Developing the Strategy

The Strategy and the action steps it contains are the result of broad-based engagement with Federal and community partners. Since taking office, the Obama Administration has taken extraordinary steps to engage the public to evaluate what we are doing right and identify new approaches that will strengthen our response to the domestic epidemic.

The Office of National AIDS Policy hosted 15 HIV/AIDS Community Discussions with thousands of American across the country. They also reviewed suggestions from the public via the White House website, organized a series of expert meetings on several HIV-specific topics, and worked with Federal and community partners who organized their own meetings to support the development of a national strategy. The White House also convened a panel of Federal officials from across governement to assist in reviewing the public recommendations, assessing the scientific evidence for or against various recommendations, and making their own recommendations for Strategy.

Community Ideas

Last fall, the Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP) asked Americans to give us their input for the National HIV/AIDS Strategy. We have released a report of the major themes that we heard from the public. Download the Community Ideas Report, (PDF 15 MB).

Speaker at NHAS community event
Speaker at NHAS community event
Speaker at NHAS community event
Speaker at NHAS community event
“We recommend that the Federal Government review the coordination of funding for HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, and mental health services on the Federal and State level, with the goal of increasing access to these services for patients with HIV.” -Ryan White Medical Providers Coalition submission
“I find that my clients are underserved and lack the needed support services and medical care that affects their health and well-being.” —Long Beach, California Web submission
“Understand that syringe exchange is the gateway to treatment and we need to take the obstacles and hurdles out of people getting into [care].” –Washington, DC community discussion
“[We] support language in health insurance reform legislation prohibiting companies from refusing coverage for an individual based on their medical history or health risk.” –Staten Island Ryan White Part B HIV CARE Network
“Negative cultural influences and stigma are big challenges for [Latinos], and we need interventions that will address core family values among the Hispanic community as well as traditionalism and machismo.” -Laredo, Texas Health Department employee
“There can be no true progress without stigma reduction. Stigma is still the REAL reason so many don't want to know their status, don't get help, or are afraid to be advocates for their own health.” -A submission from Indiana

Themes from 14 Community Discussions and Submissions to the White House

Primary Presidential Goals

  • Prevent New HIV Infections
  • Increase Access to Care and Optimize Health Outcomes
  • Reduce HIV-Related Health Disparities

Themes to Help Advance the President’s Goals

Themes related to Preventing New HIV Infections

  • Create a National Campaign to Increase Public Awareness and Prevention of HIV
  • Increase Prevention Efforts Among Youth
  • Routinize, Increase, and Improve Testing
  • Increase Access to Condoms
  • Eliminate the Ban on Federal Funding for Syringe Exchange
  • Increase Harm Reduction and Treatment Adherence Education
  • Improve and Expand Surveillance Data

Themes related to Increasing Access to Care and Optimize Health Outcomes

  • Expand Support Services
  • Include Chronic Disease Management in Overall Health Care Delivery
  • Recognize and Treat Co-occurring Conditions
  • Increase the Number of HIV Care Providers and HIV/AIDS Education and Training

Themes related to Reducing HIV-Related Health Disparities

  • Expand Services to At-Risk Populations
  • Provide Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services and Interventions
  • Improve Availability of HIV-Related Services in Rural Areas and U.S. Territories

Crosscutting Themes and Recommendations

  • Evaluation and Program Monitoring
  • Coordination Across Agencies, States, Communities, and Providers
  • Stigma and Discrimination
  • Policy and Research

Read the NHAS

Executive
Summary
Executive Summary
Strategy
Fact Sheet
Fact Sheet
The National HIV/AIDS Strategy
The National HIV/AIDS Strategy
Community Ideas Report
Community Ideas Report
More

Video Highlights

Implementing the National HIV/AIDS Strategy

More