The Ryan White Program is a federally funded program that provides primary and supportive care to those infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS. The goal of this program is to work with community-based organizations, cities, and states to provide services to people living with HIV who don’t have sufficient health coverage or financial resources to manage the disease. Other goals are to expand and increase the quality of those services, to ensure that newly diagnosed individuals are rapidly linked to care, and to solicit community input on an ongoing basis to ensure that the best quality prevention and patient care planning process.

The Central Florida HIV Planning Council (CFHPC) is a community body that advises on the allocation of federal funds for the Ryan White Part A & B programs and provides HIV prevention planning. Through CFHPC, the voices of local healthcare providers, people with HIV (PWH), those at risk for HIV, and other concerned citizens in the area can be heard in deciding how to distribute Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) Part A & B funds. It’s the community’s largest planning body responsible for planning HIV prevention and care services for the 3 million-plus residents in the Orlando Service Area (OSA). The OSA consists of Brevard, Osceola, Seminole, Lake, and Orange counties.

• Our Mission is to improve the quality of life for individuals with HIV by responding to their existing and emerging needs and to provide educational and behavioral strategies to reduce and prevent the spread of HIV.
• Our Vision is to ensure a quality continuum of care for all individuals and families infected with, affected by, and at risk for HIV.
• Our Core Values are Empowerment, Commitment, Quality, and Integrity.

As of 2021, a total of 15,693 people were diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in our service area. Those living with HIV in this area are predominantly males with a transmission exposure of Men who have sex with Men (MSM). The Black population is disproportionately represented as they account for 39% of PWH but only comprise 15% of the general population. The White and Hispanic populations are underrepresented as they account for 50% and 28% of the general population, respectively, but 30% and 29% of the PWH population. Among the PWH population, 51% are above the age of 49 years, with 27% between 25-39 years (2020-2021 OSA Epidemiological Profile). Orlando is the 22nd largest metropolitan area in the U.S., yet ranked 4th in the nation for rates of new HIV diagnoses (HIV Surveillance Report 2021; 34).