Office of HIV/AIDS Services
Note: This site contains HIV prevention messages that may not be appropriate for all audiences.
About the Office
City of Cleveland Department of Public Health's Office of HIV/AIDS Services was established in 1994 to identify and secure funding for HIV/AIDS services in greater Cleveland. The City of Cleveland is one of the largest area AIDS funders, disseminating over $2 million annually. The Office of HIV/AIDS Services has provided grant funding to over 40 area community-based agencies for prevention, education, and housing services to people affected by HIV/AIDS.
The Office of HIV/AIDS Services receives funding from three primary grants:
- Federal HIV Prevention Grant – Ohio Department of Health (ODH) through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) – Cleveland City Council
- Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) – U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
The office coordinates and directs the overall response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Cleveland and Cuyahoga County in cooperation with community-based organizations, governmental bodies, advocates, and people living with HIV/AIDS. It sets the standards of care and prevention for countywide HIV/AIDS services. The Office of HIV/AIDS Services has become a respected leader in the prevention of HIV and the provision of services to citizens living with, at risk for, or otherwise affected by HIV/AIDS.
In 1997, the City of Cleveland developed and revised policies related to equal opportunity regardless of HIV/AIDS status for both employees and clients, and to prevention of infection in the workplace. In addition, all City of Cleveland employees are required to participate in AIDS awareness training as part of the orientation process.
Mission
To respond to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Cleveland and Cuyahoga County by preventing its spread, maximizing health and social outcomes, and coordinating effective and efficient targeted services for those at risk for, living with, or affected by HIV.
Activities
The Office of HIV/AIDS Services extensively engages in activities to:
- Serve as a model in the provision of direct HIV/AIDS services to specific underserved populations;
- Maximize access to services for persons with HIV/AIDS through a coordinated system of care among community and public providers in the City of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County;
- Educate the community and increase awareness about HIV/AIDS through participation in local events such as the John T. Carey Memorial AIDS Walk, Black Church Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS, AIDS Awareness Week, Gay Pride, World AIDS Day, and National HIV Testing Day;
- Coordinate and monitor HIV counseling, testing, referral, and partner notification activities;
- Organize the collection, analysis, and release of HIV-related data and provide data system support;
- Develop policies and protocols to ensure the community receives effective interventions.
- Develop and manage grant proposals, competitive solicitation process and the resulting programs;
- Develop and maintain systems of reporting of disbursements, grant expenditures, and revenues to ensure maximizing grant funds;
- Provide staff support for HIV/AIDS planning and policy bodies and community coalitions including the Cuyahoga County HIV Prevention Regional Advisory Group, Cuyahoga Regional HIV Services Planning Council / Ryan White Part A & B, and the Ohio HIV Prevention Community Planning Group.