Testimony before the Senate Budget
Subcommittee
(Sacramento, May 10 2004)
Thank you for the opportunity to address the Senate Budget
Subcommittee. My name is Lina Sheth, I am Director of Research
& Technical Assistance at Asian & Pacific Islander
Wellness Center — or “A&PI Wellness Center”
— a nonprofit HIV organization based in San Francisco.
Wellness Center was established 17 years ago as a grassroots
response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in communities of color.
Nationally we’ve worked with 70 community organizations
and health departments to build HIV prevention and care capacity
in A&PI communities. Regionally each year we reach 20,000
people through health education, and as the only A&PI
HIV case management program in Northern California, we serve
more than 200 severe-need A&PIs living with HIV and their
families. Our programs are national models in HIV service
delivery and cultural competence; our staff are fluent in
20 languages.
I’m here today to respectfully request your assistance
in order to receive payment from the State of California for
services already rendered on A&PI Wellness Center’s
contract with the Department of Health Services Office of
AIDS
This contract—$250,000 for each of three years—funds
the California Statewide Treatment Education Program—or
“CSTEP”—a vital HIV treatment education
program enacted through The People of Color Initiative, mandated
by State legislation in 2000. Although we have been delivering
services since July 1, 2003, as of today—more than 10
months later – we have not received any reimbursement
for services rendered, which to date totals approximately
$200,000, a staggering amount for a community agency with
a three-million dollar budget.
During these past 10 months, in the absence of an executed
contract, the State Office of AIDS provided multiple assurances
that we should continue delivering CSTEP’s programming.
A&PI Wellness Center finally received the contract from
the State in early January 2004. We immediately signed and
returned it for signature. However, the contract remains unsigned
by the State.
The State Office of AIDS considers CSTEP one of their highest
performing and cost-effective programs. The program—now
in its fourth year—is delivered in both English and
Spanish, and is a required standard of care for HIV service
providers in California. To date, CSTEP has reduced racial
and ethnic disparities in HIV care by educating almost 1000
service providers from 130 community based organizations and
11 health counties, to ensure that African Americans, Latinos,
Asians and Pacific Islanders, Native Americans and other People
of Color Living with HIV/AIDS receive accurate, up-to-date,
life-saving care and treatment information. In spite of the
State’s lack of payment, we have delivered CSTEP activities
in good faith and been in full compliance of the contract:
since July 1, 2003, almost 200 participants representing close
to 25 community and government agencies have completed the
program in this contract year alone.
Members of the Senate Budget Subcommittee I join others testifying
today to urge you to do all that is in your power to release
payment for services already rendered, and to ensure that
the State does not engage in unprofessional business practices
nor act in bad faith to the detriment of People of Color Living
with HIV/AIDS across California.
Thank you very much for your consideration and for your continued
leadership in ensuring access to quality health care and treatment
for California’s most vulnerable residents.
For more information contact:
Lina Sheth, MPH
Director of Research & Technical Assistance
415.292.3400
lina@apiwellness.org
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