Public Policy and Advocacy Links

General

AIDS/HIV Law and Policy Resource
http://www.critpath.org/aidslaw

Journal of the American Medical Association HIV/AIDS Information Center
Policy section http://www.ama-assn.org/special/hiv/policy/policy.htm

The Body - U.S. AIDS Policy
The Body is a comprehensive HIV/AIDS resource Internet site that includes over 500 topic areas.  This is a link to its topic area on U.S. AIDS Policy. http://www.thebody.com/govt.html

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Government (California & San Francisco)

California Department of Finance
http://www.dof.ca.gov/

California Dept. of Health Services
http://www.dhs.ca.gov

California Home Page
http://www.ca.gov

California Legislative Information
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov

California Office of AIDS
  http://www.dhs.ca.gov/aids

California State Assembly
http://www.assembly.ca.gov

California State Senate
http://www.senate.ca.gov

San Francisco Department of Public Health
http://www.dph.sf.ca.us

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Government (U.S. & Global)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Divisions of HIV/AIDS Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/dhap.htm

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).  HRSA directs programs that work to expand access to comprehensive, quality health care for all Americans.  The HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB) of HRSA oversees and coordinates all programs funded by the Ryan White CARE Act. http://hab.hrsa.gov/

Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) website has worldwide statistics, fact sheets, country profiles, technical documents and reports on diverse topics spanning care and treatment, program design and implementation, best practices, health financing and other issues. Special sections are available on UNAIDS initiatives, such as the Accelerating Access initiative for medications and treatment, the Africa Partnership Against AIDS (IPAA), and the Best Practices collection. Links to other UN Agencies involved in HIV/AIDS activities (World Health Organization, UNICEF, UNFPA, UNDP, etc) are helpful in understanding multi-lateral and international programming targeting the HIV/AIDS epidemic. http://www.unaids.org

StateServ
Provides various state bills throughout the country by category, including a whole section on HIV. http://stateserv.hpts.org

United States Congress
http://thomas.loc.gov

White House Office of National AIDS Policy
http://www.whitehouse.gov/ONAP

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Organizations

Access Project of the AIDS Treatment Data Network
The Access Project is an information clearinghouse that collects and distributes information about medications available for HIV and AIDS through Medicaid, AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs), and pharmaceutical industry sponsored patient assistance and expanded access programs. http://www.atdn.org/access/

AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts
Founded in 1983, AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts is a not-for-profit, community-based health organization whose mission is to stop the HIV/AIDS epidemic by preventing new infections and optimizing the health of those already infected. http://www.aac.org

AIDS Action Council
AIDS Action is a national organization dedicated to the development, analysis, cultivation, and encouragement of sound policies and programs in response to the HIV epidemic. http://www.aidsaction.org

AIDS Alliance for Children Youth and Families
AIDS Alliance for Children, Youth & Families is a national non-profit membership organization. Established in 1994, AIDS Alliance gives voice to the needs of women, children, youth, and families living with and affected by HIV and AIDS. http://www.aids-alliance.org/

AIDS Drug Assistance Protocol Fund
The mission of the AIDS Drug Assistance Protocol Fund is to facilitate access to HIV and HCV drugs
for medically indigent individuals that are currently on  ADAP waiting lists. http://adapfund.org/adap/adap_main.html

AIDS Foundation of Chicago
Founded in 1985 by community activists and physicians, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago is a local and national leader in the fight against HIV/AIDS. It collaborates with community organizations to develop and improve HIV/AIDS services; fund and coordinate prevention, care, and advocacy projects; and champion effective, compassionate HIV/AIDS policy. http://www.aidschicago.org/home/index.php

AIDS Legal Referral Panel
The AIDS Legal Referral Panel (ALRP) is a non profit 501(c)(3) organization that helps people living with HIV/AIDS in the San Francisco Bay Area maintain or improve their health by resolving their legal issues. http://www.alrp.org

AIDS Project Los Angeles - Government Affairs Department
http://www.apla.org/apla/gov/govaff.html

AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition (AVAC)
AVAC is an international community and consumer-based organization that provides analysis, policy advocacy, public education and community mobilization to accelerate the ethical development and global delivery of vaccines against HIV/AIDS. http://www.avac.org

AIDS/HIV Disease and Medicaid CMS Web Page
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/hiv/

American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR)
amfAR's mission is to prevent HIV infection and the disease and death associated with it and to protect the human rights of all people threatened by the epidemic of HIV/AIDS. http://www.amfar.org

Asian and Pacific Islander American Health Forum
The Asian and Pacific Islander American Health Forum is a national advocacy organization dedicated to promoting policy, program, and research efforts to improve the health and well-being of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. http://www.apiahf.org/index.htm

Bienestar Human Services, Inc.
Bienestar Human Services, Inc. is a grass-roots, non-profit community service organization based in Southern California that is committed to enhancing the health and well-being of the Latino community and other underserved communities. http://www.bienestar.org/

