HIV Prevention Community Planning Group

Alaska HIV Prevention
Community Planning Group

Alaska HIV Prevention Community Planning Group

The Alaska HIV Prevention Planning Group provides guidance to the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services by establishing priorities for the use of federal HIV Prevention funds from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Planning Group includes consumers, providers, and other experts. These individuals are appointed to the Planning Group because of their interest, experience, and expertise related to HIV and AIDS prevention. All members are volunteers committed to the goal of effectively preventing further HIV infection throughout Alaska.

The Alaska HIV Prevention Planning Group is one of many groups carrying out similar tasks across the United States. Community planning is a required part of every governmental jurisdiction's cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for HIV prevention, and CDC guidelines specify the processes involved in and products required of community planning activities. The HIV/STD Program within the Division of Public Health, Alaska Department of Health & Social Services supports Alaska's HIV Prevention Planning Group activities.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Alaska HIV Prevention Planning Group

What is HIV prevention community planning?
HIV prevention community planning is an ongoing, comprehensive planning process intended to help assure that resources, particularly federal HIV prevention resources, are targeted in cost effective ways most likely to reduce HIV infection. Our State's HIV prevention community planning body, the Alaska HIV Prevention Planning Group, creates a plan to guide statewide prevention efforts, focusing on populations at greatest risk of infection and strategies most likely to be effective. The HIV Prevention Plan seeks to strengthen the scientific basis, community relevance, and population-or risk-based focus of prevention interventions.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed detailed guidelines for community planning activities and requires all states, cities, and territories receiving CDC funding under HIV prevention cooperative agreements to observe these guidelines. HIV prevention community planning must be evidence-based, grounded in HIV/AIDS and other relevant epidemiologic data (including STD and behavioral surveillance data); data from ongoing program experience; program evaluation data; a comprehensive needs assessment and resource inventory; qualitative data on HIV prevention; and other relevant local data. The planning process also reflects the experience and perspectives of populations at increased risk of HIV infection and HIV prevention service providers.
What is the HIV Prevention Planning Group expected to accomplish?
The primary task of the HIV Prevention Planning Group is to develop a comprehensive HIV prevention plan reflecting the scientific evidence and input from the at-risk population most affected by HIV/AIDS. This Plan guides the Department of Health & Social Service's allocation decisions for federal HIV prevention resources. The Alaska HIV Prevention Plan also informs CDC decisions on HIV prevention funding directly to community-based organizations in our state.
What is the history of HIV prevention community planning in Alaska?
The Department of Health & Social Services formed the Alaska HIV Prevention Planning Group early in 1994. Nominations were broadly solicited and everyone who was nominated was invited to serve on the first Planning Group. During its first year of operation, the Planning Group developed its Charter, established Workgroups to carry out required tasks, and developed the 1995 Alaska HIV Prevention Plan. The 2004-2006 Alaska HIV Prevention Plan is the Planning Group's fifth such plan and is the most comprehensive to date. It is intended to guide HIV prevention efforts throughout the state and provide a resource for interested communities, organizations, and individuals.
How can someone who is not an HPPG member participate in HIV prevention planning?
1. A public comment period is included on the agenda for every Planning Group meeting. The agenda for the next meeting can be requested from the contact person listed on this web page. Comments may be provided in person at meetings (although the time allowed for this is limited).
2. Comments may be provided to the Planning Group in writing. Written comments may be mailed, faxed, or emailed to the Department of Health & Social Services contact person whose name, address, phone and fax numbers, and emailed address are listed at the bottom of this section.
3. Written comments are being actively solicited for the 2004-2006 Alaska HIV Prevention Plan (see section on this web page).
4. Key individuals and agency representatives may be specially invited to attend meetings to provide information and insight into particular issues.
5. Interested individuals may talk with local Planning Group members to share their expertise and relevant experiences. If you don't know the member in your area or don't have one, email or phone the Health Department contact person listed on this web page to arrange to talk with a Planning Group member.
What kinds of people serve on the Prevention Planning Group?
The Planning Group's Membership Workgroup seeks to make the Planning Group as representative as possible of the characteristics of the HIV epidemic in Alaska and the types of expertise necessary to conduct the planning process as required in CDC's Guidance on HIV Prevention Community Planning. The Membership Workgroup regularly reviews the Planning Group's composition and develops criteria for recruiting new members. New members are added to the Planning Group on a regular basis and as previous members retire, with a desired membership of 15-20 people.

Individual HPPG members represent the characteristics, life experiences, and perspectives of individuals with HIV, providers of HIV prevention services, and/or areas of professional expertise necessary for planning and evaluating HIV prevention strategies and services (behavioral science, social science, epidemiology, and health planning). Members also share information with and seek information relevant to HIV prevention needs and resources from individuals in their communities who are potential prevention service consumers or providers and relay this information to the larger Planning Group to enrich their consideration of effective HIV prevention strategies for Alaska.
How does someone become a Planning Group member?
Interested individuals who meet the membership criteria may submit a membership application form. Further information on membership, including membership criteria, a job description, and an application form, is available on this web page. The Planning Group's Membership

Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Alaska HIV Prevention Planning Group will take place on Friday, November 12 and Saturday November 13. The meeting will begin at 10:45 am on Friday November 12 and will be held at 3601 C Street, Anchorage. The public comment sessions will be held at the following times:

Friday, November 12: 12:30-1 pm
Saturday, November 13: 12-12:30 pm

CDC Community Planning Guidance

Membership

Alaska HIV Prevention Plans

2013-2016 Alaska HIV Plan (3.5 MB)
2010-2012 Alaska HIV Prevention Plan (1.8 MB)
2007-2009 Alaska HIV Prevention Plan (1.3 MB)
2004-2006 Alaska HIV Prevention Plan (1.7 MB)
2001-2003 Alaska HIV Prevention Plan (867 KB)
Supplemental Report: Rural MSM Strategic Plan (408 KB)

For More Information, Contact:

Samuel Senft, JD, MPH
Alaska Division of Public Health
Section of Epidemiology
HIV/STD Program
3601 C Street, Suite 540
Anchorage, AK 99503
Telephone: (907) 269-8058
Email: samuel.senft@alaska.gov