Ryan White Planning Council Receives $6.7 Million Fed. Grant

Maricopa County Supervisor Wilcox, a long-time advocate for the Ryan White Planning Council, says, “This substantial grant award is especially remarkable considering our program was cited for corrective action by HRSA two years ago.  Everyone worked hard so that this year, Phoenix is one of only two metropolitan areas out of twenty-two in the country that received an increase in funding from HRSA, rather than a decrease.  This is a result of our tremendous turnaround.”

One element of the turnaround is a special outreach program that has been developed targeting communities of color.  The incidence of HIV/AIDS has increased in these communities, including among women.  Ryan White Planning Council is reaching out with treatment and counseling programs. 

Chair of the Phoenix Ryan White Planning Council, Mark Kezios, also remarked on the turnaround.  “Two years ago, we were informed we were facing a significant reduction of funding from the federal government,” he says.  “We were determined not to let our community down, so we got together with Supervisor Wilcox and formed a strategic plan.” 

The Phoenix EMA (Eligible Metropolitan Area) Ryan White Part A HIV Health Services Planning Council is a federally mandated community group appointed by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors to plan the organization and delivery of Ryan White CARE Act Part A funded HIV services.  It operates under the auspices of the Maricopa County Department of Public Health.

The Ryan White Planning Council is a working consortium of affected and infected community members, service providers and health officials whose mission is to provide a client-centered, culturally competent continuum of care, meeting the needs of those living with HIV/AIDS. 

The funding is used to provide critical services such as:  medical care, pharmaceuticals, oral health, mental health services and nutritional supplements and counseling.