FAPP Request: Impact of Ryan White Programs on PLWHAs

The Federal AIDS Policy Partnership’s Ryan White Workgroup is working hard to educate Congress on the importance of a continued, robust Ryan White Program as the US prepares to implement the Affordable Care Act.

Established in 2002, the Federal AIDS Policy Partnership (FAPP) is a national coalition of local, regional, and national organizations advocating for progressive federal HIV/AIDS legislation and policy. FAPP members are organizations that devote significant resources in support of federal HIV/AIDS public policy advocacy. FAPP is managed by a twenty-person Convening Group that consists of at-large members and a liaison from each of the affiliated working groups.

The Ryan White Work Group is an affiliated working group of the Federal AIDS Policy Partnership committed to ensuring that the Ryan White Program continues to provide appropriate primary care and treatment and support services to uninsured and underinsured individuals living with HIV/AIDS.  The Work Group works on the reauthorization of the Ryan White CARE Act, implementation of changes to the law, interaction with other private and public health programs, and on-going communication with HRSA. Where we know that the Ryan White Program will continue, we want to make sure that Congress appropriates the funds necessary to operate the program. 

To that end, we need your help.  Congress needs to hear the impact the program has made to the lives of PLWHAs.  We are asking for you to send your story as to how the Ryan White Program has impacted your life. In one page or less please include: 

• Your Name as you would like it shared
• Your City and State
• What services you received
• How your life has been changed because of these services (T-cell, viral load, quality of life, income, overall health and mental health, etc.)
• What might have happened had you not been connected to Ryan White Services

Please send your submission to campbell@housingworks.org or fax to 202-408-1142 by June  7^th, 2013. 

If you would like to get involved with FAPP’s  Ryan White Visioning and Framing Subcommittee, please send  you name, phone number and e-mail to ehopkins@sfaf.org and/or campbell@housingworks.org

The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.

TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!