Ryan White Program Description

Program Description

The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program is a Federal program that provides HIV-related health services. The program works with cities, states, and local community-based organization to provide services to more than half a million people each year. The program is for those who do not have sufficient health care coverage or financial resources for coping with HIV disease. Ryan White fills gaps in care not covered by these other sources.

In Chicago, the Ryan White Part A Program is administered by the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) which provides HIV/AIDS care services to over 30,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in the Chicago Eligible Metropolitan Area (EMA). The Chicago EMA consists of nine counties which is approximately two-thirds of the State of Illinois. These counties include Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Will, Grundy, McHenry, Lake, Kane, and Kendall. CDPH’s contracts with (47) forty-seven agencies located throughout the EMA to provide core medical and support services.

In addition, CDPH works collaboratively with the Chicago Area HIV Planning Council to determine needs and set funding priorities. The Planning Council consists of 52 members who are community members, provider representatives, and consumers. Each year the Planning Council conducts a needs assessment to identify unmet needs, gaps in services, and barriers to care. The recommendations from the needs assessment process is used to inform the priority setting process which is also conducted on an annual basis.