Who We Are
Established in 1993, the New Orleans Regional AIDS Planning Council, also known as NORAPC, is a federally mandated public planning body funded by the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act of 2009 (formerly known as the CARE Act). Established in 1990, the Ryan White program strives to help PLWH get into medical care and stay in care. The Ryan White program provides services to meet the medical need in several areas of the HIV epidemic through different funding streams.
NORAPC is made up of members who volunteer their time and input to plan for HIV-related services. The Council consists of approximately 25 members from the local community. On average, over 40% of council members are People Living with HIV (PLWH). NORAPC tries to be fully inclusive of diverse backgrounds and strives to have members who reflect the demographics of PLWH in the New Orleans area.
What We Do
The New Orleans Regional AIDS Planning Council, NORAPC, brings community members together to develop and maintain a comprehensive system of care for People Living with HIV (PLWH) in the Eligible Metropolitan Area (EMA) that is accessible, responsive, culturally sensitive, and of the highest quality to ensure all PLWH live with dignity.
NORAPC works tirelessly to ensure this mission is consistently met, by remaining responsive and accessible for newly diagnosed while seeking to reengage individuals who have been lost to care. We strive to achieve the following vision: a high quality comprehensive, coordinated HIV care system to promote improved overall health outcomes, through a care system devoid of stigma and discrimination, free from fragmentation, consistent with client empowerment and choices, treatment guidelines, and availability and access for all, ultimately resulting in fewer new infections in the New Orleans area.
Through collaboration, coordination, and community discourse, NORAPC is a venue to discuss special need, system wide issues and develop strategies to address them. We aim to be an inviting and empowering venue for the community to respond to the needs of individuals living with HIV.
How We Work
Data Gathering
Community Feedback
1) Needs Assessment survey, Focus Groups, Town Halls, Listening Sessions
2) Data is vital in the development of an effective HIV care program. NORAPC places PLWH at the center of our data collection. Trained peers help us collect needs assessment surveys on a biennial basis to inform planning efforts to meet the needs in the New Orleans Eligible Metropolitan Area (8 parish area). Community members help develop and recruit for community feedback activities such as focus groups, town halls, and listening sessions. Working in collaboration with State and local entities, we aim to gather data to ensure all voices are represented and heard.
1) Meetings are all open to the public.
2) Regular meetings include: Community Coalition Committee, Allocations Committee, Comprehensive Planning Committee, Nominating/Bylaws Committee, Executive Committee, Planning Council
3) All levels of planning include the voice of the client, from data gathering to regular meetings, to summer planning processes to determine services to be funded the following program year.
4) Partnership with the Ryan White Part A Grantee, the Office of Health Policy and AIDS Funding, ensures clients provide feedback on the quality of services delivered, through the annual Client Satisfaction Survey
Ryan White Parts
In addition to planning for the Ryan White Part A program, the Planning Council also works to bring together representatives from all Ryan White Parts, as well as HOPWA and Medicaid, to plan a more coordinated system of care for PLWH.
Part A
Part B
Part C
Part D
Part F
Funds go to local areas that have been hit hardest by the HIV epidemic. Part A funds are managed by the Chief Elected Official of the major city or county government who works with the Part A Planning Council in making decisions about how to use funds.
Funds are for the whole state and managed by the state HIV/AIDS Program.
Funds public and private non-profit primary health care providers for outpatient medical services called early intervention services.
Funds community organizations that serve women, infants, children and youth with HIV disease and their families.
Funds dental care services, Special Projects of National Significance, and HIV-related capacity building services.