What is HIV Community Planning?

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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).

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In Vermont, this planning group is called the Vermont HIV Community Advisory Group.

 

What does community planning mean beyond having the HIV Planning Group?

 

CDC expects HIV community planning to improve HIV prevention programs by strengthening the

1. scientific basis,

2. community relevance,

3. key stakeholder involvement,

4. population or risk-based focus of HIV prevention interventions, and

5. 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.

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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.

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An important part of HIV community planning is the researching and creation of the Coordinated State Plan for HIV Care and Prevention, submitted to the CDC and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The role of the HPG in the state plan includes input throughout the process, review and revisions, and a final vote of concurrence, concurrence with reservations, or non-concurrence.

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For more information:  info@vthivcag.org