ARCS Leads Hudson Valley 's Restructured HIV Care Network

Hawthorne , NY – AIDS-Related Community Services assumes the role of Lead Agency today for the new Hudson Valley Ryan White Part B HIV Care Network. As part of sweeping changes in the funding and organization of the federal Ryan White CARE Act, New York State has consolidated the Lower Hudson and Mid-Hudson funding region for Part B into a single Network.

The Hawthorne-based agency submitted a proposal to become the lead agency in the fall of 2007. ARCS will be responsible for coordinating the activities of a wide-reaching network of HIV/AIDS service providers and individuals living with HIV. “ARCS is uniquely positioned for this,” Executive Director Jeff Kraus said. “We are the only agency with an established presence in all seven Hudson Valley counties. We understand the great geographic and economic diversity of the region. There are several small cities, but no major metropolitan area to serve as a center for activities.”

What is the HIV Care Network?
The federal Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act was enacted by Congress in 1990. Part B (formerly known as Title II) of the CARE Act provides funding to states for programs for people living with HIV/AIDS. The most recent reauthorization of the Act in 2006 has focused funding on the delivery of core medical services for those living with HIV/AIDS. The Hudson Valley Ryan White Part B HIV Care Network is one of eleven similar networks across New York State , giving consumers and service providers a forum in which to create the most efficient service delivery system for their respective region.

ARCS' Role
ARCS will hire a Network Coordinator and a Program Assistant, based at its Westchester headquarters. The agency plans to install state-of-the-art video conferencing equipment to link the Lower Hudson with the Mid-Hudson. “This will minimize the travel folks with have to undertake and help to unite the region,” Kraus said. “We can have a unified committee meeting by video-conferencing groups in Hawthorne and in Newburgh . It will save people time and expense and will encourage greater participation. It's very exciting.”

A significant responsibility of the Network Coordinator will be to staff various committees, including ones for Care Coordination, Consumer Involvement, and Policy Advisory/Education. The Network will also create service delivery plans to identify and fix gaps in care, provide legislative updates, and leadership trainings.

Though “Lead Agency” may sound powerful, ARCS will not be able to vote on the Executive Committee, which will consist of approximately fourteen representatives from the community. “This is still an important move for us,” said Andrea Shurin, Deputy Executive Director. “It gets us in touch with consumers' needs, and we'll have an even better grasp on what's happening in the communities we serve.” Shurin sees ARCS' role as advisor, guide, and problem solver. “This merely expands the ways in which we can make a difference in the lives of HIV-positive individuals and their families.”

AIDS-Related Community Services (ARCS) is the largest organization solely dedicated to providing HIV/AIDS services, prevention education, and outreach to the Hudson Valley region. Founded in 1983 by a small group of gay and lesbian citizens associated with the LOFT in Westchester, ARCS now touches the lives of over 25,000 people annually through offices in Dutchess, Orange , Putnam, Rockland , Sullivan , Ulster and Westchester counties. Visit www.arcs.org for complete information on ARCS' programs and services.

###

Note: For more information or to schedule interviews, please contact J. Dewey at (914) 785-8326 or by email at jdewey@arcs.org .