CONSUMERS COMMITTEE
Tuesday, October 19, 2021, 1:00PM – 3:00PM
By Zoom Video Conference
M I N U T E S
Committee Members Present: Charmaine Graham (Co-chair), Leo Ruiz (Co-chair), Billy Fields, Lawrence Francis, Yves Gephardt, David Martin (Consumer-at-Large), Michael Rifkin, John Schoepp, Asia Betancourt, Lisa Best, Natasha Martin, Atif Abdul-Haqq, Steven Wilcox, Paul Carr, Rob Walker, Randall Bruce, Jesus Maldonado
DOHMH: Cristina Rodriguez-Hart,David Klotz,Melanie Lawrence,Kimberly Mack, Graham Harriman, Jose Colon-Berdecia
Other Individuals: Matt Lesieur, Mayra Leta, Marcelo Maia
Agenda Item #1: Welcome/Introductions
Leo and Charmaine did the introductions. Lawrence talked about his new consultant position with NYSDOH AI. The committee approved the 8/17 minutes. There was a recognition of the work of Lisa and Randall as past co-chairs, and Cristina introduced the workplan document.
Agenda Item #2: Public Comment
This was skipped due to time, but Michael put several comments into the chat box including a couple job announcements that were then emailed out to the CC afterwards. He encouraged everyone to attend the statewide consumers calls 10-11:30am every Monday. Marcelo posted a comment that he would like to see the process of hiring for HASA or HRA explained so that more PWH peers are hired as they can empathize more with clients.
Agenda Item #3: Power of QI Workshop Discussion
Cristina facilitated a discussion where the CC decided that a 2-hour QI subcommittee meeting on either Tuesdays or Thursdays that is in-person and virtual would be how they would plan the QI workshop. The CC would like to introduce the new aging directive (its contents and the process to develop it) and then make educational points for providers followed by role plays, and discussions. Some potential role plays could center around multi-lingual access, stigma/trauma, mental health, comorbidities. Cristina will email out the time for the first subcommittee meeting to the entire CC.
Agenda Item #4: CC Business
A roll call was taken and the majority of members chose a new monthly CC time of 3-5pm on the same Tuesday of the month (8 for 3-5, 5 for 1-3, 3 for 2-4, and 2 for anytime).
Randall, Leo, and Asia expressed interest in being on the statewide SMI workgroup, so Melanie will follow-up.
Agenda Item #5: Presentation on new Framing Directive
Melanie presented the key highlights of IOC’s newly developed framing directive (formerly the Master Directive) that includes requirements applied to all Ryan White Part A service categories. She explained the change in name from “master” to “framing,” and gave a comparison between the old Master Directive and the new Framing Directive. The old Master Directive, for example, did not address stigma and health equity whereas the new Framing Directive does. IOC used an implementation science framework to complete the new Framing Directive, which is also the same framework for the new HIV and Aging Directive developed last year by the CC. It is modeled after the Implementation Research Logic Model (which specifies the context, implementation strategies, mechanisms, implementation outcomes, client/patient outcomes), which is very comprehensive. The implementation strategies are the heart of the new directive and include a number of innovative activities within 4 implementation categories: planning, quality management, training and educate stakeholders, modify incentives, and change infrastructure. The implementation outcomes are those currently proposed, but a workgroup is forming to decide on the final list of outcomes to include.
- David asked whether the new directive will include the assessment of ACE, adverse childhood experiences. Melanie said no at present but she will bring it up. Cristina commented that current coping strategies could be considered as well since they determine present behavior to past trauma.
- Leo made a comment about calling the cops and the use of guns in care settings that he had seen and is glad this is being addressed.
Melanie said this new directive represents a hug shift in the way we deliver services. It’s more specific, it’s time-bound, addresses stigma, etc.
- David said that he didn’t vote for the directive in July because it was too much information at the last minute and he couldn’t take it all in.
Charmaine asked the CC if we could extend the meeting by 5 minutes and this was approved.
- Paul said he’s still undecided because he’s concerned about payer of last resort, the renaming of peer advocates, and having a concern for agencies.
Melanie said that if the agencies have already done the activities in the directive, they can show this and be exempt from the new requirements. This helps to make sure agencies are not overburdened.
- Kimberly said that marginalized populations have been studied endlessly without changes made. She said it’s time to put our money where our mouth is. At the center is racism.
Graham highlighted today’s announcement that the NYC Board of Health decided to declare racism a public health crisis.
There being no further business, the CC meeting was adjourned.
