Vermont's HIV Community Advisory Group
WHAT IS THE CAG?
Every state health department in the United States convenes an HIV Planning Group of community members that assists with planning services for HIV care and prevention. Vermont's planning group is the HIV Community Advisory Group and is made up of service providers and HIV positive consumers from around the state.
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CAG's Mission: To promote effective HIV care and prevention programs in the state of Vermont.
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CAG's Purpose: To act in an advisory capacity to the Vermont Department of Health's HIV, STD & Viral Hepatitis Program (VDH HSVH) on issues of HIV prevention and care.
WHAT DOES THE CAG DO?
The CAG advises VDH HSVH on issues related to HIV in Vermont at bimonthly meetings. This includes representing the needs of people living with HIV in Vermont, advising on targeted funding areas and priority populations, and responding to changes in the field of HIV in the state and nationally.
WHO IS ON THE CAG?
CAG is made up of community members who are stakeholders in the delivery of HIV care and prevention services. This includes people living with HIV, representatives of communities at higher risk for infection, and service providers including both medical and community-based organizations.
CAN ANYONE JOIN?
CAG is a public group and anyone can apply to be a member. Members are expected to have an investment in the delivery of HIV care and prevention services in Vermont. Click this link to download a copy of the CAG application. Membership applications are reviewed by the Membership Committee of the CAG.
WHAT HAPPENS AT A CAG MEETING?
Vermont's CAG meets every other month remotely, via the Zoom online platform. One of the six meetings is in-person, at a central location in the state. Each meeting has one or more Discussion Topics, an update from the VDH HSVH, and standing Business Items such as approving the prior meeting minutes and hearing announcements from members. Discussion Topics range depending on the interests of CAG members and what is current and pressing in the field of HIV.
WHAT IS HIV COMMUNITY PLANNING?
HIV planning is a critical process in which health departments work in partnership with the community and key stakeholders to enhance access to HIV prevention, care, and treatment services for the highest-risk populations. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) mandates that any state health department receiving federal HIV funding conduct HIV Community Planning, including establishing and maintaining the HIV Planning Group (HPG). In Vermont, this planning group is called the Vermont HIV Community Advisory Group.
WHAT DOES "COMMUNITY PLANNING" MEAN BEYOND HAVING AN HIV PLANNING GROUP?
The CDC expects HIV community planning to improve HIV prevention programs by strengthening the
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scientific basis,
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community relevance,
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key stakeholder involvement,
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population or risk-based focus of HIV prevention interventions, and
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communication and coordination of services across the continuum of HIV prevention, care, and treatment, including social determinants of health associated with HIV and sexually transmitted diseases, as well as infectious diseases, substance abuse, and mental health.
The CDC is committed to supporting HIV planning, including significant community involvement, scientific basis of program decision, and targeting of resources to have the greatest effect on HIV acquisition and transmission.
An important part of HIV community planning is the researching and creation of the Coordinated State Plan for HIV Care and Prevention, required by the CDC and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) every five years. The role of the HIV Planning Group in the state plan includes input throughout the process, review and revisions, and a final vote of concurrence, concurrence with reservations, or non-concurrence before the Plan is submitted to HRSA and CDC.
For more information: info@vthivcag.org