The Chicago Area HIV Integrated Services Council (CAHISC) is an integrated planning council which provides guidance on the allocation of funding to providers to deliver HIV prevention, care and housing services to the Chicago Eligible Metropolitan Area (EMA).  The Chicago EMA includes the city of Chicago, as well as the following counties: Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will.

CAHISC is a 42-member body of volunteers and appointed members comprised of providers and consumers of HIV services, as well as federal and local government liaisons working in partnership with the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) to make informed planning decisions for the services provided to people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and those at risk of acquiring HIV infection.  HIV is one of the City’s top health priorities outlined in Healthy Chicago, the City’s public health agenda.

Chicago is among the first large metropolitan areas to integrate planning for prevention, care and housing services for HIV.  This integration is aligned with the National HIV/AIDS Strategy designed by the White House Office of National AIDS Policy and outlines basic goals to reduce new HIV infections, increase access to care and improve health outcomes for people living with HIV/AIDS and reduce HIV-related health disparities.

Mission

CAHISC, a council of diverse community volunteers working alongside public health staff, establishes plans and funding priorities for the Chicago service area that result in a comprehensive, effective network of HIV care, prevention, and housing services.

Purpose

The purpose of CAHISC is to: (1) assess the needs for HIV care, prevention, housing, and other related services within the service area; (2) set priorities and allocate resources for funding available from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other federal, state and/or city resources; and (3) evaluate the administrative mechanism of the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH).

In collaboration with CDPH staff, CAHISC is responsible for completing the following deliverables:

• Establishing HIV care priorities for allocation of HRSA-funded Ryan White Part A dollars within the Chicago EMA and informing/monitoring the development and/or update of a comprehensive HIV care plan;
• Establishing HIV prevention priorities for allocation of CDC-funded HIV prevention dollars within the City of Chicago and informing/monitoring the development and/or update of a jurisdictional prevention plan;
• Assisting to establish HIV housing priorities and recommending funding allocations within the Chicago EMA; and
• Providing CDPH staff with letters of concurrence or non-concurrence for comprehensive and jurisdictional plans, as well as other needed reports.

For more information, email H.L. Anderson at Hannah.Anderson@CityofChicago.org