America Living With AIDS

which are a critical element of HIV
prevention activities nationwide.
Communities must find better ways
to mobilize, plan, design, and implement comprehensive communitywide
HIV prevention efforts. Public health
departments, community-based organizations, and affected populations
must be able to work through and
resolve conflicts. CDC, the Health
Resources and Services Administration, ADAMHA, states, county and
municipal governments, and community-based organizations need flexibility in funding. The concept of HIV
care consortia, as in the Ryan White
CARE Act, merits consideration in
HIV prevention efforts. The National
Institute of Mental Health's model for
mobilizing communities around issues
related to the severely mentally ill may
be another potential model.
The primary and secondary prevention of HIV disease deserves a
place on everyone's agenda. It is within our capacity as individuals, as
members of various communities, and
as a nation to halt the further spread
of HIV and to extend and enhance the
quality of life for those already infected. We must learn to draw upon our
diversity in order to bring people
together to confront the challenges
posed by HIV.

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