Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Minnesota Council for HIV/AIDS Care and Prevention?
a. The Minnesota Council for HIV/AIDS Care and Prevention is a community planning group that oversees
the prioritization and allocation of federal Ryan White Part A and Minority AIDS Initiative (MAI funds)
allocated to the Minneapolis-St. Paul Transitional Grant Area (TGA).
2. What does the council do?
a. Develop Minnesota’s Integrated HIV Prevention and Care Plan.
b. Make decisions and recommendations about HIV treatment and care services.
c. Conduct needs assessments to determine the needs of people living with HIV/AIDS in Minnesota.
d. Prioritize populations for HIV prevention services.
3. When and where does the council meet?
a. The council meets on the second Tuesday of every month from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. in the Hennepin
County Health Services Building in room L15 in the lower level. The address is 525 Portland Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55415.
b. Council members also serve on a standing committee which typically meets once per month. A current
schedule of all council and committee meetings is available at http://mnhivcouncil.org/calendar.html.
4. How do I find out about council meeting times and locations?
a. You can call the council office at 612-596-7894 or 888-638-3224 to find out about upcoming
meetings and locations.
b. You can visit http://mnhivcouncil.org/calendar.html.
c. You can join our mailing list at http://mnhivcouncil.org/contact-us.html to receive email notifications
about upcoming meetings.
5. How do I contact council staff?
a. Call us at 612-596-7894 or 888-638-3224 and we will talk to you in person.
b. Email us at hsph.ryanwhite@hennepin.us.
c. Our mailing address is Minnesota Council for HIV/AIDS Care and Prevention, 525 Portland AVE S.,
Minneapolis, MN 55415
6. Who is on the council?
a. There are 33 seats on the council and the membership is a diverse group including people who are
living with HIV/AIDS, community based organizations, housing providers, medical providers, mental
health and substance abuse providers and community leaders.
7. Are people living with HIV/AIDS on the council?
a. Yes, at least one third of our membership are people who are living with HIV/AIDS and are not
employed by an agency receiving Ryan White or CDC prevention funds. In addition, at least one council
co-chair is a person living with HIV/AIDS who is not employed by a funded agency.
8. How do I apply for the council?
a. Apply online at https://survey.vovici.com/se.ashx?s=56206EE3306FFCEC.
b. Click the Apply Now button on our website http://mnhivcouncil.org/.
c. Call the council office at 612-596-7894 to request a copy of the application.
d. Email the council office at hsph.ryanwhite@hennepin.us to request a copy of the application.
9. How are members selected to serve on the council?
a. The Membership and Training Committee reviews all applications and select members to interview
based on the current membership needs of the council. They look at current opening and gaps in
representation and reflectiveness to decide if an applicant can fill an opening. The committee forwards
the names of new members to the council to vote on.
b. New members are appointed by the Chief Elected Official (CEO) of the TGA, in accordance with the
legislation. The CEO is the chair of the board of the Hennepin County Commissioners.
10. What is the time commitment to serve on the council?
a. Being a member of the council requires a commitment of up to 8-10 hours a month. Council
members commit to a two-year term during which they attend monthly council meetings and
participate in at least one committee that meets monthly or quarterly.
11. How can I become involved without becoming a council member?
a. Community members can participate on a committee of their choosing. Once they have satisfied the
committee’s eligibility requirements, they are eligible to vote on issues brought before the
committee. In addition, all committee and council meetings are open to the public.
12. What if I can’t attend a meeting?
a. We understand council members occasionally need to miss a meeting. We expect the member will let
council staff know in advance if they will be unable to attend and read through the materials and
meeting minutes to stay abreast of decisions or information shared at the meeting. Council members
are allowed a total of two consecutive absences at council or committee meetings or five
total absences at council or committee meetings during a rolling calendar year.
13. Why should I join the council?
a. Help people affected by and at risk for HIV.
• Improve services and access to care.
• Represent an underserved community or population.
• Create service standards of care.
b. Get personal and professional benefits.
• Increase your awareness of HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and services.
• Establish contacts and networks.
• Receive numerous training opportunities.
c. Be a voice in program planning and implementation.
• Help determine the needs of populations living with, at risk for, or affected by HIV/AIDS.
• Learn about and collaborate on HIV/AIDS funding decisions.
14. Is there a deadline to apply?
a. No, the Membership and Training Committee reviews applications and interviews potential applicants
on an on-going basis.
15. Is there homework?
a. Council members should expect to keep up-to-date with the work of the council and their committee
(s) and come prepared to participate in the meeting activities. The council values your experience and
perspective, and will work to balance your time so that you can also manage your obligations outside
of the council.
16. How is the council reducing new HIV infections?
a. The council works with the Minnesota Department of Health to identify priority populations to receive
CDC prevention funding. By targeting communities that are at most risk we can address disparities
and work to achieve health equity in hard-hit populations.
17. Where can I find epidemiological data about HIV/AIDS in Minnesota?
a. Go to http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/diseases/hiv/stats/2016/index.html to learn more
about new and existing cases of HIV/AIDS in Minnesota.
18. Does the council use social media?
a. Yes! Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/mnhivcouncil. We post about upcoming meetings,
share articles related to the HIV/AIDS community and post surveys the council creates.
