Meeting of the
HIV HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES PLANNING COUNCIL
OF NEW YORK
Thursday, January 29, 2026
3:00-4:40pm
By Zoom Videoconference
DRAFT MINUTES
Members Present: D. Klotz (Governmental Co-chair), D. Martin (Community Co-chair), B. Fields (Finance Officer), G. Angelopoulos, R. Babakhanian, M. Baney, J. Benitez, A. Betancourt, R. Brown, G. Bruckno, L. Cyrus, J. Edwards, R. Ford, L. Francis, M. Gilborn, J. Goldenbridge, C. Gomez, C. Graham, S. Hemraj, R. Henderson, E. Kaywin, K. Laveille, J. Louis, DDS, M. Maia Soares, N. Martin, L. F. Molano, MD, B. Montes, J, Natt, C. Nuñez, J. Palmer, G. Plummer (ex-officio), M. Rodriguez, L. Sabashvili, S. Safo, MD, J. Schoepp, S. Stallings, A. Tomlin, G. Ty, L. Worrell
Members Absent: M. Bacon, V. Bell, M. Caponi, P. Carr, V. Decamps, J. Dudley, J. Robles, J. Sanchez, M. Sedlacek, D. Tider
Staff Present: DOHMH: D. Saab, M. Navejas, L. Moya Adames, A. Omeyoma, T. Leong-Pelrine, R. James; Public Health Solutions: B. Silver, A. Shahi; CHAIN: M. Yomogida
Agenda Item #1: Welcome/Introductions/Minutes/Announcements
Mr. Martin and Mr. Klotz opened the meeting followed by introductions and a roll call and a moment of silence in honor of late HIV activist Mark Milano. The minutes from the December 4, 2025 meeting were approved with no changes.
Agenda Item #2: Public Comment, Part I
Ms. Edwards presented on a new NYS DOH AIDS Institute initiative to address sex worker health, with materials that include a document in English and Spanish on how to provide affirming services and a Safe Space pin for health and social services providers to wear to communicate their commitment to providing nonjudgmental, safe and affirming services to people who may be involved in sex work. Members commended the initiative, but noted that a social service agency named Safe Space exists, and that the pin may not address male sex workers. Ms. Edwards said she will take this feedback back to the unit that developed the initiative.
Agenda Item #3: Recipient Report
Ms. Plummer reported that HRSA released the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) Annual Data Report 2024. This report features information about all clients served by RWHAP Parts A, B, C and D (nationwide, a total of 601,853 were served in 2024).
The results of the RWPA RFP for Care Coordination Services (17 programs), Outpatient Ambulatory Services/HIV & Aging (3 programs), and Emergency Financial Services (1 program) in New York City were announced for programs starting March 1, 2026. In addition, on December 2, 2025, PHS on behalf of DOHMH released the Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) Initiative: Be Into Health RFP for 13 awards for a total of $6,385,000. The EMA’s Quality Management (QM) Committee met on January 27th, 2026 to continue discussion on recent quality improvement trainings and begin preparing for the next iteration of the NY EMA QM Plan. The Recipient Report has a summary of media coverage of the DOHMH 2024 HIV Surveillance Report, and other surveillance initiatives were announced.
There was a question from Eunice Casey of Health + Hospitals concerning the process by which the Care Coordination and OAS contracts were awarded. Ms. Plummer will follow up directly.
Agenda Item #4: Revised Tri-County Service Directives:
Mental Health (MH), Psychosocial Support (PST), Food & Nutrition Services (FNS)
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). Mr. Benitez noted the importance of normalizing the seeking of MH services and of having other providers assess the needs for the service and make appropriate referrals.
Psychosocial Support Services: The service model includes updates to client-Centered Assessments and Adherence Support, and staff training. There is also more emphasis on recruiting and hiring staff and peers whose lived experiences reflect the communities served to improve access and engagement.
Food & Nutrition Services (FNS): The model is almost 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.
A motion was made on behalf of the TCSC Committee to accept the Revised TC Service Directives as presented. The motion was adopted 37Y-0N.
The Committee, chairs and especially Ms. Saab were thanked for their hard work creating the directives.
Agenda Item #5: Planning Council Committee Updates
Consumers Committee
Mr. Schoepp and Mr. Maia reported that the Consumers Committee sent a letter to Mayor Mamdani to introduce themselves, highlight the importance of community planning, and stress the urgency to protect federal HIV funding and immigrant PWH. The also developed surveys for provider and consumers on barriers immigrant PWH are facing, which will enhance the Needs Assessment Committee’s work on this issue.
Needs Assessment Committee (NAC)
Mx. Kaywin reported that NAC is working to update recommendations on safe access to services for immigrants with HIV in the current climate. There have been presentations from subject matter experts including: a NYC organization on adapting services to the current reality; a public health expert on this issue’s impact on health; and legal implications and the role of RWPA providers.
Integration of Care Committee (IOC)
Mr. Natt reported that IOC approved a revised NYC Legal Services Directive to ensure compliance, responsiveness, and client-centered care. Updates were grounded in evidence-based research, community needs, and legal advocacy best practices. The directive, which will be brought to the Executive Committee and full Council next month, will inform the RFP for this service category for services starting March 1, 2027.
Priority Setting & Resource Allocation Committee (PSRA)
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. There are savings in the portfolio from that can be used to offset a potential reduction to the award. If necessary, an upfront reduction to ADAP can also be used to offset a reduction, to be restored during the year through reprogramming and carryover. Given news that Congress will pass a 2026 budget that mostly maintains current levels of funding, any reduction to the award should be absorbed without further cuts to programs.
Ms. Leong-Pelrine responded to questions about the potential for another partial government shutdown if Congress and the White House do not reach a compromise on Department of Homeland Security funding.
Tri-County Steering Committee
Mr. Palmer and Ms. Cyrus reported that TCSC approved a GY 2026 spending scenario that allocates uncommitted funds (from rescinded contracts in Legal and Early Intervention Services) to FNS.
Agenda Item #6: Public Comment, Part II
Mr. Schoepp invited members to attend the next Consumers Committee meeting on February 18th, which was moved back one day to accommodate the Quality Improvement Listening Sessions.
In response to a question from Mr. Palmer, Ms. Leong-Pelrine noted that there are no discussions in Congress to reverse the changes to Medicaid and SNAP that will take effect later this year.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
