MN HIV Services Planning Council
Meeting Minutes for June 10, 2003
Division of Indian Work

 

 

I.          Welcome and introductions; lighting of the candle

Sarah called the meeting to order at 12:35.  Osman lit the candle with a reminder that the Planning Council is here to fight, prevent and stop new HIV infection.  Introductions were made.

 

II.          Review the minutes and proposed agenda

The minutes were passed by unanimous consent.  The proposed agenda stands.

 

III.   Open forum

No one came forward to speak in the open forum.

 

IV.              Co-chair update

Sarah pointed out that there are upcoming Planning Council meeting schedule changes – a printed reminder will be distributed to members.  Please RSVP if you will be able to attend the Planning Council retreat on July 8^th.  Sarah also shared that she is expecting a baby.  She would like to run for co-chair again but will be planning to take a four-month leave of absence.  If she’s elected, Andrea Jenkins will run as co-chair will her and act as co-chair during her leave.

 

V.          Disease Investigator presentation and discussion

Sarah introduced Steve Schletty from MDH who manages the partner services unit in the HIV/AIDS section.  Steve was invited to the Planning Council meeting, based on the decision to increase discussion on topics of interest, to discuss the work of MDH’s disease investigators.  Partner counseling and referral services (PCRS) is a component of the Comprehensive HIV Prevention Plan for the state.  Their primary responsibilities are: counseling, testing and referral; partner counseling and referral; health threat intervention; public information; capacity building; and training and quality assurance.  Currently Steve’s group also works with syphilis, gonorrhea/chlamydia and with health threat interventions.  Purposes of the PCRS program are to prevent transmission of HIV by infected persons, reduce the risk of infected persons acquiring additional strains of HIV, facilitate ongoing medical care for those with HIV and facilitate earlier diagnosis of HIV.  In 2002 there were 305 HIV infections reported to MDH and 370 HIV cases assigned to partners services unit (PSU).  Of those 299 clients were offered PCRS and 214 accepted. 

 

One hundred and eight partners were tested in 2002.  Fifteen new positive individuals were identified.  Of the partners tested who were negative, Steve said that they do encourage the partner to be tested again in the future.  If the exposure has been recent the virus may not be currently detectable.  On an average one in every six people tested are positive.  Currently there are not a lot of resources for investigation outside of the metro area.  In 2002 51 cases were assigned in greater Minnesota with 50 of those being contacted.  Planning Council members were broken into four groups to talk about their questions, comments and recommendations. Members were asked to write down questions for Steve.  The groups will then decide which question to ask Steve as a group. The groups then shared the questions and recommendations that they came up with for Steve. 

 

The orange group posed a question about confidentiality assurance – Steve responded that as a government agency the data practices act governs how public employees handle data.  The data is not accessible to anyone other than the client with the exception of certain information that is available to physicians.  Steve clarified that much physician contact is initiated by MDH – calling to notify of an STD, etc.  If there is a threat of public danger the Commissioner of Health is authorized to release information if necessary.  Physically the data is stored under lock and key and access is restricted to key employees.  Roxanne asked about partner notification and how that works on reservations.  Steve responded that currently there is no partner notification, or reporting to MDH, on reservations because of sovereignty issues.  Efren asked for more information about quality assurance and how MDH gets feedback from clients.  Steve indicated that there is no system in place to solicit client feedback.  They have included the development of a mechanism to get feedback as a task in their unit’s work plan.  MDH also recently asked for specific feedback from African American MSM that provided valuable information for the disease investigators.  Steve reiterated that his principles are that clients be treated with respect and that confidentiality is maintained. 

 

Staff will process the information developed by each group then send it to Steve to respond to.  Once he responds staff will forward his responses back to the full Planning Council.

 

VI.     Title I update - Jonathan Hanft

Jonathan passed out a written update and spending report that’s been prepared for the Planning Council.  The grantees are currently working on sending in responses to conditions of award that are due in June and July.  Jonathan reviewed the final spending report for 2002.  Overall we spent 91% of our combined Title I and Title II awards.  Notes indicate areas where under spending occurred and help provide some clarification.   The carryover amount for 2002 is $301,853 – the proposal will be discussed in the Planning & Priorities update portion of the meeting.

