7.2 Description Of The Initiative

The ACHF was established in 1998, following recommendations to the Alberta Community Council on HIV (ACCH) from its members that the funding process for community-based groups be streamlined. The ACCH is a consortium of 15 community-based groups working in prevention, care and support for HIV and AIDS in the province. Up until that time, separate funds had been provided, often to the same organizations, through Health Canada's ACAP and Alberta Health and Wellness' grants for HIV Community Care and Support and for the Prevention and Control of HIV. A working group comprised of Health Canada, Alberta Health and Wellness and ACCH representatives began to design a new joint funding model, consulting with representatives from community-based organizations, persons living with HIV and regional health authorities. This structure was consistent with the collaborative, intersectoral focus of the broader population health mobilization partnership being developed through the intersectoral action work. An added impetus was provided by changes within the health system in Alberta, underlining a perceived need to clarify and reposition HIV/AIDS funding in the new context of health services organization. Development of the resulting model involved reconciling the mandates, requirements and resources of the two programs and establishing processes for the allocation and management of funds, in a new program, the ACHF, jointly managed by the community sector and the federal and provincial governments.

The objectives of the ACHF funding model are:

• develop a more simplified and transparent process reflecting community needs
• improve coordination among HIV programs and services
• increase the involvement of the community and improve the use of community resources
• limit service/program duplications
• increase opportunities to access additional funds through health and other sectors.

In order to provide orientation to the allocation of funds, a Population Health Consortium was established, with 18 senior members from a variety of sectors: community-based HIV groups, a Regional Health Authority, Human Resources and Employment Alberta, Alberta Justice, Alberta Learning, Alberta Health and Wellness (Population Health Strategies, Disease Control and Prevention), Health Canada (ACAP and Medical Services Branch), Northern and Southern Alberta HIV clinics, Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission (Youth Services and Adult Services), Alberta Mental Health Board, and people living with HIV. The Consortium's role is to review and approve funding recommendations made by the ACHF Working Group (described below), ensuring that the overall funding profile is consistent with the population health approach and is addressing the ensemble of needs and issues related to HIV in Alberta. The Consortium also advises the Minister of Health and Wellness' Advisory Committee on AIDS.

In the new model, responsibility for the stewardship of the pooled funds was transferred to the ACCH, and a steward position created. The Provincial Steward is supported by the ACHF Working Group, comprised of representatives from the ACCH, Health Canada and Alberta Health and Wellness, community-based groups, and persons living with HIV, and is chaired by one of the representatives from Alberta Health and Wellness. The Working Group assumes the main tasks of managing the joint fund: doing the necessary background work to understand both needs and proposals, discussing the issues and getting to the point where all members are comfortable with the decisions. Health Canada's ACAP program consultant works closely with the Provincial Steward in the ongoing support to funded groups and projects.

Also in the new funding model, proposals originating in communities are reviewed by local Community Planning Committees. The model began with four Committees; in the space of two years, this has increased to 10, covering most regions of the province. These Committees facilitate coordination of programs, activities and services among local organizations, in response to local needs, service gaps and strengths. They are comprised of representatives of local agencies, community-based organizations, and individuals that are representative of populations and sub-populations that reflect the local incidence of HIV. According to the Working Group, the Committees are becoming more and more inclusionary in their vision of community participation in the fight against HIV, with members largely from outside the health sector.

The ACHF is currently undertaking its second phase of funding allocations, in its two streams: operational funds, for ongoing infrastructure support to community-based organizations; and project funds, to support time-limited projects addressing specific unmet needs and priorities around HIV.

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