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News & Updates

Blog

  • March 15, 2022 Town Hall Meeting

    March 15, 2022 Town Hall Meeting

    We want to hear from you! Join us for a Town Hall meeting at the Holden Heights Community Center on March 15th and share your feedback on barriers and improvements for the HIV system of care. Doors open at 5:00 PM, dinner will be provided at 5:30, and the meeting will start promptly at 6:00 PM. Door prizes and raffles will be available!

    If you are interested in attending, then please register at  https://osatownhall.eventbrite.com. 

    Accessibility:

    Venue is ADA Accessible. Assistance with transportation, translation services, and assistance to hearing impaired is available upon request. To request these services, please contact: Whitney.Marshall@HFUW.org no later than March 1, 2022.

     

  • Part A Food Program Updates- March 2022

    Part A Food Program Updates- March 2022

    The new eligibility requirements established for the Ryan White Part A food assistance program changes go into effect March 1, 2022. Services will continue to be coordinated through Case Management and Early Intervention Services. If additional food assistance is needed, they will be able to connect clients to other available food assistance programs in the community. 

     

    If you have questions, then please contact the RWHAP Part A Office at rwinfo@ocfl.net and visit their website at OrangeCountyFL.HIV.

     

  • 2022-2026 Integrated HIV Prevention and Care Plan Guidance

    Image Credits: https://targethiv.org/ihap
    Important Update Regarding the Integrated HIV Prevention and Care Plan Guidance for 2022-2026
    On June 30th, HRSA HAB and CDC-DHAP released the Integrated HIV Prevention and Care Plan Guidance, including the Statewide Coordinated Statement of Need, CY 2022-2026, which outlines the planning requirements for Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) Parts A and B recipients and all DHAP-funded state and local health departments.

    CDC and HRSA expect that RWHAP Part A and B recipients and DHAP funded state and local health departments will continue to use existing Integrated HIV Prevention and Care Plans and other jurisdictional plans (e.g., Ending the HIV Epidemic [EHE] Plans, Fast Track Cities) as their jurisdictional HIV Strategy or roadmap until submission of the new integrated plan due in December 2022. Many jurisdictions have already developed EHE Plans; CDC and HRSA encourage jurisdictions to use the appendices and checklists included in the new guidance for instructions on how to leverage existing EHE documents to satisfy submission requirements. 

    To learn more, visit: https://targethiv.org/ihap
    Integrated-hiv-prevention-and-care-plan-guidance-letter-6-30-21-508Download
    Integrated-HIV-prevention-and-care-plan-guidance-june 2021Download
  • Safe Return to Planning Council Plan

    Safe Return to Planning Council Plan

    Planning Council Support and the RWHAP Part A and B’s office have worked together closely to develop a Safe Return to Planning Council plan that outlines our minimum precautions and processes for conducting in-person meetings. We encourage you to please review the safety plan below and contact PCS with any questions or concerns.

    Safe Return to Planning Council

    Building Safety

    • Masks or face coverings will be required and worn by persons at all times except during eating – PCS will make disposable masks available to those who need them.
    • One person will be posted downstairs to help usher and limit the number of people entering the building and elevator at one time.
    • Attendees will be asked to take their temperature upon entry to the building. Individuals with a temperature exceeding 100.4 F will be asked to leave.
    • Signage will be used to display a list of symptoms of illness related to COVID-19. Individuals demonstrating any of these symptoms will be asked to leave.
    • Restrooms will be accessible. Meeting attendees are encouraged to exercise caution when using the restroom, as we cannot limit access to the restroom.

    Room Safety

    • PCS has reserved the largest room available at DOH Central (capacity: 40) and will remove/rearrange furniture to ensure enough room for social distancing (at least 6 ft per person).
    • Room capacity will be limited with priority given to regular and associate members of the scheduled meeting.
    • All tables, doorknobs and surfaces will be wiped down before and after the meeting.
    • Hand sanitizer and wipes will be available throughout the room.
    • Distance markers and arrows will be used to indicate the direction and spacing of foot traffic.
    • PCS will use verbal announcements, signage, and visual cues to promote social distancing.

    Meetings with Food (When Applicable)

    • Individual boxed meals only, no shared/buffet style.
    • Individually packaged eating utensils only.
    • Individual water bottles only; No Keurig (coffeemaker) or community beverage items will be offered.
    • Meal varieties will be organized together and signage will be used to indicate each meal to prevent attendees from congregating at a table.
    • PCS will help usher individuals to the food table to ensure social distancing.
  • AIDSWatch 2021

    AIDSWatch 2021

    March 22 – 24 marks the 28th annual AIDSWatch.  As the nation’s largest, constituent-based HIV advocacy event, AIDSWatch brings people living with HIV and their allies together. This event is designed so you can learn the most up-to-date information about the HIV epidemic.  There is still time to register for this free event. Join the hundreds of advocates who have already registered for AIDSWatch 2021 and register here.  Take advantage of this opportunity to grow your advocacy skills!

  • Funding Opportunity: Mobile PrEP RFA

    Funding Opportunity: Mobile PrEP RFA

    From: Area 7 Program Office for Ending the HIV Epidemic : MOBILE PREP RFA

     

    The scope of work is for accelerating services to increase access to PrEP by providing comprehensive medical services through a mobile health unit in Orange County . The expected date to begin work is April 1, 2021 or on the date of the purchase order whichever is later. It will end at midnight, Eastern Time on March 30, 2022.

     

    The State of Florida’s performance and obligation to pay under this purchase order and any subsequent renewal is contingent upon annual appropriation by the Legislature and satisfactory performance of the Contractor. Please see the attached document indicating the contractor qualifications and experience, the contractors responsibilities required for this funding.

