DPH proposal to cut $3+ million from the AIDS Services line
Background
In their 2009-2010 budget, the CT Department of Public Health is has proposed to cut $3,094,565 from the AIDS Services line in the Connecticut budget. This state funding was intended to make up for the devastating loss of $3.3 million in federal Ryan White funds in 2007.
While the Governor has asked all state departments to cut 10% out of their overall budgets, this represents a 46% cut to AIDS Services.
There is still time to do something about this! The legislature and Governor must approve a budget in the next legislative session beginning on January 7, 2009. Now is the time to contact them and you own legislators to let them know how important HIV/AIDS services are to our community.
What We Need You to Do
- Invite your state representatives and senators to visit your organization and hear from people living with HIV/AIDS what impact these cuts would have. (Contact Shawn if you don't know who they are.)
- Invite the AIDS LIFE Campaign to come to your program to conduct an advocacy training.
- Make this a focus of your World AIDS Day events.
What the Loss of Funding Will Mean
The loss of $3 million will destroy the already minimally funded AIDS service infrastructure. These funds provide the following services: medical case management; substance use and mental health treatment; outpatient medical care; dental care; funding for co-pays; medication; utility assistance; housing; medical transportation and food. We are in the midst of collecting information from providers in order to quantify the impact of the loss.
HIV/AIDS Facts in CT
Since 2005, the number of people reported with HIV/AIDS in CT has grown by over 1,500. There are currently, 10,693 people living with HIV/AIDS in the state with the vast majority (46%) of them living in Hartford, New Haven and Bridgeport. CT ranks 14th in the nation in AIDS cases per capita. 66% of people with HIV/AIDS are people of color.
For more information contact the co-chairs of the AIDS LIFE Campaign:
Shawn M. Lang @ shawn@ctaidscoalition.org or 860.761.6699 or
Leif Mitchell @ leifmitchell@hotmail.com or 203.764.4347
ACT UP! FIGHT BACK! SILENCE = DEATH! ACTION = LIFE!!
 AIDS LIFE Campaign (ALC)
The AIDS LIFE (Legislative Initiative and Funding Effort) Campaign - a program of the CT AIDS Resource Coalition - is Connecticut's only statewide group that focuses solely on all of the policy-related issues impacting people living with and at high risk for HIV/AIDS - from prevention and education, including needle exchange; to supportive services; to health care, such as Medicaid and CADAP; to housing.
In addition to our advocacy work at the legislature, members of the AIDS LIFE Campaign convene meetings with key state departments such as the Department of Public Health and the Department of Social Services to work with them on a whole host of issues ranging from contracts and timely payments, CADAP, Medicaid changes (e.g. prescription and provider visit co-pays), as well as federal issues such as the HOPWA (Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS) housing program, Ryan White funds, and other pertinent topics that arise. |
