Reaching the Next Level - Navigating Becoming a Ryan White Part A Community

In December 2007 the reauthorization of the Ryan White Act created 5 new Transitional Grant Areas (TGA) which would receive funds for the treatment and care of PLWHA. This was done in recognition of the growth in HIV prevalence in new communities, particularly in the Southern USA. This session will discuss the challenges faced by the Mecklenburg County Health Department (Charlotte, NC) in developing a new program in accordance with HRSA guidelines, successfully applying for funds and creating new grant making, service development and monitoring capacities in a short time frame. Lessons learned regarding organizational change, community and provider engagement, and collaboration across numerous jurisdictions in a charged political environment marked by a changing service delivery network will be shared to assist attendees who work in the evolving field of HIV and other areas of Public Health requiring the assumption of new roles. This presentation will report on benefits to community providers and clients from additional resources, as well as internal organizational improvements that came from the experiences of embracing a new role, and how this has provided leverage for meeting other emerging community needs.