Central Ohio HIV Planning Alliance
COHPA is an example of what is possible when individuals and community agencies organize purposefully and effectively. The mission of COHPA is to improve access to and the quality of care/life for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH) and at risk of acquiring HIV/AIDS. COHPA works to accomplish this through collaboration, accountability, and communication.
The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program mandates patient and consumer involvement in prioritizing and allocating financial resources given by the federal government to the local authorities. In other words, patients and consumers (along with community agencies) are charged with making informed decisions about what services are offered and how much money can be spent for each service. Collectively, this group is called the Planning Body. (For more information about Ryan White Planning Body membership positions please see this primer.)
Columbus Public Health administers the Ryan White Part A Program, HIV Prevention Program, and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) Program. To reduce duplication of leadership and planning efforts—and to reflect the recommendations of both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)—the Ryan White Part A Planning Body combined with the HIV Prevention Planning Alliance to form the Central Ohio HIV Planning Alliance (COHPA). Members of COHPA are appointed by the body through consensus.
The Ryan White Part A: Planning Council Operations Manual is a resource guide that provides information about COHPA structure, roles and responsibilities. The manual is a “living” document, and as updates are made to bylaws and/or procedures, it will be updated accordingly.
COHPA has an established set of bylaws that guide its structure, purpose, and operations. Included in the bylaws are:
- Name and service area
- Mission and responsibilities
- Membership
- Planning council co-chairs
- Organizational structure
- Meetings
- Reimbursement
- Conflict of interest/change in affiliation/grievance
COHPA and its committees are governed by these bylaws. The bylaws may be amended, revised or otherwise changed at any regularly scheduled meeting of the membership. Amendments and revisions are accepted upon consensus or membership vote.
2022 Fiscal Year Meeting Dates
All COHPA meetings occur virtually on the fourth Tuesday of every 2 months from 12:00pm - 2:00pm. To join our listserv, please email [email protected]
- January 25, 2022
- March 22, 2022
- May 24, 2022
- July 26, 2022
- September 27, 2022
- November 22, 2022
To see agendas from previous years, click here.
Committees
COHPA has five standing committees and may create ad-hoc committees to address specific needs or complete specific tasks:
Executive Committee: This committee is responsible for ensuring the requirements of the Planning Body are carried out by overseeing the process and progress of COHPA and making recommendations to the full membership body. Meetings occur a few weeks before COHPA meetings.
Consumer Caucus: The purpose of this committee is to serve as voices for people living with HIV/AIDS in the community and advocate for the quality and/or process of care in Central Ohio.
Finance Committee: This committee reviews data reports to make informed decisions on prioritization and allocation of Ryan White funding. These decisions are brought back to COHPA as recommendations for COHPA membership voting. Meetings occur as needed.
Needs Assessment Committee: This committee is responsible for collecting information about the needs of PLWH (both those receiving care and those not in care), identifying current resources (Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program and other) available to meet those needs, and determining what gaps in care exist. Columbus TGA partners with Cleveland TGA and Ohio Department of Health Part B collectively to identify needs and gaps.
Meetings are scheduled by Part B as needed. Information is then shared at the local level.
Membership Committee: The Membership Committee is responsible for membership retention, and outreach to potential new members to ensure proper representation from the community and partnering agencies. Meetings occur as needed.