In the early 1980's, the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) virus had begun to claim the lives of thousands of Americans. In response to a public outcry, Congress recognized AIDS as a national crisis, and responded with the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resource Emergency (CARE) Act. The Act was named as a memorial to Indiana teenager Ryan White. Ryan educated the public and Congress about HIV/AIDS before he died of the illness in 1990.
The Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act, enacted in 1990 and re-authorized in 1996 and 2000, is intended to help communities and states increase the availability of primary health care and support services, reduce utilization of more costly inpatient care, increase access to care for under served populations, and improve the quality of life of those affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The Part A Program of the CARE Act provides financial assistance to cities disproportionately affected by the epidemic. Communities with over 2,000 reported cases of AIDS are eligible to receive Part A funds. These communities are called eligible metropolitan areas (EMA). Cuyahoga, Ashtabula, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, and Medina counties comprise our local EMA, and within our EMA, Cuyahoga County is the political subdivision most severely impacted by the epidemic.
The Cuyahoga Regional HIV Services Planning Council is a federally mandated planning body responsible for determining service categories, and service allocations for persons living with HIV/AIDS in the Cleveland eligible metropolitan area (EMA). The Cleveland EMA consists of Cuyahoga, Ashtabula, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, and Medina counties. The Council is a 40 person planning body which must maintain at least 33% membership of persons living with HIV/AIDS whose members are appointed by the Cuyahoga County Commissioners.
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The information contained in these pages was valid at the time of publication. The County of Cuyahoga reserves the right to make changes at any time and without notices, and assumes no liability for damages as a result of errors, omissions or discrepancies.
| © CUYAHOGA COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS RYAN WHITE PART A PROGRAM 1641 Payne Ave., Room 100 Cleveland, Ohio 44114 (216) 348-3986 • (216) 698-6434 (fax) |
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