AFC's Service Providers Council Provides Leadership in the Fight against AIDS

What is the Service Providers Council?
The Service Providers Council (SPC) of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago is a membership coalition of more than 160 local organizations providing HIV/AIDS services and conducting HIV/AIDS education/prevention programs in the Chicago metropolitan area. The only coalition of its kind in the entire country, the SPC helps establish AFC grantmaking and advocacy priorities, and works collectively to identify service gaps and expand and improve HIV care and education programs. The SPC also serves as the consortium for the Chicago Cook County region for Part B of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act.

How is the SPC Organized?
The SPC is organized into eleven active committees. Five committees -- Case Management Governance, Prevention & Care, Housing, Medical/Primary Care, and HIV & Aging -- address service delivery and planning issues related to each of these areas. The Part B Cook and Collar County Advisory Committees help set priorities for Part B services in the greater Chicago area.. The Advocacy/Policy committee develops and implements the AIDS Foundation's public policy agenda. The Membership committee recruits new SPC members and conducts the annual election of SPC officers. The Executive committee is elected annually by the full membership, and is comprised of three officers, committee chairs, and at-large representatives. There is also a committee, Faith Responds to AIDS, that has been assembled to respond to community needs and engage the faith community in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

SPC committees meet montly, bi-montly, or quarterly. Participating members determine committee goals, activities, and leadership. Program committees are typically involved in a range of service coordination, training, program development, and advocacy efforts. Committee participation enables member agencies to work in collaboration with other providers and to share information in their fields of interest and expertise.

The full SPC membership meets once each year at the annual joint meeting of the AFC Board of Directors and the SPC. Throughout the year, the SPC also sponsors special interest meetings for the member agencies and their employees. Each service provider forum highlights nationally-recognized speakers on current issues in HIV care and prevention, and allows providers to learn and share their expertise. The committees of the SPC identify topics and determine objectives for each forum, and assure that the issues and speakers are relevant to the metropolitan Chicago provider community.

Why Should an Agency Join the SPC?
There are many benefits to being a member of the Service Providers Council, including the opportunity to build relationships and share information with other AIDS service providers, help plan, coordinate and set priorities for prevention and care programs, and provide a voice for the people and communities your agency serves. In addition, all SPC members receive AFC's bi-monthly Action Bulletin newsletter, which includes up-to-date information about AIDS policy and program issues. Members also receive fax alerts from our statewide action alert network, as well as invitations to numerous meetings, conferences and presentations.

What are the Requirements for Membership?
Member agencies must be located in the Chicago metropolitan area, provide services to people with or at risk of HIV infection, and support the mission of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago and our Service Providers Council. Annual dues for members are $35.

How Can an Agency Join the SPC?
If your organization is interested in applying for SPC membership, please call Melissa Janiszewski at (312) 922-2322 or email mjaniszewski@aidschicago.org.