At its May 2005 meeting, the CHAC asked CDC to identify the reasons for not achieving the overarching goal of the 2001 Plan (reduce new HIV infections in the United States by 50% by 2005). While several factors were identified, the primary reason cited was the lack of expanded funding on a national level to fully implement the activities outlined in the 2001 Plan. The resources required to implement the 2001 Plan were estimated at the time of publication to be an additional $300 million annually.

At the same meeting, the CHAC also expressed a strong interest in updating the 2001 Plan, unanimously passed a motion to form a CHAC Strategic Plan Workgroup to facilitate updating the 2001 Plan, unanimously passed a motion to extend the plan through 2008 (and later extended it through 2010).

The CHAC focused its review on the four domestic goals of the original 2001 Plan. Goal 5, "Assisting in reducing HIV transmission and improving HIV/AIDS care and support in partnership with resource-constrained countries" was not included since the President launched the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). There is a separate set of PEPFAR goals and measures and CDC is assisting the U.S. government in achieving PEPFAR goals.

The CHAC Strategic Plan Workgroup was comprised of 30 individuals from health departments, universities, affected communities, advocates, partner organizations, and members of the CHAC (Appendix 1). The Workgroup was tasked with the following responsibilities:

1) Provide advice to CDC on ways to update the 2001 Plan to guide the agency and its federal partners in formulating new strategies, activities, and directions to reduce HIV infection in the United States. 2) Develop recommendations for HIV prevention programs, surveillance, and research that can reduce HIV incidence based on current resources and the best available science. 3) Review the 2001 Plan to identify limitations or flaws in previous HIV prevention activities, missed opportunities in establishing priorities, and actions to advance the plan in the future. 4) Determine whether the overarching goal to reduce new HIV infections in the United States by 50% is feasible and realistic, based on available resources.

The Workgroup held two meetings: October 24-25, 2005 and May 4-5, 2006. Additional communications occurred through conference calls, emails, and intermittent mailings. The Workgroup also received in-depth information about CDC’s current activities related to the domestic goals and objectives of the 2001 Plan and data on the 11 performance indicators, as well as samples of relevant articles and reports on HIV prevention activities for review and consideration. (Appendix 2)

Updating the 2001 Plan was a two-year process and incorporated input from a diverse set of stakeholders. In July 2006, the CHAC issued a draft report of the Workgroup activities and recommendations to CDC. (Appendix 3)

At its November 2006 meeting, the CHAC reviewed and discussed preliminary findings and recommendations of the CHAC Strategic Plan Workgroup. Further, the CHAC recommended that the 2001 Plan be extended for five years to 2010 (Appendix 4) and suggested that CDC develop accountable, realistic, reasonable, attainable, and measurable indicators to monitor progress of the Strategic Plan.

At its May 2007 meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, the CHAC recommended that the plan begin in 2007 and end in 2010. The CHAC also made other recommendations that are reflected in this document.