Mission of TRAAG

The overall mission of the TRAAG is to promote HIV and STD prevention in an attempt to reduce the spread of HIV infection in the rural counties. All group members will foster and promote effective communication, collaboration and cooperation between themselves and the residents of Ohio's rural communities.

The Rural AIDS Advisory Group

The Portsmouth City Health Department through a cooperative grant with the Ohio Department of Health provides HIV and STD Prevention services to 58 of Ohio’s rural designated counties. This grant allows for funding of 5 health departments in the rural region 8 counties of Ohio to provide HIV Prevention services, as well as funding for four health departments to provide STD Prevention services.  Through the HIV Prevention Coordinator, 31 other sites have generously agreed to provide HIV counseling and testing services throughout the remainder of the rural region 8.  The Ohio Department of Health through the HIV and STD Prevention grant makes it possible to provide these services to the 58 rural region 8 counties for free.  

The HIV Prevention grant also includes the community planning group, The Rural AIDS Advisory Group (TRAAG), where community members meet quarterly. These meetings are a chance for the community to take a vested interest in how the grant monies are best utilized. The meetings are consensus based and rarely go to a vote by the membership.  The meetings also provide capacity building as well as resources and networking for all those affected and infected by HIV/AIDS.

The Rural AIDS Advisory Group meetings are facilitated by the Rural HIV Prevention Coordinator with assistance from TRAAG co-chairs.
 

HIV Prevention Community Planning Group

The community planning group provides regular input into the process of how at-risk populations are prioritized in the rural area and make recommendations to the local health department regarding the distribution of prevention funds.

WHY A CPG?
Due to the prevalence of new HIV infection; The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) mandated HIV Prevention Community Planning in 1994 on the manner in which federally-funded state and local level HIV prevention programs were planned and implemented.

OUR TASK:
The primary task of the CPG is to develop a Comprehensive HIV Prevention Plan that is based on rural Ohio epidemiology data (cases of known HIV infection) and community values. To ensure that the plan includes specific, high priority HIV prevention strategies and interventions targeted to defined populations; the CPG develops the plan in conjunction with the Portsmouth City Health Department.

WE ARE ACCOMPLISHING OUR TASK BY:
  1. Analyzing the course of the epidemic in our area.
  2. Determine target population for HIV Prevention activities.
  3. Assessing and prioritizing HIV prevention needs.
  4. Identifying HIV prevention interventions to meet those needs.
  5. Developing a comprehensive HIV Prevention plan that is directly responsive to the epidemic in our area.

Goals of Community Planning

The CDC has set three major goals that provide an overall direction for HIV Prevention Community Planning.

GOAL ONE:
Community planning supports broad-based community participation in HIV-prevention planning.

GOAL TWO:
Community planning identifies priority HIV-prevention needs (a set of priority target populations and interventions for each identified target population) in each jurisdiction.

GOAL THREE:
Community planning ensures that HIV-prevention resources target priority populations and interventions set forth in the comprehensive HIV-prevention plan.


 

Connect With Us

The overall mission of the TRAAG is to promote HIV and STD prevention in an attempt to reduce the spread of HIV infection in the rural counties. All group members will foster and promote effective communication, collaboration and cooperation between themselves and the residents of Ohio's rural communities.
 
Do you have questions about how TRAAG can advise you?  Complete the adjoining general inquiry form to have a member of the group contact you directly.

Site Contact(s)

BOBBI BRATCHETT
Rural HIV Prevention Coordinator
605 Washington Street
Portsmouth, Ohio 45662
740-354-8949
bobbi.bratchett@portsmouthoh.org
 
REBECCA MURPHY
Website Editor, Receptionist, Billing Clerk
605 Washington Street
Portsmouth, Ohio 45662
740-353-8863
rebecca.murphy@portsmouthoh.org