     

    If you are interested in this funding opportunity please submit a proposal and budget to William.Haubenestel@flhealth.gov

     

    The time frame to respond to this funding opportunity is by Close of Business 5:00pm March 1, 2021. The Budget for this scope of work is to not exceed $100,000.00.

     

     

  • Combatting HIV Stigma Study

    Combatting HIV Stigma Study

    Combatting HIV Stigma Study Recruitment Flyer (Download Here)

    Points of Contact:

    Blake Scott, Professor of Writing & Rhetoric, bscott@ucf.edu, 407-718-1721

    Christa Cook, Associate Professor of Nursing, christa.cook@ucf.edu, 407-823-5457

     

     

  • EHE Request for Application: Priority Population HIV Education & Testing

    EHE Request for Application: Priority Population HIV Education & Testing

     

     

    Purpose: Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) is a national initiative to achieve the important goal of reducing new HIV transmissions to less than 3,000 per year by 2030. The initiative identified seven Florida counties as part of Phase 1 — Broward, Duval, Hillsborough, Miami Dade, Orange, Palm Beach, and Pinellas. As part of Ending the HIV Epidemic, the State of Florida (Florida), in partnership with local communities, will implement strategies to increase testing access during nontraditional hour. This funding period will end March 31, 2022.

    Despite the wide-range availability of HIV testing services in Central Florida, the disproportionate disparities in new HIV diagnoses within Florida are still evident among Black and Hispanic/Latinx gay and bisexual men (Florida Department of Health, HIV/AIDS Section, 2019). With the addition of priority HIV testing services to improve health outcomes for young Black and Young Latinx (13-24) men who have sex with men (MSM)1 ; to increase HIV awareness to the aforementioned priority population by providing basic HIV education and prevention including safer sex practices and PrEP/PEP use, provide targeted HIV testing, provide referrals for PrEP/nPEP services, and provide referrals to HIV treatment if necessary. Clients to be served shall be individuals described as the priority population who experience barriers to care due to stigma of HIV within these communities. This scope of work is for recipients, specifically minority-owned organization(s)2, to increase the awareness of and education around HIV, and provide HIV testing to serve key priority populations3 through a variety of non traditional community engagement tactics across Orange County. The Recipients, with the guidance of the Florida Department of Health (Department) in Orange County Area 7 Program Office, will provide these services to the community.

     

    Review the entire notice here: PRIORITY POPULATION EHE rfa

  • EHE Request for Application: HIV Testing During Nontraditional Hours

    EHE Request for Application: HIV Testing During Nontraditional Hours

     

    Purpose: Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) is a national initiative to achieve the important goal of reducing new HIV transmissions to less than 3,000 per year by 2030. The initiative identified seven Florida counties as part of Phase 1 — Broward, Duval, Hillsborough, Miami-Dade, Orange, Palm Beach, and Pinellas. As part of Ending the HIV Epidemic, the State of Florida (Florida), in partnership with local communities, will implement strategies to increase testing access during nontraditional hours. This funding period will end March 31, 2022.

    Despite the wide-range availability of HIV testing services in Central Florida, the disproportionate disparities in new HIV diagnoses within Florida are still evident among African American/Black cisgender1 women, Black and Hispanic/Latinx gay and bisexual men, and all persons of trans experience (Florida Department of Health, HIV/AIDS Section, 2019). With the addition of HIV testing services during non traditional hours such as testing conducted after 5:00pm, holidays, and weekends; shall allow the aforementioned priority populations’ increased access to testing which may have been impeded my stigma, caused by services only being available during traditional business hours. This scope of work is for recipients, specifically minority owned organization(s)2, to increase availability of HIV testing during non-traditional hours to serve key priority populations through a variety of non-traditional community engagement tactics across Orange County. The Recipients, with the guidance of the Florida Department of Health (Department) in Orange County Area 7 Program Office, will provide these services to the community.

     

    Read the entire notice here: HIV testing nontraditional hours EHE RFA

     

     

     

  • Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) PS21-2104: Partnering and Communicating Together

    Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) PS21-2104: Partnering and Communicating Together

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) PS21-2104: Partnering and Communicating Together. The NOFO seeks to engage strategic partners from across a variety of sectors to support the dissemination of messages and resources from the Let’s Stop HIV Together campaign to the populations and communities most impacted by HIV. The Partnering and Communicating Together funding opportunity is part of CDC’s efforts to increase HIV awareness, testing, prevention, and treatment under the Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) initiative.

    The purpose of this program is to leverage existing organizational structures, networks, and communication platforms to disseminate Let’s Stop HIV Together (Together) campaign materials, messaging, and other CDC resources via 1) digital communication channels and 2) in-person and virtual events. This program will support organizations to expand the reach and dissemination of Together campaign resources using a variety of vehicles, including publications, meetings, conferences, media (digital and social), and other mechanisms.

    A total of $11 million is available for the five-year period of performance to support up to 12 awards.

    The funding opportunity announcement and additional resources are available online HERE.

    Important Dates

    Letters of intent due February 17, 2021

    Applications due April 5, 2021

    Funding start September 30, 2021

    Interested potential applicants are strongly encouraged to register and participate in one of two scheduled information webinars.

    Informational Webinars

    February 17, 2021 at 1:00 pm EST Register

    February 23, 2021 at 1:00 pm EST Register

     

    For this funding opportunity, recipients will prioritize health communication and mobilization efforts among populations highly impacted by HIV and in jurisdictions identified in Phase 1 of the EHE Initiative.