Too many acronyms? Check out our HIV/AIDS Glossary of Terms.
a. The Minnesota Council for HIV/AIDS Care and Prevention is a community planning group that oversees
the prioritization and allocation of federal Ryan White Part A and Minority AIDS Initiative (MAI funds)
allocated to the Minneapolis-St. Paul Transitional Grant Area (TGA).
2. What does the council do?
a. Develop Minnesota’s Integrated HIV Prevention and Care Plan.
b. Make decisions and recommendations about HIV treatment and care services.
c. Conduct needs assessments to determine the needs of people living with HIV/AIDS in Minnesota.
d. Prioritize populations for HIV prevention services.
3. When and where does the council meet?
a. The council meets on the second Tuesday of every month from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. in the Hennepin
County Health Services Building in room L15 in the lower level. The address is 525 Portland Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55415.
b. Council members also serve on a standing committee which typically meets once per month. A current
schedule of all council and committee meetings is available at http://mnhivcouncil.org/calendar.html.
4. How do I find out about council meeting times and locations?
a. You can call the council office at 612-596-7894 or 888-638-3224 to find out about upcoming
meetings and locations.
b. You can visit http://mnhivcouncil.org/calendar.html.
c. You can join our mailing list at http://mnhivcouncil.org/contact-us.html to receive email notifications
about upcoming meetings.
5. How do I contact council staff?
a. Call us at 612-596-7894 or 888-638-3224 and we will talk to you in person.
b. Email us at hsph.ryanwhite@hennepin.us.
c. Our mailing address is Minnesota Council for HIV/AIDS Care and Prevention, 525 Portland AVE S.,
Minneapolis, MN 55415
6. Who is on the council?
a. There are 33 seats on the council and the membership is a diverse group including people who are
living with HIV/AIDS, community based organizations, housing providers, medical providers, mental
health and substance abuse providers and community leaders.
7. Are people living with HIV/AIDS on the council?
a. Yes, at least one third of our membership are people who are living with HIV/AIDS and are not
employed by an agency receiving Ryan White or CDC prevention funds. In addition, at least one council
co-chair is a person living with HIV/AIDS who is not employed by a funded agency.
8. How do I apply for the council?
a. Apply online at https://survey.vovici.com/se.ashx?s=56206EE3306FFCEC.
b. Click the Apply Now button on our website http://mnhivcouncil.org/.
c. Call the council office at 612-596-7894 to request a copy of the application.
d. Email the council office at hsph.ryanwhite@hennepin.us to request a copy of the application.
9. How are members selected to serve on the council?
a. The Membership and Training Committee reviews all applications and select members to interview
based on the current membership needs of the council. They look at current opening and gaps in
representation and reflectiveness to decide if an applicant can fill an opening. The committee forwards
the names of new members to the council to vote on.
b. New members are appointed by the Chief Elected Official (CEO) of the TGA, in accordance with the
legislation. The CEO is the chair of the board of the Hennepin County Commissioners.
10. What is the time commitment to serve on the council?
a. Being a member of the council requires a commitment of up to 8-10 hours a month. Council
members commit to a two-year term during which they attend monthly council meetings and
participate in at least one committee that meets monthly or quarterly.
11. How can I become involved without becoming a council member?
a. Community members can participate on a committee of their choosing. Once they have satisfied the
committee’s eligibility requirements, they are eligible to vote on issues brought before the
committee. In addition, all committee and council meetings are open to the public.
12. What if I can’t attend a meeting?
a. We understand council members occasionally need to miss a meeting. We expect the member will let
council staff know in advance if they will be unable to attend and read through the materials and
meeting minutes to stay abreast of decisions or information shared at the meeting. Council members
are allowed a total of two consecutive absences at council or committee meetings or five
total absences at council or committee meetings during a rolling calendar year.
13. Why should I join the council?
a. Help people affected by and at risk for HIV.
• Improve services and access to care.
• Represent an underserved community or population.
• Create service standards of care.
b. Get personal and professional benefits.
• Increase your awareness of HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and services.
• Establish contacts and networks.
• Receive numerous training opportunities.
c. Be a voice in program planning and implementation.
• Help determine the needs of populations living with, at risk for, or affected by HIV/AIDS.
• Learn about and collaborate on HIV/AIDS funding decisions.
14. Is there a deadline to apply?
a. No, the Membership and Training Committee reviews applications and interviews potential applicants
on an on-going basis.
15. Is there homework?
a. Council members should expect to keep up-to-date with the work of the council and their committee
(s) and come prepared to participate in the meeting activities. The council values your experience and
perspective, and will work to balance your time so that you can also manage your obligations outside
of the council.
16. How is the council reducing new HIV infections?
a. The council works with the Minnesota Department of Health to identify priority populations to receive
CDC prevention funding. By targeting communities that are at most risk we can address disparities
and work to achieve health equity in hard-hit populations.
17. Where can I find epidemiological data about HIV/AIDS in Minnesota?
a. Go to http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/diseases/hiv/stats/2016/index.html to learn more
about new and existing cases of HIV/AIDS in Minnesota.
18. Does the council use social media?
a. Yes! Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/mnhivcouncil. We post about upcoming meetings,
share articles related to the HIV/AIDS community and post surveys the council creates.
Too many acronyms? Check out our HIV/AIDS Glossary of Terms.
