UCHAPS Members

Although HIV has migrated into almost every community, large and small, rural and metropolitan, the epidemic is, for the most part, an urban one. Data suggest that as much as 85 percent of all reported AIDS cases since the beginning of epidemic have been in urban areas. Clearly, the need to reduce transmission rates in these highly affected jurisdictions is acutely felt. Yet finding effective and cost-efficient ways to prevent HIV in cities—where multiple social and economic factors, such as racism, sexism, poverty, and homelessness come to a head, imposing seemingly insurmountable challenges—has proven demanding. Further, efforts to stem the epidemic can often be compromised by a lack of coordination between community-based organizations (CBO) and governmental agencies, which often talk past each other or, still worse, work at cross purposes.

Founded in 2000 and comprised of community-based organizations and health departments from the six metropolitan areas that receive direct funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Urban Coalition for HIV/AIDS Prevention Services attempts to facilitate the development of sound, effectual prevention strategies by working collectively and sharing knowledge, resources, and best practices for HIV prevention. In the words of Michael Discepola, of the University of California, San Francisco AIDS Health Project, a UCHAPS participant Francisco members, “We are able to capitalize on the data from the government and the passion from the CBOs.” Through this cross-fertilization of ideas, the UCHAPS jurisdictions, (i.e., Chicago, Houston, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Los Angeles County) have improved the U.S. response to the HIV epidemic. In addition, their partnership has given rise to a collective, informed voice that can compellingly articulate the needs of our nation’s urban centers on Capitol Hill and elsewhere. This week, UCHAPS visited Washington, DC and put their combined skills to good use

a. Establishing relationships that will endure
On Monday, June 23, the coalition spent the day in conversations with officials from agencies in the Department of Health and Human Services, including Dr. Julie Gerberding, director of the CDC. Although their discussion with Dr. Gerberding was brief, it was particularly constructive to engage her in a discussion of the current needs faced by cities, since all of UCHAPS’ jurisdictions receive funding from the CDC. During these meetings, hosted by Christopher Bates, acting director of the Office of AIDS Policy, UCHAPS also had the opportunity to learn the full menu of prevention funding and programs that is offered at the federal level through agencies like the Office of Minority Health, the Office of Women’s Health, and the Health Resources and Services Administration. These opportunities, arranged by AIDS Action, were summed up well by UCHAPS member Debra Fleming of Chicago’s West Side HIV/AIDS Regional Planning Group. She said, “We represent one-third of the epidemic. We should have a direct line to the CDC. And the meetings helped us advance this goal not only with the CDC, but with HHS too.”

Congressman Edolphus Towns (D-NY)

b. The personal moves the political
The following day, the coalition turned its attention toward Capitol Hill, where it conducted a briefing to educate Congressional staff and other interested parties on the urban HIV epidemic. The standing-room-only event was entitled “Cities in Crisis: Prevention Challenges & Strategies” and included a panel discussion. Thirty Congressional offices and numerous advocacy organizations attended to learn more about the complexities of “HIV in the city.” Although the briefing was designed to share facts and figures, the UCHAPS members imbued their presentations with moving sincerity as they related some of their own personal challenges with HIV.