Word on the Street: What You Should Know from Community  | August/September 2018
Word on the Street, July 2016, from the UCSF Center for AIDS Prevention Studies and Prevention Research Center
"Word on the Street" is disseminated monthly to inform CAPS/UCSF PRC of new developments, issues, programs, policy agendas, etc. that are happening in, affecting, and are of interest to the community. 
In This Issue
  1. Oakland TGA Planning Council (OTGA-PC)
  2. California Department of Public Health, Office of AIDS (CDPH-OA)
  3. International AIDS Conference 2020 San Francisco-Oakland Local Planning Group
  4. Women Organized to Respond to Life-Threatening Diseases (WORLD)
  5. CDPH-OA Prevention Branch
Oakland TGA Planning Council (OTGA-PC): Alameda County (AC) and Contra Costa County (CCC)
The Full OTGA-PC met on August 22nd and September 26th 

Meeting Highlights/Takeaways

  • There is concern about low mental health (MH) and substance abuse (SA) service utilization, which might be an indication that people are out of care. Recommend to identify barriers and use information to connect people back to care.
  • CCC’s naloxone program is very successful, during the last month 15 kits were distributed; 3 were used to revive people.
  • CCC reported 5 new HIV positive clients and all connected to care
  • Council staff conducted four focus groups (FG) and one key informant interview in Oakland, Fremont, Concord or Richmond to understand current service needs of PLWHA. FG responses and findings are available at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Cot55T_xbEt2nCEoAfI6NUeb6Hke-8Kh/view
  • Obamacare has provided more people with insurances, making it harder for Ryan White providers to spend down funds
California Department of Public Health Office of AIDS (CDPH–OA)
The CDPH-OA reported the following highlights at the August and September 2018 San Francisco EMA HIV Community Planning Council and Oakland Transitional Geographic Area Planning Council meetings:
 
A collaborative project in Orange County with California Ryan White Part B Clinical Quality Management Program and California Prevention Training Center sought to increase gonorrhea and chlamydia screening among MSM. Lessons learned will help CDPH frame support of STD screening for MSM living with HIV.

As of August 27, 2018, there are 149 PrEP-Assistance Program (AP) enrollment sites. The number of clinics in the PrEP-AP Provider Network is growing; there are currently 38, 5 more than the number reported in the previous WOTS. The new clinics are:
  • 2 clinics in Alameda County [Asian Health Services and East Bay Advanced Care AIDS (previously known as East Bay AIDS Center)]
  • 3 clinics in Los Angeles County [Bartz – Altadonna Community Health Center, JWHC Institute, Inc. – East Hollywood, and Northeast Valley Health Corporation)

For information about the next California Planning Group (October 23rd – 25th): www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DOA/Pages/OA_CPG.aspx
International AIDS Conference 2020 San Francisco-Oakland Local Planning Group
The second meeting was held September 20th and was well attended by diverse stakeholders, minutes are forthcoming and will be included in the next WOTS. Five planning teams were formed, including: 
  • Community Engagement and Access
  • Scientific
  • Arts and Culture
  • Equity/Legacy
  • Policy/Politics

If you are interested in participating in future meeting, contact Joe Hollendoner at ceo@sfaf.org
Women Organized to Respond to Life-Threatening Diseases (WORLD)
News Flash! Carla Dillard Smith is now the acting Executive Director of WORLD. 
California Department of Public Health Office of AIDS (CDPH–OA) Prevention Branch
CDPH meets the second Wednesday (1:30 – 2:30 p.m.) by phone every other month to discuss HIV Prevention Services for Women . The purpose of the meetings are to:
  • Provide stakeholders opportunities to exchange information and ideas on HIV prevention strategies for women attempted in local health jurisdictions, community based organizations and Federally Qualified Health Centers.
  •  Identify ways to incorporate research knowledge and local experience into policy and practice.
  • Identify HIV prevention services knowledge gaps and ways to address them.
  • Identify potential role and next steps for OA to facilitate development and improvement of HIV prevention programs for women in California.

Alameda, Contra Costa, San Joaquin, and Fresno Counties have higher congenital syphilis rates than the county average. Additionally, the group discussed PrEP and strategies for reaching women. Social media was discussed as a main approach. 

Agencies, providers or individuals that want to participate and add to the conversation should contact Keshia Lynch at Keshia.Lynch@cdph.ca.gov
If you have questions or need more information, please contact Barbara:
Barbara Green-Ajufo, DrPH, MPH
Research Partnership Manager
Community Engagement (CE) Core
Phone: (415) 476-6362
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The mission of  Center for AIDS Prevention Studies  is to end the HIV epidemic and associated health and social disparities by conducting high impact HIV prevention science and building capacity among researchers and communities to effectively address HIV.  Grant #: 2P30MH062246
The mission of the  UCSF Prevention Research Center  is to maintain an interdependent network of community, academic, and public health partners to design and implement prevention research aimed at answering significant and innovative HIV research questions and promoting the wide use of practices proven to promote health for those infected and affected by HIV.  Grant #: 5U48DP004998 
University of California San Francisco