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Membership Eligibility

Orange County Health Services Department - Planning Council

The Planning Council draws its expertise and values from the diversity of its members, which include the following:

  • People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH/A), including consumers of funded services.
  • Representatives of service providers.
  • Local Public Health Agency.
  • Representatives of other community-based organizations serving PLWH/A and/or their families (e.g., faith based organizations, HIV/AIDS organizations).
  • Non-elected community leaders.
  • Concerned citizens.

Because the perspective of PLWH/A or consumers is so important, the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act mandates that at least 33% of Council members be Part A consumers and that PLWH/A members reflect the area's larger PLWH/A population in race/ethnicity, gender, and age.

Eligibility

  • To be a Council member, you must be a resident of the Orlando EMA (Lake, Orange, Osceola and Seminole Counties) for the entire length of the term that the member serves on the Council.
  • To be considered a consumer and be part of the required 33%, you must be receiving HIV-related services from Part A.

The Planning Council is recruiting new members in all of the above categories, especially PLWH/A. We encourage you to contact Planning Council Support and apply for membership today.

Requirements

New members attend orientation and also undergo ongoing training on occasion.

  • Depending on your interest and expertise, you will be assigned to a committee, though you can also serve on additional committees.
  • You must attend a majority of all assigned meetings.
  • All members should participate in the Data Presentation, Priority Setting/Resource Allocation Process.
  • Members should be able to serve a three-year term.

Membership application forms are linked from the Documents web page.

Benefits to You

  • Learn more about HIV/AIDS issues, services, and ways to access these services.
  • Network with a committed, diverse group of community members.
  • Become a role model and leader in the community.
  • Have a say about which HIV/AIDS services are funded.
  • Make a difference in the community.
  • Have fun!

Benefits to Your Community

  • Ensure that HIV/AIDS services are responsive to your community's needs.
  • Ensure that consumers have access to high quality services.
  • Help the voices of others in your community be heard.

Training

Orientation: - New members must attend an orientation before they can vote. At the orientation, you will learn more about the Planning Council's structure, tasks, members, and meetings, the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009, and the Planning Council's relationship to the Grantee's office and other organizations. If you are a new member, Planning Council Support will contact you about the next orientation.

Ongoing Training: - On occasion, all Planning Council members will be asked to participate in ongoing or refresher training about more complex tasks or issues, such as the annual priority setting/resource allocation process.