Recorded presentation

Steven Tierney, PhD, San Francisco Department of Public Health, HIV Prevention Section, 25 Van Ness #500, San Francisco, CA 94`102, 415-554-9998, steven.tierney@sfdph.org, Kathleen M. Roe, DrPH, MPH, Health Science Department, San Jose State University, One Washington Square, San Jose, CA 95192-0052, Israel Nieves-Rivera, Aguilas, 1841 Market Stree, San Francisco, CA 94103, Gwen Smith, Southeast Health Center, 2401 Keith Street, San Francisco, CA 94124, and Kevin Roe, MPH, Magnet, 231 Sanchez St. #5, San Francisco, CA 94114.

Issues: Community planning has been a cornerstone of HIV prevention policy, planning, and program development since established by CDC a decade ago. Recent changes in broader sociopolitical environments have introduced a series of small but consequential shifts in federal policy, regulation, and priorities that now threaten the ability of local communities to convene, support, and nurture a meaningful community planning process.

Description: San Francisco’s HIV Prevention Community Planning Council (HPPC) has been widely acknowledged as a national leader community planning. As other communities experience the chilling effect of current and coming federal and state prevention policies and their corresponding financial impacts, the HPPC has established the San Francisco Leadership Initiative to give voice to the original intention and requirements of purposeful, inclusive community planning.

Lessons Learned: The 10-year process evaluation has identified lessons learned the HPPC’s experience of: 1) persistent federal audits of programs and materials; 2) personalized and highly public threats by dissident activists challenging the basic premises of HIV disease, treatment, and prevention planning; 3) changing resources and capacity within the public health department; 4) changing federal priorities, funding, and processes that threaten, undermine, and distract the community-based organizations so central to HIV prevention partnerships.

Recommendations: The SLI is a model for others experiencing the impacts of the changing sociopolitical environment. The centerpiece is bold articulation of the core values, principles, and priorities of HIV prevention in the local area, and comparison to emerging federal priorities. Prospective process evaluation documents the risks and opportunities catalyzed by the Initiative.

Learning Objectives: By the end of this session, participants will be able to

• Identify 5 characteristics of the socio-political environment of the early 1990s that contributed to the design, funding, and support of HIV prevention community planning;
• Identify five characteristics of the current socio-political environment that pose significant threats to the integrity and continued support of HIV prevention planning across the country;
• Discuss unique contributions and unfinished potential of community planning as a way of stopping HIV/AIDS;
• Describe San Francisco's response to the changing environment and ongoing commitment to the community planning process, as demonstrated by the San Francisco Leadership Initiative.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Community Planning

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: San Francisco Department of Public Health, CDC
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Director, HIV Prevention Section

Recorded presentation