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What is a Community Planning Group?
CPGs are a partnership between health departments and community members who
are infected with or affected by HIV or who have an interest in HIV prevention.
What is community planning for HIV prevention?
Community planning for HIV prevention is a collaborative process in which people
from different walks of life, with different interests, responsibilities, and involvement in HIV prevention come together as a group to plan how to prevent HIV infection where they live.
Beginning in 1994, the CDC changed the manner in which federally-funded state and
local level HIV prevention programs were planned and implemented. State, territorial, and local health departments receiving federal prevention funds through CDC were
asked to share with representatives of affected communities and other technical experts, the responsibility for developing a comprehensive HIV prevention plan using a process called HIV Prevention Community Planning.
The basic intent of the process has been threefold: to increase meaningful
community involvement in prevention planning, to improve the scientific basis of program decisions, and to target resources to those communities at highest risk for HIV transmission/acquisition.
Prevention efforts are most successful when targeted to the specific needs and
characteristics of local communities. Because high-risk populations vary from community to community, CPGs are better equipped to identify those needs and characteristics than federal or even state organizations.
Who serves on the RICPG?
The RICPG has as many as 25, but no fewer than 12, members that include:
- people living with HIV/AIDS; their partner and families
- people representing agencies that serve people with HIV/AIDS
- state department representatives
- people most at risk for being infected with HIV (high-risk populations)
- concerned citizens
60-70% of the members must be from the community
15-20% of the members must be from the RI HOD funded agencies
10% of the members must be from RI state agencies
Members of the group include people of varied ages, gender, races, and sexual
orientations. Some have been involved in the field of HIV/AIDS prevention for a long time; some are new to dealing with these issues. Most are people whose lives have
been personally touched by HIV/AIDS. Some are infected with the HIV virus. All are people who want to help stop the spread of HIV. All are equal in the group; they
have been selected because of their unique experiences; everyone's opinion is important.
The RICPG seeks applications for membership on an ongoing basis. Individuals are nominated for membership either by themselves or by others.
Click here for a list of current RICPG members.
Click here for RICPG membership responsibilities.
What are the responsibilities of the RICPG?
The primary task of the CPG is to develop a comprehensive HIV prevention plan that
includes prioritized target populations and a set of prevention activities/ interventions for each target population. Target populations should be prioritized and
prevention activities/interventions chosen based on their ability to prevent as many new infections as possible. Key information necessary to develop the comprehensive
HIV prevention plan is found in the epidemiologic profile and the community services assessment.
After developing and/or reviewing these products, CPGs will then move to the task
of setting priorities for target populations. Once target populations have been prioritized, the CPG must determine what intervention or mix of interventions will
best meet the needs of the prioritized target population.
The RICPG also helps organizations through Project REACH (Relating, Exchanging and Capacity Building for HIV Prevention).
How does the RICPG determine target population and intervention strategies?
Priority target populations and a recommended set of interventions/activities
identified in the comprehensive HIV prevention plan are based on:
- having the greatest impact on reducing HIV transmission;
- reducing HIV transmission in populations with highest incidence.
Priority target populations and prevention interventions/activities are based on the
epidemiologic profile, community services assessment, and behavioral/social science data presented in the plan.
How often does the RICPG meet?
The full membership of the RICPG meets every second Thursday of the month, in the
late afternoon and early evening. These meetings typically run three to four hours. The Community Capacity Committee and Task Forces also meet individually on a monthly basis, or as needed. Please see our calendar for meeting dates and information.
Is the RICPG only for planning prevention efforts? What about services for HIV-positive individuals?
The RICPG is primarily a planning group, working to stop the spread of HIV through
community engagement, the education of key stakeholders, and the development of the Comprehensive Prevention Plan. The Department of Health uses the Plan as the basis for its HIV/AIDS prevention funding decisions.
Though not directly providing services for HIV-positive individuals, the RICPG has
played a role in the implementation of many important changes in Rhode Island including:
- the availability of anonymous HIV testing
- the creation of a needle exchange program
- the creation of unique personal identifiers (allowing for duplicate test results
to be culled from aggregate, allowing for greater confidence in the interpretation of HIV data)
Many of the members of the RICPG represent organizations that provide services for
HIV-positive individuals such as The Rhode Island Department of Health.
Who funds the activities of the RICPG?
The RICPG is funded by the Centers for Disease Control through the Rhode Island Department of Health.
How can I get involved?
Click here to visit our Getting Involved page.
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