SASI’s Report Cited in the FCAA/EFG Report, “U.S. and European Philanthropic Support to Address HIV/AIDS in 2011”

Posted on November 9, 2012 by cmcallaster

November 9, 2012:  SASI’s report was recently cited in the report, U.S. and European Philanthropic Support to Address HIV/AIDS in 2011, by Funders Concerned About AIDS (FCAA) and the European HIV/AIDS Funders Group (EFG).

This report highlights the gaps in the South, which has the highest rate of new HIV infections and the largest number of PLWHA in the U.S.  The South also has more AIDS diagnosis and AIDS deaths than any other U.S. region.  In 2010, 47% of estimated new HIV infections were in the South, and at the end of 2009, 41% of PLWH in the U.S. were living in the South.1

This report also highlights the gaps in linkages to care, with only 25% of PLWH in the U.S. receiving continuous care and treatment; harm reduction, with a federal funding ban on needle and syringe programs; and Black Americans and MSMs, which account for a disproportionate percentage of new HIV infections.

Other highlights from the report include:

  • In 2011, total HIV/AIDS philanthropic funding was $644 million (a 5% increased over 2010).
  • In 2011, U.S.-based funders dispersed $491 million for HIV/AIDS (a 3% increase over 2010, although the majority of U.S.-based funders decreased HIV/AIDS funding in 2011).  This disbursement funded 5,561 HIV/AIDS-related projects and grants.
  • Of this $491 million, $221 million was directed towards global projects, $179 million was directed towards non-U.S. countries and regions, and $98 million was directed towards the U.S. epidemic.
  • Of this $98 million, $23 million was directed towards prevention, $21 million was directed towards treatment, and $21 million was directed towards social services. U.S. funding targeted African Americans, MSMs, and homeless/impoverished PLWHA.
  • In 2011, the South received $28 million in philanthropic HIV/AIDS funding.  The South and the Northeast received the highest share of U.S. funding.
  • The leading U.S. philanthropic funders in the South were M*A*C AIDS Fund & M*A*C Cosmetics ($4,101,288); Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation & Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. ($3,493,685); AIDS United ($3,204,403); Gilead Sciences, Inc. ($2,708,013) The Ford Foundation ($2,655,000).

In addition to this report, FCAA has created a Funders’ Guide to the National HIV/AIDS Strategy.  

1  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HIV Surveillance Report, Vol. 22, 2012. Available at www.cdc.gov/hiv/surveillance/resources/reports/2010report/index.htm.

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SASI applauds Minority AIDS Initiative Funds awarded to Improve HIV Testing and Engagement in Care

Posted on October 28, 2012 by cmcallaster

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.

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SASI delegation participates in Congressional Roundtables focused on the Southern HIV epidemic

Posted on June 27, 2012 by cmcallaster

Southern HIV/AIDS Strategy Initiative (SASI) Steering Committee members Gwen Bampfield, Carolyn McAllaster, Sharon DeCuir, Deadra Malloy, Kathie Hiers, and Valerie Mincey participated in the Congressional Roundtables focused on the Southern HIV epidemic on June 19, 2012.  The Roundtables, sponsored by AIDS United, discussed innovative responses to the growing HIV/AIDS Crisis in the U.S. South.  They were co-sponsored by Senator Kay Hagan (D-NC) and Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) in the Senate and by Representative Hank Johnson (D-GA) and Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) in the House and were attended by other members of Congress and their staff, HIV advocates, private sector partners, and persons living with HIV.  The Roundtables spotlighted the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic in the South and several programs designed to attack the epidemic.

Senator Hagan told the Roundtable participants:  “The numbers are staggering.  We need to shine a light on this critical issue, and I’m hopeful that this roundtable will be a substantial start.”

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McAllaster presents Webinar: “Focusing White House Attention on the HIV Epidemic in the South” for Farmworker Justice

Posted on June 13, 2012 by cmcallaster

On June 13, 2012, SASI Director, Carolyn McAllaster, presented a webinar entitled “Focusing White House Attention on the HIV Epidemic in the South” for Farmworker Justice.  McAllaster discussed the findings of the SASI Research Report, HIV/AIDS Epidemic in the South Reaches Crisis Proportions in Last Decade and the advocacy steps underway to focus federal attention on the South.  Go to the “Events” link on this website to see the slide presentation.