 

Jonathan also announced grant writing training that will be held on June 26^th at Snelling Office Park.  All Planning Council members are invited and encouraged to attend.  Please notify Michelle McCafferty if you’d like to attend.

 

VII.   Title II update – Dave Rompa

Dave passed out the update and a flyer for Breaking the Silence– Lifting the Stigma of HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia. 

 

They’ve submitted the SAMHSA proposal.  This is a $2.5 million grant that is a joint effort between MDH and DHS.  Per Tim O’Brien’s request he has copies of the report from last year’s proposal review – 60% of the response was that vendors had not be selected yet.  Dave hopes they eliminated that problem because DHS had previously done the RFP’s and have since selected the vendors with which they will be working.  Dave expects a response by August and will need to begin work one month after award.

 

Medication adherence training will be conducted Saturday at All God’s Children Church – information flyers were handed out.

 

The dental program at DHS is changing systems on July 1^st.  There will be a forum next Wednesday at the Urban League for consumers and providers who have questions that need to be answered.

 

There were no cuts to HIV services in this year’s state budget but other cuts will potentially have an impact on ADAP.  Dave speculated that DHS still won’t know what the impact is until early fall.  Dave attended the national ADAP conference a few weeks ago – although MN has issues with HIV/AIDS programs Dave feels that the state is in good shape.  Currently 17 states have sanctions (waiting lists, issues with the formulary, and eligibility) on their programs.  Dave then passed out a press release sent out by the national ADAP working group seeking emergency funding for 2003.  The formulary committee that is meeting has recommended an advocacy committee convene to discuss further action.

 

VIII.    Committee  – written reports, time for questions, discussion

·        Executive Committee

·        Planning and Priorities Committee

Action item

·        Carryover proposal

Jonathan passed out the proposed carryover recommendations.  Mary Doyle reviewed the process to date, the Planning and Priorities committee and the grantees have developed the carry over proposal.  Members were asked for input and feedback.  Planning & Priorities reviewed the recommendations, in addition to those already approved by the Planning Council, and decided to forward the recommendations to the full Planning Council with authorization from the Executive Committee.  Bob O. asked for clarification of the training/ technical assistance line item proposed because it’s a large amount not going to direct service.  Jonathan clarified that this is one area carryover has historically funded and is in response to a vendor survey conducted last year that identified training and technical assistance as a need of vendors.  Bob O. suggested it would be helpful to develop a mechanism to quantify how beneficial additional training is in terms of the long-term health of clients being served.  Ron asked if vendors had been selected.  Jonathan clarified that some have and those that haven’t will most likely be chosen from the list of vendors already being contracted with.  Efren asked for more clarification of training and the vendors that have benefited from this funding – echoing Bob O’s concerns about not putting this money toward direct service. 

 

MOTION:  David B. moved Andrea seconded approval of the carryover plan as presented.  13 yes, 2 no and 2 abstentions (Rompa and Wylie).

 

·        HIV Positive Committee

·        Needs Assessment and Evaluation Committee

·        Community Participation Committee

·        Operations Committee

 

IX.          Announcements, next agenda, meeting evaluation    

Dave announced that preparations for the reauthorization of the CARE Act have begun.  A national committee is being put together – a couple of names have been presented to be representatives from Minnesota and hopefully we’ll know if anyone is selected soon.

 

Documents distributed at or before the meeting:

·        Agenda and May 13, 2003 meeting minutes

·        PowerPoint presentation prepared by Steve Schletty re: Partner Counseling and Referral Services Program (disease investigators)

·        Title I update outline

·        Title I and II spending report for year 7 (2002-2003)

·        Title II update

·        Reviewer’s comments of previous SAMHSA proposal submitted by DHS

·        Committee meeting summaries

·        Carryover Proposal

·        Final Comprehensive Plan

·        ADAP Working Group news release

·        DHS Community Forum: Changes in HIV/AIDS Dental Programs flyer

·        Medication adherence consumer training flyer

·        Breaking the Silence – Lifting the Stigma of HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia film premiere flyer

·        HRSA CARE ACTION newsletter

·        Planning Council newsletter

·        Summer Planning Council meeting schedule changes

·        Meeting evaluation

 

The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent.

 

Adjourned at 3:20 p.m.