ABOUT THE NYC HIV PLANNING GROUP
The primary goal of the NYC HPG is to reduce the incidence of new HIV infections in New York City. The group is a joint effort of community and governmental representatives and agencies that works to inform the development and update of a comprehensive Integrated HIV Prevention and Care Plan. The NYC HPG was created in 1994 to help the DOHMH obtain input from communities most impact by HIV about how best to meet local prevention needs. Input from these communities helps the DOHMH in its decision-making processes around the allocation of CDC prevention funds.
HIV/AIDS prevention is a critical priority for the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene and NYC communities. Even after more than three decades of experience with this disease, thousands of New Yorkers continue to become infected with HIV each year. The New York City HIV Planning Group ensures that critical HIV prevention programs are informed by and succeed in reaching New York City’s diverse populations.
NYC HPG GUIDING PRINCIPLES
The DOHMH believes that prevention works best when there is community involvement. Parity, Inclusion & Representation (PIR), the hallmark of the NYC HPG, allows us to assess and prioritize needs and to determine the best ways to meet them. PIR also helps the DOHMH tap into local experience and expertise to increase its effectiveness.
The NYC HPG is committed to;
• giving all members an equal voice in developing policy
• including representatives from all communities affected by HIV/AIDS in every borough
• making sure its membership reflects the face of NYC’s HIV epidemic
Some factors considered in determining the group’s composition include, but are not limited to the following: age, race/ ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation, life experience and expertise.
We envision a New York City where all communities dream and drive their capacity to live happy and healthy lives.
REACHING VULNERABLE POPULATIONS
The mission of the NYC HPG is to reduce the incidence of new HIV infections and to improve the health outcomes of people living with HIV. Using an HIV status neutral approach, and driven by the leadership of those most affected, we educate the public, build capacity of community, and advocate for equitable access to resources. We achieve this through creative dialogue and dynamic partnership with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and our allies.
The NYC HPG was created in 1994 to help the DOHMH obtain input from impacted communities about how best to meet local HIV prevention needs. Input from those communities helps the DOHMH in its decision making processes around the allocation of CDC prevention funds.
The NYC HPG strives to identify prevention and treatment strategies that effectively reduce the conditions and behaviors that place a higher burden of HIV on marginalized individuals. The NYC HPG promotes CDC’s High Impact Prevention (HIP), designed to reduce disparities and maximize the reach of prevention efforts in order to reach communities that are disproportionately affected by HIV, including gay and bisexual men, communities of color, women, injection drug users, women and men of transgender and gender non-conforming experience, and youth.
NYC HPG STRUCTURE
The NYC HPG has 30 community members, 10 governmental members, and many associate members. Overall guidance for the HPG is provided by the Coordinating Committee. The Executive Committee is composed of the Coordinating Committee and the chairs of the five workgroups, on which full and associate members serve. All workgroup and HPG general meetings are open to the public – interested New Yorkers are encouraged to attend.
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OUR COORDINATING COMMITTEE
OUR MEETINGS
OUR MEMBERS
WORKGROUPS
ACTIVITIES
BECOME A NYC HPG MEMBER
The NYC HPG uses a broad, community- based outreach effort to identify potential new members, with an emphasis on engaging people involved in the HIV/AIDS and health care communities. Potential members are invited to submit an application and complete an interview. New members selected are recommended to the Health Commissioner, who approves all appointments. Initial appointments are for two years and are renewable for up to two additional terms. Many continue their involvement after their terms end by participating as associate members.
BECOME AN ASSOCIATE MEMBER
Associate members are voting participants in the NYC HPG’s workgroups. Many Associate Members go on to become NYC HPG members. Associate members: (1) Ensure that their voices and those of the communities they represent are heard in NYC HPG discussions. (2) Help identify new HIV prevention strategies. (3) Collaborate in the NYC HPG’s development and updating of the NYC DOHMH Comprehensive HIV Jurisdictional Prevention Plan.
To find out more about the NYC HPG and how you can help it prevent HIV/AIDS please contact the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s Community Partnerships Group at:
Fax: (347) 396-7791
Email: dohmhhpg@health.nyc.gov