Speakers: Paula D. Foster, Lashanda Salinas 

Explore the challenges of navigating conservative legislatures in red states, using Tennessee as a case study. This workshop delves into the escalating shift towards conservatism, creating a formidable barrier to progressive policy initiatives. Organizations have witnessed an intensified mistrust of the federal and state governments, hindering advancements in Public Health. As advocates champion progressive policies, a critical battleground emerges concerning issues intertwined with the LGBTQAI+ community, with HIV policy at its core. Far-right legislators perceive HIV policy through a lens that associates it with marginalized communities. A case in point is the state of Tennessee, where, in 2023, the legislature rebuffed federal CDC funding for HIV prevention and surveillance programs, opting instead for less stable state funding channels. Tennessee advocates achieved a victory by successfully steering a bill through the legislative process. This resulted in a pivotal change to the HIV criminal exposure law, eliminating the mandate for those convicted to register on the state’s sex offender registry.

The workshop will examine these attitudinal shifts and the astute strategies employed by advocates to influence lawmakers resistant to progressive policy changes. Gain unparalleled insights into navigating this complex terrain and forging pathways towards ending the HIV epidemic in the United States.

Speakers: Naomi Gaspard, Drew Gibson 

Syringe service programs, naloxone, fentanyl test strips, and overdose prevention centers – examples of harm reduction tools which showcase how advocates have been and continue to be ahead of the curve on responses to the national overdose crisis. As harm reduction continues to mainstream, advocates are tasked with bringing their expertise to members of Congress with wide reaching priorities and perspectives. Harm reduction has been a key priority for the current Biden-Harris Administration across various federal agencies, with an added emphasis on health equity. AIDS Watch is a unique opportunity for advocates to capitalize on this momentum with Hill meetings to educate staffers on the importance of harm reduction for HIV elimination in the U.S. In addition to key HIV programs, harm reduction provides an opening to think about syndemic approaches to care, using a per. Advocates can and should also advocate for greater infectious disease funding at the CDC and greater use of SAMHSA’s harm reduction framework.

This presentation will provide strategies on how to navigate the politics of harm reduction and help craft targeted messaging for bipartisan solutions. The presentation will include a set of stories from various harm reduction programs across the country to show how they have been successful in addressing harm reduction in politically fraught environments. Finally, advocates will be equipped with the necessary tools, data, and stories for effective harm reduction messaging.

Speakers: Ciarra Covin, Olivia G. Ford, Heather O’Connor

This workshop will endeavor to share key updates to the US Perinatal HIV Clinical Guidelines released by the US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) in January 2023. While these updates supported shared and informed decision-making practices between patient and provider, lack of awareness and knowledge present barriers for people living with HIV and those who care for them. People living with HIV who are empowered with this information will be better able to make choices that align with their individual circumstances, preferences, and provider recommendations.

Additionally, engaging and educating all key stakeholders, including local, state, and federal policy makers, will facilitate the development and implementation of policies promoting safe infant feeding practices for women and other birthing parents living with HIV, with decreased fear of negative consequences due to their choice. Workshop attendees will learn what the Perinatal HIV Clinical Guidelines are and how they have changed; how they can support and advocate for the needs of women and other birthing people making infant feeding decisions; and where to find more information and resources.

Speakers: Jeremiah Jonson, Justin Smith, Riko Boone, Michael Chancley

In July, 2018, PrEP4All released a whitepaper outlining the urgent need for a National PrEP Program to immediately address significant disparities in uptake of HIV PrEP. Four years later, the Biden Administration’s FY23 Budget requested nearly $9.8 billion to fund a PrEP for All to End the HIV Epidemic program. Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has shown racial disparities have only widened as only 13% of Black people who could benefit from PrEP have received a prescription, in comparison to 94% of white people who could benefit. PrEP4All and PrEP In Black America, a coalition of Black HIV prevention advocates, have collaborated on a series of summits and webinars to address disparities in PrEP use among Black communities. As a result, PrEP In Black America has identified three key recommendations to advance PrEP uptake, including 1) Energize the Black public health workforce to lead the HIV prevention response, 2) Educate Black masses on the science and effectiveness of PrEP, and 3) Support a federally-funded National PrEP Program.

Come tell your advocacy story! In the spirit of community we invite all advocates to be a part of a series of video testimonials being captured. Share the stories of your activism, community, inspirations and more. For more information contact communications@aidsunited.org

Speakers: Malcolm Reid, Larry Walker, Sattie Nyachwaya, Christina Adeleke, Esq.

The new advocate institute will discuss key federal HIV advocacy strategies for individuals who are new to federal advocacy processes. This session will include discussion of key targets for federal advocacy and the importance of sharing your story with Congressmembers about how public health policy impacts your daily life and overall quality of life.

Speakers: Terri Wilder, Aaron Tax, Ronald Johnson

This workshop deeply delves into the critical reauthorization of the Older Americans Act (OAA) and its profound implications for older people with HIV, recognizing it as a legislative cornerstone significantly affecting quality of life. Understanding the OAA’s reauthorization is vital to ensure equitable care and services for those living with HIV. Additionally, the pressing need for LGBTQ+ and HIV Long-Term Care Bills of Rights will also be addressed. These rights play a pivotal role in safeguarding older individuals with HIV from discrimination and enhancing overall care quality.

The workshop offers high interactivity, integrating engaging discussions, sharing case scenarios, and collaborative brainstorming of advocacy strategies. Attendees will actively participate in a brief yet impactful role-play simulation, assuming roles as community members and elected officials. They will practice describing the unique challenges faced by older people living with HIV and passionately advocating for the reauthorization of the OAA and/or the necessity of an LGBTQ+ and HIV Long Term Care Bills of Rights. By amplifying the voices of people with lived experience and advocating for policy reforms we can reach our goals in the National HIV/AIDS strategy around improving HIV-related health outcomes of people with HIV and reducing HIV-related disparities and health inequities.