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.
Ultimately, AFC President/CEO John Peller says, "AFC and its partner agencies have a greater focus on performance-driven outcomes and proof of high quality services. We are holding ourselves and each other accountable to continually monitor and improve how we serve people with HIV. AFC is delighted to work collaboratively with a strong network of agencies who are innovative and deeply committed to co-develop a new model of care for people living with HIV."
Note: This map only shows agencies funded by AFC for Parts A and B of the Ryan White Program. AFC funds other organizations through other funding that is not shown on this map. The Chicago Department of Public Health and federal government directly fund organizations that are not shown on this map. AFC will make additional awards for Part B ambulatory care in the collar counties in 2016.
Agencies |
|
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Ambulatory / Outpatient Medical Care |
Core Center Erie Family Health Center |
Food Bank / Home Delivered Meals |
Catholic Charities of Chicago Heartland Health Outreach |
Legal Assistance |
Legal Council for Health Justice |
Mental Health |
AlexianBrothers Housing & Health Alliance Catholic Charities of Chicago Children's Place Association Christian Community Health Center Core Center Erie Family Health Center |
Oral Health |
Athena Dental Group, PC Christian Community Health Center Howard Area Community Center Open Door Clinic Provident Hospital |
Psychosocial |
AlexianBrothers Housing & Health Alliance Haymarket Center Test Positive Aware Network Universal Family Connection,Inc |
Substance Abuse Outpatient |
Haymarket Center Healthcare Alternative Systems |
Transitional Housing |
AlexianBrothers Housing & Health Alliance Children's Place Association Haymarket Center Healthcare Alternative Systems |
Medical Case Management
|
Agape Missions Austin CBC Catholic Charities of Chicago Chicago House Children's Place Association Christian Community Health Center Core Center Erie Family Health Center Heartland Health Outreach Howard Brown Health Lake County Health Department Michael Reese Open Door Clinic Project Vida Inc. Provident Hospital Sinai Health System South Side Help Center South Suburban HIV / AIDS Regional Clinics Test Positive Aware Network UIC-Community Outreach Intervention Project University of Chicago |
Non-medical Case Management
|
Catholic Charities of Chicago Heartland Health Outreach LR Anixter Center - CALOR Open Door Clinic Puerto Rican Cultural Center Southside Help Center Test Positive Aware Network University of Chicago |
Categorized under AFC news, Case management, Chicago and Illinois.