Secretary Sebelius Approves Plans to Standardize and Streamline Data Collection for HHS HIV Grantees The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently reached a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to standardize and streamline data collection for recipients of federal HIV funds. On June 28, 2013, Secretary of Health and Human Kathleen Sebelius approved plans submitted by nine HHS operating divisions and staff offices to adopt and deploy common core indicators for … [Read more...]
Saving Face Can’t Make You Safe – HIV and the AAPI Community
“Saving face can’t make you safe. “Talk about HIV—for me, for you, for everyone.” The slogan is reflective of how Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders need to embrace the growing concern of HIV in our communities. Judging by recent activities the efforts to educate the community about HIV is having an impact. On May 19, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders gathered at more than 20 community events for the 8th Annual National Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. … [Read more...]
PACHA Meeting Examines Women and HIV
PACHA Meeting Examines Women and HIV, Other Issues at Winter Meeting At the end of last month, the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA) convened for its first meeting of 2012. It was my privilege to lead that meeting, my first as PACHA’s new chairperson. Our agenda was a very full one and the discussions thoughtful, rich, and informative. As we embarked on our work, we were all mindful of and inspired by the President’s historic commitment to end the … [Read more...]
Black History Month: African Americans and the National HIV/AIDS Strategy
African Americans and the National HIV/AIDS Strategy By Christopher Bates, M.P.A., Executive Director, Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS, and Senior Advisor to the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health, Infectious Diseases, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Christopher Bates During this February’s observance of Black History Month, we have observed National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD) and heard about efforts to eliminate viral hepatitis … [Read more...]
Road to AIDS 2012 Town Hall Meetings Kick Off
Last month, the first Road to AIDS 2012 Town Hall meeting kicked off in San Francisco, California. This was the first of 15 meetings to be held across the country leading up to the XIX International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2012) (note: every Road to AIDS 2012 meeting is free and open to the public). AIDS 2012 is the largest gathering of people working in HIV and will take place July 22-27, 2012 in Washington, DC. This first town hall brought together diverse community members to … [Read more...]
National HIV/AIDS – ‘Wants to Hear Your Stories About the Strategy’
We Want to Hear Your Stories About the National HIV/AIDS Strategy As we join our partners across the nation in commencing the second year of collaboration to achieve the National HIV/AIDS Strategy’s goals and realize its vision, we want to hear from you! Through blog posts and in consultations and conversations with community members over the past year, we have shared information about some of the progress the federal government has made in implementing the Strategy. We also know … [Read more...]
NHAS Celebrates Progress at One-Year Anniversary!
National HIV/AIDS Strategy Celebrates One-Year Anniversary! On the eve of the first anniversary of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS), representatives of the six federal agencies tasked by the President with lead responsibility for implementing NHAS gathered for one of our regular meetings and shared updates on implementation progress. Chairing the meeting, the Assistant Secretary for Health, Dr. Howard Koh, praised the participants for the progress being made within and across … [Read more...]
National HIV/AIDS Strategy – The AETC Network Responds
The AETC Network Responds to the National HIV/AIDS Strategy AIDS Education and Training Centers The AIDS Education and Training Centers (AETC ) are working in a number of ways to support the goals set out in the President’s National HIV/AIDS Strategy. The AETC Program, administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) HIV/AIDS Bureau with funds from the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, currently consists of a network of 11 Regional AETCs and five National AETCs . … [Read more...]
National HIV/AIDS Strategy – Highlights From CROI
Highlights From CROI Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections Highlights From CROI On Wednesday, March 2, Dr. Ronald Valdiserri, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health, Infectious Diseases at HHS spoke with Dr. Carl Dieffenbach about his reflections on the 18th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) in Boston. Dr. Dieffenbach serves as the Director of the Division of AIDS at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the National … [Read more...]
SAMHSA, Behavioral Health – National HIV/AIDS Strategy (Part I)
Behavioral Health and the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (Part I) As the recently appointed Federal inter-agency liaison for HIV/AIDS at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), I am pleased to join the discussion here on the AIDS.gov blog about how the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) is being implemented across the Federal government. In support of the NHAS, SAMHSA is engaged in a variety of activities that address the behavioral health needs of people at high … [Read more...]