Black AIDS Institute
The Black AIDS Institute is the first Black HIV/AIDS policy center dedicated to reducing HIV/AIDS health disparities by mobilizing Black institutions and individuals in efforts to confront the epidemic in their communities. http://www.blackaids.org/

California Budget Project
http://www.cbp.org/

Californians for Responsible Syringe Policy (CRSP)
Californians for Responsible Syringe Policy (CRSP) is a political coalition of organizations that advocates for state policies and legislation that will reduce the spread of needle-related infections, including HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C.  http://www.helpstopaids.com/index.html

CDC National Prevention Information Network
The CDC National Prevention Information Network (NPIN) is the U.S. reference, referral, and distribution service for information on HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and tuberculosis (TB). NPIN produces, collects, catalogs, processes, stocks, and disseminates materials and information on HIV/AIDS, STDs, and TB to organizations and people working in those disease fields in international, national, state, and local settings. http://www.cdcnpin.org/scripts/index.asp

Center for Health Policy Studies
http://www.gwu.edu/~chsrp/

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
A research and policy based organization that analyzes government policies and programs (such as housing and welfare) that affect primarily low- to middle-income people. http://www.cbpp.org

Centers for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California, San Francisco
The Center for AIDS Prevention Studies (CAPS) was established in 1986 to conduct local, national, and international research on methods to prevent HIV infection and to contribute to policy development related to the HIV epidemic at local, state, national, and international levels. http://www.caps.ucsf.edu/

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. CMS administers the Medicare program and works in partnership with the states to administer Medicaid and the State's Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). http://www.cms.hhs.gov/

CMS Partner Center
Resources and tools for CMS partners, including advocacy groups and other stakeholders.  Includes links to information and resources about the Medicare drug benefit.    http://www.cms.hhs.gov/partnerships/

Communities Advocating Emergency AIDS Relief (CAEAR) Coalition
The Communities Advocating Emergency AIDS Relief (CAEAR) Coalition represents more than 400 grantees under Title I and Title III of the Ryan White CARE Act, including the 51 major metropolitan areas most adversely affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic, as well as providers and consumers of CARE Act-funded services. The CAEAR Coalition also advocates for adequate funding for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) in Title II of the CARE Act. http://www.caear.org/coalition/

DATA (Debt, AIDS, Trade, Africa)
DATA aims to raise awareness about, and spark response to the crises swamping Africa: unpayable debts, uncontrolled spread of AIDS, and unfair trade rules which keep Africans poor. http://www.data.org/

Drug Policy Alliance
The Drug Policy Alliance is the leading organization in the United States promoting alternatives to the war on drugs and advocates for drug policies that are based on science, compassion, health and human rights.  http://www.drugpolicy.org/homepage.cfm

Families USA
Families USA is a national nonprofit, non-partisan organization dedicated to the achievement of high-quality, affordable health care for all Americans. Working at the national, state, and community levels, Familes USA works on a range of issues, including Medicaid, Medicare, health care reform and related issues.  http://www.familiesusa.org

Families USA Medicare Central
http://www.familiesusa.org/issues/medicare/medicare-central-home.html

Friends of the Global Fight
Friends of the Global Fight encourages public leadership to support the global fight against AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, particularly the Global Fund. http://theglobalfight.org/

Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) - Advocacy Page
http://www.gmhc.org/action/advocate.html

Global AIDS Alliance
The Global AIDS Alliance is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C. whose mission is to galvanize the political will and financial resources needed to slow, and ultimately stop, the global AIDS crisis. http://www.globalaidsalliance.org

Global Fund Observer (GFO)
Global Fund Observer is a free email-based newsletter that provides an independent platform for news, analysis and commentary about the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. http://www.aidspan.org/gfo/index.htm

Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria was created to dramatically increase resources to fight three of the world's most devastating diseases, and to direct those resources to areas of greatest need. http://www.theglobalfund.org/en/

Global Health Council
Global Health Council is the world's largest membership alliance dedicated to saving lives by improving health throughout the world. http://www.globalhealth.org

Harvard AIDS Institute
The Harvard School of Public Health AIDS Initiative is dedicated to promoting research, education and leadership in Africa, Asia, and other resources-scarce settings. http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/hai/home.html

HIV Dental Association - Public policy & news updates
http://www.hivdent.org/publicp/pubpolicy.htm

HIV Insite - Social Issues & Policy section
http://hivinsite.ucsf.edu/social

HIV/AIDS Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Serv
http://hab.hrsa.gov/

HRSA Materials on the Ryan White CARE Act
http://hab.hrsa.gov/history.htm

HUD Office of HIV/AIDS Housing
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of HIV/AIDS Housing works with other HUD offices to ensure that all HUD programs and initiatives are responsive to the special needs of people with HIV/AIDS. One of the primary functions of the Office is to administer the Housing Opportunities for Persons with HIV/AIDS (HOPWA) program. http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/aidshousing/programs/index.cfm

