For more than four years, the Ryan White Administrative Agency (PPCEP-AA), a division of Planned Parenthood Center of El Paso, has provided oversight and the fiduciary management of the Ryan White Title II CARE Act, State HIV Services and Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS (HOPWA) grants. The PPCEP-AA continues to work diligently to improve HIV-related services for clients living in the West Texas HIV Planning Area, which is comprised of Brewster, Culberson, El Paso, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis and Presidio counties. Our commitment to HIV/AIDS stakeholders and service providers has helped us to become the recognized leader in HIV planning in the region. But our continued success remains with those committed to reducing gaps, barriers and unmet need for those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.

The PPCEP-AA collects, analyzes, and uses data to inform where and how CARE Act and state HIV funds should be allocated to best meet the needs of people living with HIV/AIDS. In addition, the PPCEP-AA conducts a comprehensive Needs Assessment, which collects information from clients using a scientific process including conducting surveys, focus groups and individual interviews with people who are living with HIV/AIDS, to determine what services are most important and what services they need but are not getting.

The PPCEP-AA is also responsible for the development of a data driven comprehensive plan. Information garnered from the needs assessment will be used in the development of this plan, which will be designed to improve the delivery of HIV-related services in West Texas. The 2006 West Texas HIV Planning Area Comprehensive Plan is scheduled for completion in November 2006 and will updated annually. In addition, the plan will be created to address issues included in the Texas Statewide Coordinated Statement of Need relevant to the region. The comprehensive plan will be used by system planners and community stakeholders as a tool to help improve the quality of care available to clients living with or affected by HIV/AIDS in West Texas.