The Newark EMA HIV Health Services Planning Council; which represents Essex, Union, Morris, Sussex and Warren counties, is one of 24 Eligible Metropolitan Areas (EMA) nation-wide. All of the Planning Councils were established by the former Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act of 1990 (amended in 1996 and 2000); and are now governed by the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009. The principle objective of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009 is to establish and fund care and treatment services for people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) who would otherwise have little or no access to health care. The Newark EMA HIV Health Services Planning Council is a body of approximately 34 non-paid representatives who have expertise in the field of HIV/AIDS care and treatment. The membership of the Council includes representatives from community-based AIDS service organizations, local public health agencies, affected communities -- including people living with HIV/AIDS, and the state department of health. About a third of the membership of the Newark EMA HIV Health Services Planning Council is people living with HIV or AIDS. The Planning Council is responsible for establishing the priorities for the allocation of Ryan White Part-A funds received by the Newark EMA. In other words, the Council determines the local care and treatment needs of PLWHA in NEMA and assures that funds are directed toward meeting those needs. The service priorities are based on a full year of work that includes the development of a Comprehensive Health Plan for the organization and delivery of HIV health care and treatment services and a formal assessment of the needs of local people living with HIV. The Planning Council also has 5 Standing Committees that support and undertake its work. In addition, there are Community Involvement Activities (CIA):
• Executive Committee
• Continuum of Care Committee
• Community Service Advisory Committee
• Comprehensive Planning Committee
• Research & Evaluation Committee
The members of these committees include people with HIV, those affected by HIV and the professionals who work with them. Membership to most of these committees is open to anyone who is interested. If you have questions about the Planning Council or NEMA News, please call us at (908) 353 7171 or visit our website at www.nemaplanningcouncil.org
