Update: National HIV/AIDS Strategy Implementation Dialogues

Our Federal partners, as well as so many community members, people living with HIV, funders, businesses, faith leaders and other stakeholders have demonstrated encouraging support and enthusiasm for the implementation of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy.  Perhaps one of the most encouraging developments has been the way the NHAS has helped steer the national HIV conversation in the direction of the Strategy’s goals.  States and local jurisdictions have already begun the process of developing their own Strategy and implementation plans.

NHAS Implementation Dialogues: To sustain this effort the Office of National AIDS Policy will convene a series of regional dialogues to focus attention on issues related to implementation of the Strategy.  These dialogues will serve as a forum for Federal and state agency representatives, researchers, clinicians, the HIV community, and leaders from the business, foundation, faith and media sectors to share their diverse expertise, and collaborative experience. 

We are planning five dialogues on distinct topics related to implementing the Strategy. Here are the updated dialogue topics and locations:

• Incorporating Prevention and Care Research Into HIV Programs

Date: Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Time: 2:00 – 4:30 pm

Location: Jemison Concert Hall at University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center, 1200 10th Ave. S. Birmingham, AL

• Building Capacity within the HIV Workforce so that it Delivers What We Need Today and Tomorrow

Date:Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Time: 5:30 – 8:00 pm

Location: Swedish Medical Center, Glaser Auditorium, 747 Broadway, Seattle, WA

• Sustaining the Community-Based Response to HIV

Date: Thursday, October 20, 2011

Time: 2:30 – 5:00 pm

Location: University of Pennsylvania Campus, Building location TBD, Philadelphia, PA

• Fostering Collaboration Between all Public and Private Stakeholders at the State and Local Level

Baton Rouge, Louisiana(Late October 2011)

• Maximizing Impact in Low-Prevalence Jurisdictions

Des Moines, Iowa (Early November 2011)

Additional dates, times, locations will be announced soon. Please continue to check the ONAP and AIDS. gov websitesover the coming weeks for more information.

Each meeting will include a federal update on NHAS implementation and an overview of the specific topic of the dialogue followed by a panel discussion. Participants will have the opportunity to dialogue with the panel and share examples of ways they are addressing the topic as they work to implement the Strategy at the local level.

James Albino is the Senior Program Manager for the Office of National AIDS Policy.