HIV Direct Services

For more information on Louisiana Ryan White services, call 504.568.7474 or see specific regional contact information below.

What is the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program?

In 1990 Congress enacted the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act— the legislation that created the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)—to improve the quality and availability of HIV care and treatment for low-income people living with HIV.

RWHAP funding is provided to cities and counties most severely affected by HIV (Part A); states and territories (Part B); local community-based groups that provide ambulatory health services  and support for people with HIV (Part C); local community-based groups that provide medical care for low-income women, infants, children, and youth with HIV (Part D); and for HIV workforce education and training, oral health care, improving access to HIV care and health outcomes for communities of color, and other innovative models of HIV care and treatment (Part F).

How are RWHAP funds available throughout Louisiana?

Through RWHAP Part B, the state receives direct service funds, which are disbursed in Regions 3 through 9. Funding for the greater New Orleans area and the greater Baton Rouge area is administered through separate RWHAP Part A grants provided directly to the City of New Orleans and the City of Baton Rouge. RWHAP Parts C and D are funded at local clinics and community-based organizations (CBOs); and, Part F funding supports HIV workforce training throughout the state.

How are RWHAP Part B funds used?

Once RWHAP Part B funds have been awarded, SHHP requests proposals for funds from qualified community-based organizations (CBOs) that provide supportive services to individuals living with HIV/AIDS.  

Upon award of the funds, the CBOs provide services to eligible individuals. Available assistance may include:

• Case Management: client-centered activities focused on improving access to and retention in needed core medical and support services
• Health Education and Risk Reduction: education on risk reduction to reduce transmission, healthcare coverage options, health literacy, and treatment adherence
• Outreach: linkage to or re-engagement to RWHAP services
• Referrals: direction to needed core medical or support services
• Emergency Financial Assistance: one-time or short-term assistance with an urgent need for essential items or services necessary to improve health outcomes, including: utilities, housing, food, transportation, medication
• Housing: transitional, short-term, or emergency housing assistance to enable a client or family to gain or maintain outpatient/ambulatory health services and treatment
• Medical Transportation: nonemergency transportation to access or be retained in core medical and support services
• Pyschosocial Support Services: group or individual support and counseling services
• Foodbank or Food Voucher: provision of actual food items, meals, or vouchers to purchase food; includes essential non-food items limited to personal hygiene products, household cleaning supplies, water filtration/purification if water safety issues exist
   

RWHAP must be used as the payer of last resort; meaning the service cannot be reasonably provided by another source. Service availability is dependent on eligibility, funding, and other factors. Additional supportive services may be available in some regions.

For a regional directory that includes a listing of agencies for case management and support services, click here and select the HIV Case Management Listings button.

Legal assistance, except criminal defense and class-action suits unless related to access to RWHAP services, is available in all regions of Louisiana. For more information, click here.

Who is eligible to receive RWHAP Part B assistance?

To be eligible for RWHAP Part B services an individual must be:

• A resident of Louisiana
• Living with HIV
• 400% of the Federal Poverty Level

Who to contact for more information on Ryan White services:
Regions 3-9	New Orleans Eligible Metropolitan Area (serving eight (8) parishes: Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. James, St. Charles, St. John the Baptist, St. Tammany)	Baton Rouge Transitional Grant Area (serving nine (9) parishes: Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana)
Erika Sugimori, HIV Services Manager Louisiana Office of Public Health STI/HIV/Hepatitis Program 1450 Poydras St., Suite 2136 New Orleans, LA 70112 504-568-7474 phone 504-568-7044 fax	Vatsana Chanthala, Director New Orleans Health Department Ryan White Services and Resources Program 1515 Poydras Street, Suite 1140 New Orleans, LA 70112 504-658-2800 phone 504-658-2522 fax	Danette Brown,  Assistant Director Department of Human Development and Services- Ryan White Program 4523 Plank Rd. Baton Rouge, LA 70805 (225) 571-5400 phone (225) 358-1970 fax