Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Central Florida HIV Planning Council?
A: The Central Florida HIV Planning Council (CFHPC) is a legislatively constituted body with mandated responsibilities in Ryan White planning and decision making.
2. What does the Planning Council do?
A: The Planning Council assesses the needs of the people living with HIV in the Orlando Service Area (OSA), establishes plans for the delivery of HIV care and support services, and establishes priorities for the use of Ryan White Part A & B funds.
3. Who can join the Planning Council?
A: The members of the planning council need to be reflective (having characteristics that reflect the local HIV epidemic in such areas as race, ethnicity, gender, and age, and representation—filling the required membership categories as stated in the legislation.) The members of the council may include individuals who work for federal HIV programs, health and social service providers, public health and health planning agencies, other concerned community members and people living with HIV (PLWH). At least 33% of the planning council members must be PLWH consumers (Ryan White HIV Program Part A: Planning Council Primer; 16-17). While anyone is welcome to apply to become a member of the planning council, the Planning Council Support team will disclose if there are any vacancies or if there is a need for specific members.
4. When and where does it meet?
A: The locations for all meetings take place at Heart of Florida United Way which is located at 1940 Cannery Way, Orlando FL 32804 (if meeting locations vary, it will be advertised to the public). The days and times for the meetings are as listed below, however please also refer to the monthly calendar.
*NOTE: At this time, Heart of Florida United Way offices are closed to the public. Please refer to the calendar for current meeting locations.
- (Merged Committee) Membership/PR & Marketing Committee: Every 1st Tuesday of the month at 2 PM.
- (Merged Committee) Needs Assessment/Service Systems and Quality Committee: Every 1st Thursday of the month at 10 AM.
- Ryan White Community Meeting: Every 3rd/4thTuesday of the month at 11 AM.
- Executive Committee: Every 3rd/4th Thursday of the month at 10 AM.
- Planning Council Business Meeting: Every last Wednesday of the month at 5:30 PM.
5. How does one find out about Planning Council meeting times and agendas?
A: By referring to the CFHPC website or by contacting the Planning Council Support team at 407-835-0906 or CFHPC@hfuw.org, you can obtain more information about the meeting times and agendas.
6. How do I join the Planning Council?
A: By downloading the application via the CFHPC website here or by contacting the Planning Council Support team at CFHPC@hfuw.org, an application can be provided.
7. Who appoints the members?
A: The CEO of the Eligible Metropolitan Area (EMA) appoints the members of the planning council. In this case, the Mayor of Orange County, Jerry L. Demings, appoints members to the Central Florida HIV Planning Council.
8. Can I participate without becoming a member?
A: All planning council meetings are open to the public and participation is encouraged during appropriate times of the as listed on the agendas.
9. What impact will I make?
A: Being a part of the Central Florida HIV Planning Council can provide members and participants an opportunity to make a difference, stay current of local issues, network with other stakeholders, receive training opportunities, engage with our community and be a part of Florida’s strategy to end the epidemic.
10. What area does it cover?
A: The Orlando Service Area consists of Brevard, Osceola, Seminole, Lake and Orange county.
11. What is Ryan White Part A/B? What are the other Parts?
A: The Ryan White Program was reauthorized several times but most recently reauthorized as the Treatment Extension Act of 2009 and the legislation created a number of programs called Ryan White Parts.
- Part A of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program provides emergency assistance to Eligible Metropolitan Areas (EMAs) and Transitional Grant Areas (TGAs) which are urban / suburban areas that are most severely affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
- Part B of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act provides grants to all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and 5 U.S. Pacific Territories or Associated Jurisdictions. Part B grants include a base grant, the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) award, ADAP supplemental grants and grants to States for Emerging Communities – those reporting between 500 and 999 cumulative reported AIDS cases over the most recent 5 years.
- Part C funds comprehensive primary health care in an outpatient setting for people living with HIV disease.
- Part D funds programs for services to women, infants, children, youth and families and provides family-centered care involving outpatient or ambulatory care (directly or through contracts) for women, infants, children, and youth with HIV/AIDS. Grantees are expected to provide primary medical care, treatment, and support services to improve access to health care.
- Part F has three components: 1) The Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS) Program advances knowledge and skills in the delivery of health and support services to underserved populations diagnosed with HIV infection. SPNS grants fund innovative models of care and support the development of effective delivery systems for HIV care. 2) The AIDS Education and Training Centers (AETC) Program of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program supports a network of 11 regional centers (and more than 130 local associated sites) that conduct targeted, multidisciplinary education and training programs for health care providers treating people living with HIV/AIDS. 3) Dental Programs (all Parts of Ryan White can fund dental services) under Part D specifically focus on funding the Dental Reimbursement Program (DRP) and the Community-Based Dental Partnership Program (CBDPP).
12. What determines how much money the Orlando EMA/Area 7 gets?
A: Congress appropriates the funding for the Ryan White programs each year. Two-thirds of the money for Part A is distributed through a formula developed by the CDC to estimate the number of people living with HIV/AIDS. The other one-third is allocated through a competitive grant proposal process, often called the supplemental process.
Part B Base and ADAP base awards are determined using a formula based on reported living cases of HIV in the state or territory in the most recent calendar year for which data is available.
A competitive supplemental grant program, ADAP Emergency Relief Funds, was authorized in 2006 is also available based on demonstrated need criteria.
13. What are Ryan White funds used for?
A: 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 funds are utilized to ensure that those who don’t have sufficient health coverage or financial resources to manage the disease are able to assess to care. Other goals are to expand and increase the quality of those services, to ensure that newly diagnosed individual are rapidly linked to care. The Ryan White Program recipients must seek payment from other sources before using the program funds as the Ryan White Program is the payer of last resort.
14. Are there things that the funds can’t be used for?
A: Yes. It must be used as the payor of last resort, meaning that if a service can be paid for somewhere else, such as billed to Medicare, it cannot be paid for by Ryan White. Money also cannot be given directly to consumers. There are a number of restrictions on the use of funds for housing and prevention.
15. Who can get services through Ryan White?
A: Individuals seeking services must complete the eligibility process through a Ryan White provider (reference question 16).
16. Where are Ryan White services available?
Here is a list of references to find Ryan White services:
17. Where can I find services that Ryan White does not offer?
A: Heart of Florida United Way’s 211 Community Resource Directory is a great resource to utilize before seeking Ryan White services.
18. How does one contact Planning Council members or staff?
A: Contact the Planning Council Support team by calling 407-835-0906 or emailing CFHPC@hfuw.org.
19. Who qualifies for transportation to and from Planning Council Meetings? How does one access transportation?
A: Transportation is provided to CFHPC consumer members and other PLWH that have completed their Ryan White eligibility with a Ryan White Service Provider. For questions, concerns about transportation, contact the Planning Council Support team by calling 407-835-0906 or emailing CFHPC@hfuw.org.