The Positive Committee

The Positive Committee is comprised of people with HIV infection only; it supports and enhances the role of people with HIV infection in the Planning Council and the CPG (both separately and jointly with the CPG, as appropriate).The Positive Committee is open to all HIV-positive individuals residing in the Philadelphia EMA.

The Positive Committee supports the role of consumers of HIV services in these planning and decision making activities through regular trainings, special educational presentations, and group discussion.

The activities of the Positive Committee provide a unique opportunity for consumers of HIV services to educate other consumers and service providers about the needs of consumers, services available,  community resources, and build the skills necessary to participate effectively in the activities and decision-making of the CPG and Planning Council.  

Mission Statement

The Positive Committee supports and enhances the role of people with the HIV infection to empower their participation in the decision-making process of the Ryan White Part A Planning Council and the Community Planning Group.

Goals:

1: To increase the skills of people with HIV to enable them to participate in the planning process.

2: To reach out to the community to increase the number of people with HIV participating in the process.

3: To advocate for policies and practices that will encourage and sustain the involvement of people with HIV.

 

What has been accomplished?
Positive Committee activities having an impact on the HIV planning process have included:

• Quarterly newsletter (launched in 2003)
• Annual Regional Town Hall meetings
• Educational presentations to consumers
• Pilot testing of the consumer survey
• Recruitment for focus groups for Ryan White Part A services
• Outreach to community
• Outreach to community support groups   
• Positive Committee membership recruitment efforts support the planning  bodies’ mandates for the groups to be  reflective of the epidemic in the Philadelphia EMA  in terms of the percentage of  HIV-positive individuals, as well as by demographics.

 

Why is my participation important?
People living with HIV/AIDS play a crucial role in the planning and decision-making of the Planning Council and CPG by participating in these activities:

• Identifying unmet needs through needs assessment activities (focus groups, town hall meetings and surveys).
• Evaluating the quality of existing services
• Prioritizing HIV services (through the yearly planning process)

 

 

This committee meets on the second Monday of the month from noon to 2 p.m.  Check the calendar for dates.