Maricopa County Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox announces a $7,312,952 grant award from the Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to Maricopa County in support of the HIV/AIDS community through the Ryan White Part A program.
This Fiscal Year ’08 award reflects a $531,468 increase from last year’s funding. Due to the success of local Ryan White Planning Council programs, this is the third year in a row funding has increased.
Especially noteworthy is an outreach program developed to target communities of color.
The incidence of HIV/AIDS has increased in these communities, especially among African-American and Hispanic women. The Ryan White Planning Council is reaching out to educate these communities about the availability of free or low-cost HIV treatment and counseling programs.
Maricopa County Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox, a long-time advocate for the Ryan White Planning Council, says, “With budgets being cut due to the economic downturn, it is especially remarkable that funding through our local Ryan White Planning Council has increased. Everyone works so hard to ensure these programs are offered to the community.”
The Phoenix EMA (Eligible Metropolitan Area) Ryan White 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.
Chair of the Phoenix EMA Ryan White Planning Council, Mark Kezios, says, “The increased funding we received is a testament to the success of our programs. We are determined to continue serving our community.”
The 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.