AFC announces 2016 Ryan White award recipients

The AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) is pleased to announce the 30 organizations selected to receive an estimated $7 million in Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program grants to serve the HIV community throughout the Chicago metropolitan area.  

Funding through the federal Ryan White program, which distributes $2.3 billion nationwide to support people living with HIV, allows AFC to create a system of collaborative partnerships between Chicago-based organizations, establishing holistic and quality care for clients in Cook and the surrounding nine counties. 

According to Simone Koehlinger, AFC’s senior vice president of programs, “The Ryan White program and the coordinated system of care that AFC leads is vital. This safety net ensures that people living with HIV —specifically those who do not have insurance or who have inadequate insurance — can get the care they need.” 

“Funding for these services comes from the Chicago and Illinois Departments of Public Health. We are grateful for these funders for providing outstanding leadership for HIV services in the Chicago metro area and beyond,” said Koehlinger.

In August, AFC released its first Ryan White request for proposals (RFP) in over five years, inviting Chicago-area organizations to submit applications for funding their support programs for people living with HIV. The majority of funding supports organizations that work to keep HIV-positive clients connected to care through the largest coordinated HIV case management system in the country, led by AFC.

“Over the past several years, the case management system has been adjusting to the changes that have come with the Affordable Care Act. Our increased understanding of this new system has highlighted opportunities to continue to serve our clients in new and increasingly better ways,” says Iliana Gilliland, AFC’s director of care.   

To make selections that would generate the greatest impact for clients, AFC coordinated proposal review panels consisting of AFC staff, Board members and public health professionals. Each panel scored proposals collaboratively based on their wide range of perspectives. AFC used the scores of these panels, as well as information about communities hardest hit by the epidemic and the experience of the applying organizations, to make its final assessments.

Bashirat Osunmakinde, AFC’s director of Ryan White client services, says, “We selected applicants who demonstrated an understanding of client needs and the new health care landscape.” Roman Buenrostro, AFC’s director of special projects, adds, “The shift in the larger health care system presented AFC with the opportunity to work with funders and partner agencies to build an even more impactful and responsive model of service delivery.”

The announcement of the Ryan White award recipients closely follows the release of Positive Momentum, AFC’s new strategic plan, in which the organization commits to improving health equity and mobilizing communities to serve the HIV community in Illinois. The organization plans to reach these goals by refocusing its efforts on populations highly impacted by or vulnerable to the virus. The award recipients reflect this commitment, as a significant portion of the selected agencies serve communities of color and transgender women.