AIDS Free Pittsburgh outlines prevention strategy; commission votes to formally collaborate on two events

AIDS Free Pittsburgh presented an overview of its work in Allegheny County and its plans to expand policy and advocacy partnerships, and the City of Pittsburgh LGBTQIA+ Commission voted to formally collaborate on two upcoming events.

At the July 20 meeting, Kel Wilkinson, project manager for Pittsburgh at AIDS Free Pittsburgh, introduced the group and turned the presentation over to colleagues Hazel Lazier and Jay (last name not recorded). Hazel Lazier described the group’s origins and structure: “AIDS Free Pittsburgh, we started 12/01/2015.” Lazier said the initiative uses a collective-impact model that brings government, health systems and community organizations together and supports shared data, coordinated programs, and regular communication among partners.

“AIDS Free Pittsburgh is a public health movement to end the HIV epidemic in Allegheny County,” Lazier said, explaining the group’s mission and governance, which includes an advisory committee, an executive committee, a community advisory and action board, and subcommittees for prevention and care, data and evaluation, outreach, and policy and advocacy.

Wilkinson, who opened the presentation, identified three consistent strategies: normalizing routine HIV testing in medical settings, increasing access to and awareness of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and improving linkage to care for people newly diagnosed with HIV. The presenters described provider-facing tools the initiative offers, including a PrEP toolkit, continuing education, and a rapid-linkage-to-care guide with dedicated clinic phone lines.

Commissioners asked about advocacy and how the commission could support policy efforts. Hazel Lazier said AFP’s policy and advocacy committee is newly formed and “now is a really great time to be kind of at the start of this collaboration and what that looks like moving forwards.” AFP staff invited commissioners and community members to join policy meetings and described plans for an advocacy training session for network partners.

Commissioner Sarah Rosso moved that the LGBTQIA+ Commission “request the commission’s official collaboration on both the community panel with the Commission on Human Relations and the health needs assessment data.” The motion was seconded (second not specified in the transcript) and adopted by voice vote. The transcript records the chair announcing, “The motion is passed.” The vote was taken by voice; individual tallies were not recorded in the meeting minutes.

During discussion, commissioners and other attendees identified potential collaboration areas: amplifying policy recommendations to the mayor’s office and city council, linking people to complaint and discrimination processes through the city’s Commission on Human Relations, and sharing AFP resources on the city’s LGBTQIA+ Commission web pages when commissioners approve it. Kevin Carroll (Commission on Human Relations) advised that claims related to HIV status may be pursued under disability or medical-records protections at the city level and reminded attendees that HUD’s procedures for some complaint types have changed.

AIDS Free Pittsburgh said it is funded and fiscally supported through partners including the Jewish Healthcare Foundation, Allegheny Health Network, and UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside, and that it coordinates services with Ryan White-funded clinics. AFP staff offered contact information for commissioners and community members interested in joining policy work (Kel Wilkinson: wilkinson@jhf.org).

The commission discussion also covered practical collaboration steps: commissioners suggested using the commission as a conduit to city government for policy proposals and helping share AFP data and events with affected communities. AFP described community-facing activities it runs or supports, such as data walks, community surveys (including a recent PrEP awareness survey), resource directories, tabling at public events, and media campaigns.

Commissioners thanked the presenters and signaled interest in partnership. The motion to collaborate on the two events — the community forum with the Commission on Human Relations and the regional dissemination of the statewide LGBTQ health needs assessment data — passed by voice vote.

AIDS Free Pittsburgh closed by thanking the commission and offering follow-up connections; AFP staff said they would circulate materials and invited commissioners to join meetings of AFP’s policy and advocacy committee and other working groups.