EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Thursday, January 22, 2026, 3:00 – 4:40PM
By Zoom Videoconference
MINUTES
Members Present: David Klotz (Governmental Co-chair), David Martin (Community Co-chair), Billy Fields (Finance Officer), Paul Carr, LaShonda Cyrus, Joan Edwards, Rasheed Ford, Marya Gilborn, Charmaine Graham, Emma Kaywin, Freddy Molano MD, Brooke Montes, Jeff Natt, Julian Palmer, Guadalupe Dominguez Plummer (ex-officio), Marcelo Maia Soares, John Schoepp
Members Absent: Steve Hemraj
Other Council Member Present: Gregg Bruckno
Staff Present: HRSA: Axel Reyes; NYC DOHMH: Michael Navejas, Doienne Saab, Laura Moya Adames, Abraham Omeyoma; Public Health Solutions: Arya Shahi
Agenda Item #1: Welcome/Introductions/Minutes/Public Comment
Mr. Martin and Mr. Klotz opened the meeting followed by a roll call and a moment of silence. The minutes from the November 20, 2025 meeting were approved with no changes.
Agenda Item #2: Public Comment
Mr. Schoepp recommended that the bylaws be reviewed to require that cameras be on at virtual meetings. He also raised an issue concerning allowable uses of emergency financial service funds.
Agenda Item #3: HRSA Project Officer Report
Mr. Reyes noted that the federal continuing resolution expires on January 30th and that the appropriations process is underway, after which more will be known about funding levels for Ryan White and other HIV programs.
Agenda Item #4: Tri-County (TC) Revised Service Directives: Mental Health, Psychosocial Support, Food & Nutrition Services
Ms. Cyrus and Mr. Palmer introduced the final three TC service directives approved by the Tri-County Steering Committee (TCSC). In 2026, virtually the TC portfolio of services will be re-RFPed for new programs starting March 1, 2027, necessitating the updating of the service directives for the region. This was an opportunity for the TCSC to align service directives with HRSA requirements, provide up-to-date evidence and community-informed guidance and resources, ensure that updates reflect the needs of PWH and address barriers to care, and integrate innovative service delivery strategies and tools to mitigate access barriers to meet the needs of clients. The TCSC reviewed past service directive for updates, conducted literature review and scan of best practices, received presentations and data from the Recipient, assessed service utilization, client outcomes, and emerging needs, and incorporated findings from needs assessments and community feedback.
Ms. Saab explained that key updates made to all directives included: Apply the NY HIV Planning Council Framing Directive; stronger emphasis on connecting priority populations; reducing stigma, adoption of innovative service models, including telehealth-related strategies; and implementation of a closed loop system to track referrals and verify that clients were indeed linked to supportive services. Highlights of revisions to the service models (which reflect innovations included in recently approved NYC directives) are as follows:
Mental Health Services: The service model includes: comprehensive intake, assessment and crisis intervention; medication management, monitoring and support; mental health treatment and coordination; and staff training. There is a stronger emphasis on enrolling clients from vulnerable communities (e.g., unstably housed, LGBTQ, immigrants).
Psychosocial Support Services: The service model includes updates to client-Centered Assessments and Adherence Support, and staff training.
Food & Nutrition Services (FNS): The model is identical to the one approved by the Council in December for NYC FNS programs, separating it into two distinct HRSA categories: Food/Meals (F/M) and Medical Nutritional Therapy (MNT). All FNS providers must deliver F/M and are strongly encouraged to offer or partner for MNT. As in the NYC directive, F/M options are modernized (including digital options for clients) and nutrition education guidance updated.
There was discussion about some details of the directive, including changes in federal nutrition guidance.
A motion was made on behalf of the TCSC to accept the Revised Service Directives as presented. The motion was adopted 16Y-0N.
Mr. Klotz thanked Ms. Saab for her exemplary work on the directives and thanked the TCSC chairs and members for their outstanding work.
Agenda Item #5: Update: GY 2026 Spending Scenario Planning
Ms. Gilborn reported that the Priority Setting & Resource Allocation Committee (PSRA) has held two meetings so far to develop a spending scenario plan for a possible reduction in the 2026 grant award. PSRA received information from the Recipient that there will be $652K in savings in the NYC portfolio from the Care Coordination contracts that start in March (out of a total $21M allocation). This amount will be used to offset a potential reduction to the award. The Tri-County region also has $226K in uncommitted funds from rescinded contracts in two categories (Early Intervention and Legal). The PSRA has agreed that if the award is reduced no more than $652K, that the TC Steering Committee (TCSC) can reallocate their uncommitted funds to higher ranked categories. If the reduction is higher, then half of their uncommitted funds will be applied to the deficit. TCSC has voted to allocate their uncommitted funds to Food & Nutrition.
An upfront reduction to ADAP can also be used to offset a reduction. The AIDS Institute has informed us that we can reduce the allocation substantially with no harm to the ADAP program. PSRA will need to leave some amount to allow ADAP to absorb underspending through reprogramming and carryover. The amount of a reduction will ultimately depend on the Congressional appropriation for RWPA nationally. If any reduction to the award can be absorbed through the savings in carrying costs and an upfront reduction to ADAP, then no further cuts to programs will be needed. The strategy for covering a very large reduction to the award will likely be to cut the lowest ranked program (Early Intervention Services). PSRA will finalize a spending plan at their February meeting, which will be reviewed and approved by the EC and full Council later that month. Mr. Klotz presented the spreadsheets as they currently stand with no change to the award, but showing the adjustments described above.
Mr. Guzman presented an update on the current federal appropriations bills, which are set to be voted on by Congress imminently. The Labor & Health and Human Services (LHHS) bill proposes maintaining FY 2025 funding levels for: HIV prevention and surveillance and the Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. initiative (EHE) at the CDC, and Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Parts A, B, C, D, and F, and EHE at HRSA. The bill rejects earlier proposals by President Trump and the House of Representatives (House) to fully eliminate CDC funding for HIV prevention and surveillance and by the House to fully eliminate CDC and HRSA funding for EHE. It also proposes a $4 million (or 7%) cut to the Minority HIV/AIDS Fund. The LHHS bill proposes level funding for STI prevention and a $3 million (or 7%) increase in funding for viral hepatitis prevention at the CDC. The Housing and Urban Development bill proposes a $24 million (or 5%) increase in funding for the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program. While it is not known how the MAI reduction will be implemented, Mr. Klotz explained that if the EMA lost 7% of its MAI funding, that would result in a loss of $542K, which is less than the savings in carrying costs. Also, Base formula funding will be helped by a change in the formula from address at diagnosis to current address, which HRSA estimates would result in a 2% increase in the formula award over five years.
In response to a question, Ms. Plummer reported that the planned activities supporting client advisory boards is still planned, as this is EHE funded, and it looks like that grant will continue. Mr. Guzman credited the extensive community advocacy efforts with helping to preserve this funding.
There being no further comment, the meeting was adjourned.