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SASI applauds new HHS Funding Initiative to focus on the Deep South

Posted on June 11, 2012 by cmcallaster

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a 3-year, $44 million, Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) on June 8, 2012 focused largely on Deep South States with the goal of reducing HIV-related deaths and related health disparities among racial and ethnic minorities.  SASI’s Research Report, HIV/AIDS Epidemic in the South Reaches Crisis Proportions in Last Decade, was relied on extensively in the FOA.  Eighteen State Health Departments are eligible to apply for funding including 12 in the South.  25% of funds received by State Health Departments must go to community based organizations.

The focus of the funding is to (1) increase the proportion of racial and ethnic minorities with HIV who have diagnosed infection by increasing testing capacity and (2) optimize linkage to, retention in, and re-engagement with care and prevention services for newly diagnosed and previously diagnosed racial and ethnic minorities with HIV.

Successful applicants will first engage in a six-month development phase with leadership and oversight provided by a multi-agency federal partnership lead by the Centers for Disease Control. The deadline for applications is July 31, 2012.

The FOA 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.

There is much work left to be done to end HIV-related deaths and stop new HIV infections in the South.  SASI applauds the leadership of HHS for this funding initiative which is a significant first step towards accomplishing these goals.

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Official “Deepsouth” Trailer Released

Posted on May 29, 2012 by cmcallaster

The official trailer for deepsouth, a feature-length documentary about HIV in the American South featuring SASI Steering Committee member, Kathie Hiers, has just been released.  Please share the link and like the film on Facebook: www.facebook.com/deepsouthfilm.

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Carolyn McAllaster and the Southern HIV/AIDS Strategy Initiative (“SASI”) receive Positive Leadership Award

Posted on May 11, 2012 by cmcallaster

The National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA) and the Treatment Access Expansion Project (TAEP) presented Carolyn McAllaster and SASI with a Positive Leadership Award on April 23, 2012 during AIDS Watch.  SASI is honored to share the award with C. Virginia Fields and the 30 for 30 Campaign and Terry McGovern of the Ford Foundation who also received Positive Leadership Awards. Read more about the awardees on NAPWA’s website.

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Eighty-eight organizations sign on to SASI’s Call to Action

Posted on May 11, 2012 by cmcallaster

Eighty-eight national, state, and community-based organizations have signed on to SASI’s Call to Action urging the Administration to create a State of the South Task Force.  See the list of Sign-on Organizations here.

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Congresswoman Barbara Lee and Congressman Hank Johnson circulate Sign-on letter Supporting Enhanced Responses to HIV/AIDS for Women and Southern US States

Posted on May 11, 2012 by cmcallaster

Congresswoman Barbara Lee (California) and Congressman Hank Johnson (Georgia) are circulating a Sign-on Letter to Members of Congress highlighting the HIV epidemic among women and especially in the southern United States.  SASI’s report, HIV/AIDS Epidemic in the South Reaches Crisis Proportions in Last Decade, was cited repeatedly. The letter will be circulated through Friday, May 18th.

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Sign on to SASI’s CALL TO ACTION

Posted on March 28, 2012 by cmcallaster

SASI Call to Action:  SASI calls for the White House, the Office of National AIDS Policy, and the Department of Health and Human Services to convene a State of the South Task Force to address the South’s exploding HIV/AIDS epidemic.

The Deep South – Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and East Texas – is facing a devastating HIV crisis.  The Deep South has the highest rates of new HIV and AIDS diagnoses in the United States and people living with HIV in the Deep South die at much higher rates than in other parts of the country.  This crisis is particularly acute in certain populations in the South: 54% of new HIV cases among African Americans in the United States were in the Deep South; 1 in 5 African American MSM (men who have sex with men) in the South are estimated to be living with HIV; 8 of the Deep South states report a higher proportion of women among new HIV infections than the US average; and one-half of the new HIV diagnoses among Hispanics/Latinos occur in the Southern US.

SASI is asking that the federal government convene a State of the South Task Force to recommend National HIV/AIDS Strategy implementation steps directed at the Southeast, to identify collaborative opportunities across federal agencies, and to identify funding opportunities for projects aimed at evaluating best HIV prevention and care practices for the Southern US.  SASI is asking that the White House announce the Task Force members, including leading administration officials across federal agencies, leading state officials, private sector partners, people living with HIV in the South and their HIV health and social service providers, at the International AIDS Conference in July 2012.

Please support the call for a State of the South Task Force by becoming a SASI coalition partner and signing on to SASI’s Call to Action.   If your organization would like to sign on, please e-mail sasi@law.duke.edu with the name of your group by April 16th. 

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