Human Rights Campaign (HRC)
http://www.hrc.org

International AIDS Vaccine Initiative
This global non-profit organization is working to speed the search for a vaccine to prevent HIV infection and AIDS. http://www.iavi.org

International AIDS Vaccine Initiative
A global non-profit organization working to speed the search for a vaccine to prevent HIV infection and AIDS. http://www.iavi.org

International Treatment Preparedness Coalition
A global alliance of over 600 treatment activists that includes people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and their advocates.  http://aidstreatmentaccess.org/

Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)
Advocates for global action on HIV/AIDS and aims to strengthen and support the response to the epidemic. http://www.unaids.org

Kaiser Family Foundation
The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation is a non-profit, private operating foundation focusing on the major health care issues facing the nation. The Foundation is an independent voice and source of facts and analysis for policymakers, the media, the health care community, and the general public. http://www.kff.org

Latino Commission on AIDS
The Latino Commission on AIDS is a national and regional nonprofit membership organization dedicated to improving and expanding health promotion, research, treatment and other services to the Latino community through organizing, education, model program development, capacity building & training. http://www.latinoaids.org/index.asp

Lifelong AIDS Alliance - Advocacy Section
http://www.lifelongaidsalliance.org/advocacy/

Medicare Rights Center
Medicare Rights Center (MRC) is the largest independent source of health care information and assistance in the United States for people with Medicare. http://www.medicarerights.org/

National Academy for State Health Policy
The National Academy for State Health Policy is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to helping states achieve excellence in health policy and practice.   http://www.nashp.org/

National AIDS Housing Coalition
The National AIDS Housing Coalition (NAHC) works to advance the creation, development, management and growth of housing for persons living with HIV/AIDS. NAHC supports a variety of federal policy initiatives, legislative proposals and funding line items that could improve the lives and health outcomes of people with HIV/AIDS and/or populations vulnerable to housing crises. http://www.nationalaidshousing.org/home.htm

National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD)
Founded in 1992, NASTAD is a non-profit national association of state health department HIV/AIDS program directors who have programmatic responsibility for administering HIV/AIDS health care, prevention, education, and supportive services programs funded by state and federal governments. http://www.nastad.org

National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA)
Founded in 1983, the National Association of People with AIDS is a non-profit membership organization that advocates on behalf of all people living with HIV and AIDS in order to end the pandemic and the human suffering caused by HIV/AIDS. NAPWA is the oldest national AIDS organization in the United States and the oldest national network of people living with HIV/AIDS in the world. NAPWA provides user-friendly publications and educational resources for people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS and conducts advocacy on a range of HIV policy issues. http://www.napwa.org

National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC)
Established in 1987, the National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC) is a national organization dedicated to developing leadership within communities of color to address the challenges of HIV/AIDS. Its public policy division works to promote sound national healthcare policy, with a distinct focus on issues related to HIV/AIDS, access to care and social justice as they impact communities of color and also advocates  for increased federal resources to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic among people of color.  http://www.nmac.org

Office of Minority Health
The Office of Minority Health (OMH) was established in 1985 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). It advises the Secretary and the Office of Public Health and Science on public health program activities affecting American Indians and Alaska Natives, Asian Americans, Blacks/African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders. Its mission is to improve and protect the health of racial and ethnic minority populations through the development of health policies and programs that will eliminate health disparities. http://www.omhrc.gov

Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator
This office is responsible for all resources and international activities of the U.S. Government to combat the global HIV/AIDS pandemic. http://www.state.gov/s/gac/

Pangaea Global AIDS Foundation
Pangaea, an affiliate of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, works to broaden access to HIV/AIDS antiretroviral treatment and care in developing countries. http://www.pgaf.org

Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California
http://www.ppacca.org

Project Inform
Project Inform is a national, nonprofit, community-based organization working to end the AIDS epidemic. The agency works to inform people living with HIV, their caregivers, and their healthcare and service providers about the treatment and monitoring of HIV disease and to advocate for appropriate policies, legislation and funding for HIV research, treatment and care. http://www.projinf.org/

Treatment Access Expansion Project
Established in 1998, TAEP's mission is to improve access to early and comprehensive treatment ensuring that individuals living with HIV get the care they need. http://www.taepusa.org

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the CDC leads the nation's public health efforts to prevent and control infectious and chronic diseases, injuries, workplace hazards, disabilities, and environmental health threats. CDC's HIV mission is to prevent HIV infection and reduce the incidence of HIV-related illness and death. http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HIV Testing
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/testing.htm

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HIV/AIDS Surveillance
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/surveillance.htm

Whitman-Walker Clinic
http://www.wwc.org

World Health Organization's 3 by 5 Initiative
An initiative to provide 3 million people living with HIV/AIDS with life-prolonging antiretroviral treatment by the end of 2005. http://www.who.int/3by5/en

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