Next Steps in Developing the National HIV/AIDS Strategy
To date, we have made an extraordinary commitment to listening to Americans’ ideas for a strategic plan for moving forward. Now, our task is to synthesize the many ideas received and set priorities. The following are key steps in this process:
Community Discussions Report
ONAP released a report that synthesizes the recommendations from the community discussions and the online ‘Call to Action.’ The report was released in April 2010.
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Interagency Working Group (IWG)
ONAP has convened a Federal HIV Interagency Working Group to assist in developing the strategy. The IWG is comprised of an overarching working group and three subcommittees that correspond with each of the three goals for the NHAS.
The mission for each of the subcommittees:
- Incidence: Identify programmatic and policy strategies that will result in reducing incidence of HIV and AIDS.
- Access to Care: Identify programmatic and policy strategies that will result in increased access to care and optimal health outcomes among people living with HIV/AIDS.
- Disparities: Identify programmatic and policy strategies that will result in reductions in HIV-related disparities.
- Overarching: Monitor process across subcommittees; Identify cross-cutting issues; Identify inefficiencies and opportunities for coordinated efforts across agencies.
The Strategy will undergo an extensive cross-governmental review process before it is sent to the President for his consideration. Barring any unforeseen delays, we anticipate completing all of these steps by late spring or early summer.
Following the release of the strategy, the relevant departments will be tasked with developing their own implementation plans, which will provide another level of detail into action steps toward effective implementation of the strategy.
Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA)
The Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS has a critical role in assisting us in developing the strategy. We envision two key ways that PACHA will support our efforts:
- Throughout the process, members of PACHA will confer with the interagency working group subcommittees. The purpose will be for these individuals to review and provide their expertise on the range of indicators that are being considered, review likely priority recommendations, and flag other issues for further consideration.
- PACHA also has a significant role in supporting the implementation of the strategy and monitoring its effectiveness. PACHA will devote significant attention over the coming months to thinking about how to serve as an effective external monitor and how it can support the implementation of the strategy.
Public Input Going Forward
Community support has been important to our success so far and we hope that it continues through the completion of the strategy and implementation.
Before the process is complete, ONAP intends to hold a public meeting to walk through some key recommendations, priorities, targets and indicators. This will be an opportunity for the public to provide an additional level of comment before any recommendations are sent to the President.
We must also remember that our work does not end when the strategy document is released. We view this as the initiation of an ongoing process to lower HIV incidence in the United States, get all people living with HIV into care, and reduce HIV-related health disparities. When we are further along, we will engage the public in a dialogue about effectively promoting public awareness of the strategy and ensuring effective implementation of key priority action steps.
