The IHS HIV/AIDS Program

Introduction and Focus

The IHS HIV/AIDS “Program” is cultivated from a myriad of services, projects, facilities, funding sources and field expertise. Strategic and administrative planning is essential to effective and efficient response to HIV/AIDS and for the development of a comprehensive program that can serve its population. Integration of the “Program” and planning process is a key factor of outcome success as information sharing, surveillance, capacity building and data collection are dispersed within a decentralized system. This coordination continues to demonstrate efforts to integrate strategic planning into ongoing and new initiatives. It is important to reinforce that all components of this developing program (i.e. capacity building, treatment, prevention, policy, advocacy, monitoring, evaluation and research) should be addressed. Multi-health sector, interagency and community input are gathered for gap analysis, needs assessment and for further strengthening of the program across multiple levels of influence. Although our budget allocation is focused on service delivery and primary-care, there still exists a critical and substantial need for enhanced prevention program efforts. As well, given current epidemiological trends and known vulnerabilities to HIV/AIDS in the AI/AN population, it is critical we consider the larger preventive public health and population approaches for effective response.

The Program is implemented and executed via an integrative and comprehensive approach through collaborations across multi-health sectors, both internal and external to the agency. It attempts to encompass all types of service delivery ‘systems’ including IHS, Tribal and Urban facilities. The HIV/AIDS Principal Consultant (office located at IHS Headquarters in Rockville, MD) heads this program and serves as a national level consultation point within the IHS. Below are more detailed topics about the IHS HIV/AIDS Program. These details are not exclusive and are part of an iterative and ongoing process. Input has been gathered from multiple sources including community members, organizations, people living with HIV/AIDS, providers, federal agencies, healthcare workers and tribal and urban representation.

IHS HIV/AIDS Administrative Work Plan (Strategic Plan)

We are pleased to inform you that the IHS HIV/AIDS Administrative Work Plan (Strategic Plan) PDF - 548KB has been released. This is a culmination of work from multiple stakeholders, professionals, many community members and advocates both internal and external to IHS. This is an IHS document, which will remain fluid and may be adjusted as new initiatives arise. That said, it represents a good blueprint of activities and truly represents the principles of the program enumerated within the document. This Plan is intended for use by the IHS HIV/AIDS Program and IHS personnel. Although not required, this plan may also be utilized or referenced by Tribal and Urban programs as well as Native organizations and multiagency leads / partners involved with HIV/AIDS activities for the American Indian / Alaska Native (AI/AN) population. The IHS will utilize this HIV/AIDS Work Plan to:

• Serve as the model for the planning process that can be referenced, reproduced, evaluated, and adjusted;
• Identify components and priority areas needed for this comprehensive HIV/AIDS working document;
• Guide IHS / Tribal / Urban (I/T/U) health personnel with activities that are both collaborative and integrative;
• Develop a focused process to enhance efficiency and avoid redundancy of initiatives within and external to IHS;
• Develop a consistent process for strategic planning;
• Enumerate framework for future planning;
• Serve as a monitoring and evaluation tool of activities to be reviewed on an ongoing basis;
• Achieve the highest quality program that serves the mission and supports Director’s initiatives;
• Serve as a 3-year administrative blueprint for further development and progression of the IHS HIV/AIDS Program;

Please review at your convenience. Apologies for any visual quality issues. A special thank you to those that contributed and reviewed this document.

Program Goals

• To assist AI/AN individuals in becoming aware of their HIV status;
• To reduce the number of new HIV infections annually;
• To reduce transmission risk by behavior change, prevention education and open discussion about HIV/AIDS;
• To ensure access to and quality health services for those living with HIV/AIDS and those at risk;
• To form sustainable collaborations and integrative approaches to maximize resources for HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and mitigation.

+ Top of Page