The Steering Committee, which oversees the administration of the complete Planning Council, is composed of the Planning Council co-chairs and the co-chairs of each standing committee.

Responsibilities:

• Setting the Planning Council agenda;
• Developing an annual Planning Council budget;
• Ensuring the Council is operating and following current Ryan White and HRSA mandates; and
• Monitoring the progress for achieving goals of the comprehensive plan to direct HIV services.

The Membership Committee is responsible for recruiting, screening, interviewing, and recommending potential candidates for membership to the Planning Council. If you are interested in becoming a Planning Council member, please complete our Membership Application.

Responsibilities:

• Coordinating Community Outreach and Recruitment Events (CORE) throughout the TGA to recruit new members; and
• Providing appropriate orientation and training for new Planning Council members.

The Positive Empowerment Committee (PEC) serves as the link between the HIV/AIDS community and the Planning Council. This committee provides a space for consumers to come together, discuss the unique issues that affect them, and determine how to use those experiences to improve how the Planning Council assesses needs and keeps those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS in care. Furthermore, PEC ensures that the community is aware of the Council, its work, and the availability of Ryan White services.

Responsibilities:

• Seeking input from consumers on needed and desired services;
• Recruiting consumers to participate in needs assessment activities, such as surveys, focus groups, key informant interviews, and satisfaction surveys; and
• Serving as mentors to new consumer Planning Council members.

The Priorities, Allocation and Reallocation Committee and the Needs Assessment Committee combined in 2012 to facilitate the process for assessing community needs and allocating funds each year.

Responsibilities:

• Overseeing the development and implementation of community needs assessments;
• Reviewing and participating in the development of the Statewide Coordinated Statement of Needs;
• Designing, developing, and coordinating the Planning Council’s decision making process, where the Council determines which services to fund, how much money should be spent on these services, and prepares directives to the Grantee;
• Making recommendations to the full Planning Council on the allocation of Ryan White funds; and
• Making recommendations to the full Planning Council on the reallocation of unexpended funds, as well as considering requests and recommendations for reallocating funds during the fiscal year.

The Evaluations Committee often collaborates with the Grantee’s Office on issues regarding quality management. Together, these groups work on the development of Standards of Care, Outcome Measures and Indicators, and the TGA Quality Management Plan.

Responsibilities:

• Overseeing the collection of quality data and outcome indicators for use by the Planning Council as part of the decision making process; and
• Coordinating and drafting the Assessment of the Administrative Mechanism, which assesses the efficiency and effectiveness of the Recipient’s work.

The Continuum of Care Committee assesses the effectiveness of care strategies based on previous priority setting and resource allocations. The committee often collaborates with the Priorities – Needs Assessment Joint Committee and the Evaluation Committee. Together, these committees use data and recommend directives for use in the priority setting process, as well as any changes to standards of care.

Responsibilities:

• Overseeing the development of the three year Comprehensive Plan for HIV/AIDS service delivery;
• Seeking methods and strategies using the CARE Act and other funding mechanisms for coordinating service delivery, addressing disparities in care, filling service gaps, and reducing unmet needs of special populations – especially racial and ethnic minorities; and
• Exploring models to enhance HIV/AIDS service delivery.

The African American Caribbean Care Team and The Latino Caucus combined in 2017 to form the Multicultural Care Team (MCCT). The MCCT is tasked with the work of the Caucus as defined by the Greater Hartford Ryan White Planning Council By-Laws.

African American Caribbean Care Team:

1. Serve as an organized voice of the African American and Caribbean communities with regard to HIV service needs,
2. Report to and work with the Needs Assessment Committee to gather, assess and interpret data concerning the cultural, linguistic, and HIV service needs of the African American and Caribbean communities,
3. Work with the Membership Committee to recruit potential consumer members,
4. Assist in the training and orientation of new Planning Council members,
5. Publicize information about HIV/AIDS, Ryan White programs, and enhancing community participation in the Ryan White Planning Council.

The Latino Caucus:

1. Serve as an organized voice of the Latino community with regard to HIV service needs,
2. Report to and work with the Needs Assessment Committee to gather, assess and interpret data concerning the cultural, linguistic, and HIV service needs of the Latino Community,
3. Work with the Membership Committee to recruit potential consumer members,
4. Assist in the training and orientation of new Planning Council members, Publicize information about HIV/AIDS, Ryan White programs, and enhancing community participation in the Ryan White Planning Council.