Speaking Out for Real Change

1
Speaking Out for Real Change

• testimony to create a truly effective,
  outcomes-oriented
• National AIDS Strategy

2
First White House town hall to inform the
National HIV/AIDS Strategy will be held at the
National HIV Prevention Conference in Atlanta on
Tuesday, August 25, 2009.
CHAMP, SisterLove, and AFC launched the alliance
to respond to the social determinants fueling HIV
transmission. Champnetwork.org
Preventionjustice.org
3
Presidential Commitment

• In the first year of his presidency, President
  Obama will develop and begin to implement a
  comprehensive national HIV/AIDS strategy that
  includes all federal agencies. The strategy will
  be designed to reduce HIV infections, increase
  access to care and reduce HIV-related health
  disparities.
• www.whitehouse.gov

3
4
National AIDS StrategyCall to Action

• nationalaidsstrategy.org
• Endorsed by over 500 public health departments,
  faith based communities, civil rights groups,
  health care centers and AIDS organizations
  throughout the country and by over 1900
  individuals

4
5
A National AIDS Strategy should

• Improve prevention and treatment outcomes through
  reliance on evidence-based programming
• Set ambitious and credible prevention treatment
  targets, require annual reporting on progress
  towards goals
• Identify clear priorities for action across
  federal agencies and assign responsibilities and
  timelines for follow-through
• Include, as a primary focus, the prevention and
  treatment needs of all groups at elevated risk,
  with particular attention to African American
  women and men, and gay men of all races, who are
  experiencing the brunt of the U.S. epidemic

6
A National AIDS Strategy should

• Address social factors that increase
  vulnerability to infection
• Promote a strengthened HIV prevention and
  treatment research effort
• Involve many sectors in developing the national
  strategy government, business, community, civil
  rights organizations, faith based groups,
  researchers, and people living with HIV/AIDS

7
There have been many AIDS planshow will this be
any different?

• Focus on outcomes set ambitious and achievable
  targets for each of the three primary goals
• Promote real coordination across agencies
• Develop an implementation plan, not a laundry
  list
• Inspire more accountability and transparency
• Include leadership from the President
• Ensure buy-in from a range of stakeholders
• Avoid just doing more of the same change
  systems, policies and programs where necessary

8
National HIV/AIDS Strategy Town Halls
9
Creating Effective Testimony

• Set the stage
• Introduce yourself
• Relevant demographics
• Your community
• Relationship to epidemic
• 2. Comment relates to
• Prevention
• Care
• Health Disparities
• More than One
• Process of drafting plan

• Get specific
• Introduce concern
• Solving my concern requires
• Beyond funding, action on this issue requires
• Who is responsible
• Consequences of no action
• I will know change occurred when

10
Other Tips

• Make it personal
• Dont just complain say what is working well
  and how to build on that
• Be succinct and specific
• Ask for more than just funding

• Dont be afraid to be BOLD in your
  recommendations
• What are some creative solutions to have a
  significant impact controlling to epidemic in the
  U.S.?