

Citywide Project/Citywide Ministries
Atlanta, GA

CMMI Corporation of Jamaica
New York, NY

Coai, Inc.
San Juan, Puerto Rico

Cocaine and Alcohol Awareness Program, Inc
Memphis, TN

Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project (CHAMP)
New York, NY / Providence, RI

Community Information Center, Inc.
Portland OR

Community Outreach Intervention Projects
School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, IL

Community Service Network, Inc.
Dunn, NC

Comprehensive Health Education, Inc.
Milwaukee, WI

DC HIV/AIDS Examiner
Washington, DC

Desert AIDS Project
Palm Springs, CA

Reggie Dunbar II
Atlanta, GA

Family Health Project
New York City, New York

Eternal Hope Community Development Corporation, Inc.
East Orange, NJ

Family Planning Association of Puerto Rico (PROFAMILIA)
San Juan, Puerto Rico

Family Service of Greater Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, LA

Fan Free Clinic
Richmond, VA

Fayetteville Area Health Education Foundation, Inc
Fayetteville, NC

Mark Fisher
Atlanta, GA

Friends For Life
Memphis TN

Gay Men’s Health Crisis
New York, NY

Gil Gerald & Associates, Inc.
San Francisco, CA

Greater Love Tabernacle
Dorchester, MA

Hartford Gay & Lesbian Health Collective
Hartford, CT

Hawaii Island HIV/AIDS Foundation
Kailua Kona, Hawaii

Healing with CAARE
Durham, NC

Healthcare Responses, Inc.
Birmingham, AL

Healthy Eating for Healthy Living
Westchester, PA

The Henry Lee Willis Community Center
Worcester, MA

HIV ACCESS
Alameda County, CA

H.O.P.E.
Georgetown, Colorado

Dennis Huff, LCSW
Behavioral Health Director, Native Health
Phoenix, AZ

Impact Marketing + Communications
Washington, DC

In The Life
New York NY

Indigenous Peoples Task Force
Minneapolis, MN

Iris House, Inc.
New York, NY

Kentucky HIV/AIDS Advocacy Action Group (KHAAG)
Louisville, Kentucky

The LaStraw, Inc
Greensboro, NC

The Latino Commission on AIDS
New York, NY

Latino Community Services, Inc.
Hartford, CT

Patricia Lawton
Easton, Maryland

Liberty Research Group
Rochester, NY

Freddie Don Little, MPH
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Los Angeles Centers for Alcohol and Drug Abuse
Los Angeles, CA

Love Heals, the Alison Gertz Foundation for AIDS Education
New York, NY

Lower East Side Harm Reduction Center
New York, NY

Illinois Alliance for Sound Aids Policy
Belleville, IL

Karen Krigger MD, MED, FAAFP, AAHIVM(S)
University of Louisville School Of Medicine
Louisville, Kentucky

Mecklenburg Co. Health Department
Charlotte, NC

Miami Valley Positives for Positives
Dayton, OH

Mid-South Coalition on HIV/AIDS in Memphis
Memphis, TN

Minnesota AIDS Project
Minnesota, MN

Minority AIDS Council of Orangeburg, Bamberg and Calhoun Counties
Orangeburn, SC

MOCHA Center Inc.
Buffalo, NY

National African American Drug Policy Coalition, Inc
Washington, DC

National Association of People With AIDS
Washington, DC

National Black Women's HIV/AIDS Network
Baltimore, MD

National Coalition for LGBT Health
Washington, DC

National Council of Negro Women Inc.
Los Angeles View Park Section, Southern California Area
Los Angeles, CA

National Minority AIDS Council
Washington, DC

National Native American AIDS Prevention Center
Denver, CO

The Native Hawaiian Health Board
Honolulu, HI

Native Health
Phoenix, AZ

Nebraska AIDS Project
Omaha, NE

New Jersey Women and AIDS Network
New Brunswick, NJ

New Mexico AIDS Services
Albuquerque, NM

North Central Texas HIV Planning Council
Fort Worth, TX

NorthEast Two-Spirit Society
New York, NY

The Orixa Healing Dance Project
Memphis, Tennessee

David Ostrow, MD, PhD
Chair, Behavioral Working Group of the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study
Chicago, IL

Pacientes de SIDA pro Política Sana
San Juan, PR

Papa Ola Lokahi - the Native Hawaiian Health Board
Honolulu, HI

Partnership Project
Portland, OR

Phoenix Center
Springfield, IL

Planned Parenthood Greater Memphis Region
Memphis, TN

Reaching Immigrants with Care and Education (R.I.C.E.)
Minneapolis, MN

Recovery 2000, Inc.
Chicago, IL

Research and Education Foundation of the Michael Reese Medical Staff
Chicago, IL

SafeGuards LGBT Health Resource Center
Philadelphia, PA

Dr. Lexter Rosario Sanjurjo
San Juan, PR

Seattle TGA HIV/AIDS Planning Council
Seattle, Washington

Sisters Together And Reaching Inc. (STAR)
Baltimore Maryland

South Jersey AIDS Alliance
Millville, NJ

St. Luke AME Church and Treat Me Right, Inc
New York, NY

Street Works
Nashville, TN

Strongest Link AIDS Services, Inc.
Danvers, MA

Tarzana Treatment Centers
Family Medical and Specialty Clinics
Tarzana, Ca

Tennessee, Partnership to End AIDS Status
Memphis, TN

Test Positive Aware Network
Chicago, IL

Total Health Awareness Team
Rockford, IL

Treatment Access Expansion Project
Boston, MA

Tri- County Health Coalition
New Albany, Indiana

Triad Health Project
Raleigh, NC

Two Spirit Society of Denver
Edgewater, CO

UMOS, INC
Milwaukee, WI

Unity Health Care, Inc.
Washington, DC

Us Helping Us, People Into Living, Inc.
Washington, DC

U.S. Positive Women's Network (PWN)
Oakland, CA

Vermont CARES
Burlington VT

VillageCare
New York, NY

Vision Que!, LLC
Washington, DC

Volunteers of America Greater Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, LA

Wayside Youth & Family Support Network
Framingham, MA

White River Rural Health Center, Inc.
Augusta, AR

Who’s Positive
Charlottesville, VA

Brenda C. Williams
Albany, Georgia

Women Organized to Respond to Life-threatening Disease (WORLD)
Oakland, CA

The Wright House Wellness Center
Austin, TX