September 28, 2012:  Dr. Ronald Valdiserri, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health, Infectious Diseases at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced that 8 states, including 6 southern states (GA, LA, MS, NC, TN, VA), were awarded $14.2 million in first-year funding as part of the Care and Prevention in the United States (CAPUS) Demonstration Project. CAPUS funds are designed to reduce HIV-related morbidity, mortality, and related health disparities among racial and ethnic minorities. Eighteen State Health Departments with disproportionately high burdens of HIV/AIDS among minority communities were eligible to apply.

A multi-agency federal partnership, including lead agency CDC and multiple HHS agencies and offices will provide leadership and technical assistance to the grantees, who are also required to give 25% of the grant funds to community based organizations.

In February, 2012, Dr. Valdiserri specifically credited SASI’s advocacy along with that of the 30 for 30 Campaign and PACHA for this funding initiative.   SASI’s Research Report, HIV/AIDS Epidemic in the South Reaches Crisis Proportions in Last Decade, was relied on extensively in the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA).

This CAPUS funding is the latest result of powerful, well-organized advocacy to deliver our message regarding the serious HIV epidemic in the Southern States.  In the past year, the Southern HIV/AIDS Strategy Initiative (“SASI”) , the Southern AIDS Coalition (SAC), the 30 for 30 Campaign and many other groups and individuals have made the case for the South with the White House Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP), at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), at the President’s Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA), at the Federal AIDS Policy Partnership (FAPP) meeting, with members of Congress, and on the state and local levels. This work has been supported by multiple funders, including the Ford Foundation and AIDS United.