Chicago Area HIV Integrated Services Council (CAHISC)

The Chicago Area HIV Integrated Services Council (CAHISC),an integrated planning council provides guidance for funding to deliver HIV prevention, care and housing services to Chicago along with 9 collar counties; Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will.

CAHISC membership is comprised of 42 members. Members are volunteers comprised of providers and consumers of HIV services and federal and local government liaisons in partnership with CDPH to make informed planning decisions for people living with HIV/AIDS, and those at-risk for acquiring HIV infection. HIV is one of the City's top health priorities outlined in Healthy Chicago, the City's public health agenda.

Chicago is among the first large metropolitan area to integrate planning for prevention, care and housing services for HIV. This integration is aligned with the National HIV/AIDS Strategy designed by the White House Office of National AIDS Policy, and outlines basic goals to reduce new HIV infections, increase access to care and improve health outcomes for people living with HIV and reduce HIV-related health disparities.

Prior to the development of CAHISC, this work was done from two separate groups; the Chicago Area HIV Services Planning Council and the HIV Prevention Planning Group (HPPG). The integration of prevention, care, and housing allows for more strategic planning. CAHISC will lead to a more comprehensive planning process and allow for the sharing of best practices across Metropolitan Chicago. In addition, the change will lead to a more effective use of resources across the HIV continuum of services.

For More Information email H.L. Anderson, M.S. at Hannah.Anderson@CityofChicago.org.