TALK. ACT. PROTECT.
Shape the future of STI & HIV Prevention
Are you passionate about making a positive impact on the health and well-being of your community? Do you want to be part of innovative strategies to address health disparities and promote sexual health awareness? If so, we invite you to join CommUnityCare Health Centers' Community Advisory Panel (CAP)!
WHAT IS THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY PANEL (CAP)?
CommUnityCare Health Centers has received a prestigious $2.5 million award from the CDC Enhancing STI and Sexual Health Clinic Infrastructure initiative. As part of this initiative, we are establishing a new sexual health access point dedicated to providing comprehensive sexual health services. The CAP will play a vital role in advising the planning and implementation of this new access point.
WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
We are seeking individuals from priority populations, including:
Black/African American community members
Latinx/Hispanic community members
Women
People who identify as LGBTQIA+
Young adults ages 18-24
People who use drugs
We aim to create an intersectional framework by prioritizing outreach efforts to multi-marginalized individuals, including unsheltered/unhoused people and persons of color.
WHY JOIN THE CAP?
By joining the CAP, you will have the opportunity to:
Inform healthcare delivery and design surrounding sexual health services
Advocate for the needs of your community
Make a tangible difference in addressing health disparities
HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED?
Recruitment for the CAP will begin in April, with the goal of establishing a fully recruited and established panel by September 2024. We are partnering with key organizations and community leaders to ensure that individuals from priority populations are represented.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR CAP MEMBERS
CAP members will receive transportation (via Lyft) to and from CAP meetings (pending approval).
CAP members will receive a $25 gift card for each CAP meeting attended.
Join Us in Making a Difference!
If you are passionate about promoting sexual health awareness, reducing health disparities, and advocating for your community, we want to hear from you! Together, we can create a healthier and more inclusive future for all.
For more information or to express your interest in joining the CAP, please contact us at advisory.panel@communitycaretx.org or call 512-716-7499.
Thank you for your commitment to improving the health and well-being of our community!
APPLY IN THE FORM BELOW!
FAQ
What is the purpose of the Community Advisory Panel (CAP)?
CommUnityCare Health Centers plans to open a sexual health access point which will be accessible to CUC patients and community members at-large for walk-in Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) testing, treatment, and prevention services. This reflects a broader effort to adopt a status neutral care model within CUC, where people are offered routine STI and HIV testing and are engaged in discussions around risk reduction and STI/HIV prevention, no matter what their test results are.
As part of this project, CUC is establishing a Community Advisory Panel (CAP) that will inform the design, implementation, and continuous quality improvement of sexual health services.
What kinds of topics will the CAP discuss in meetings?
The CAP will discuss various topics centered around sexual health and family planning service provision. We want to know about members’ experiences receiving STI/HIV testing, treatment, and prevention methods; access to contraceptives (like an IUD or Nexplanon); access to prenatal care; barriers to receiving this type of care; social stigma centered around their STI or HIV status/gender identity/sexuality; and general lived experiences with sexual health services.
Who should apply?
Everyone! We welcome all lived experiences and would like to hear your stories. We are especially interested in addressing the unique needs of groups most vulnerable to experiencing barriers to sexual health and wellness support. These groups include: Black men who have sex with men, Latinx men who have sex with men, transgender individuals, people living with HIV/HCV/STIs, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, people experiencing homelessness, and people who inject or use drugs. If you are a member of one or more of these groups, we highly encourage you to apply and share your stories with us.
What kind of feedback will the CAP provide to CUC?
CAP members will provide guidance and feedback on the design, implementation, and ongoing improvement of sexual health services delivery. We are interested in learning from the communities we serve and your lived experience. We want to design welcoming services that support the goals of the community.
Will I have to share my medical history or STI/HIV status?
No. CommUnityCare Health Centers respects each individual’s experience and health journey. Anything shared in meetings will be kept confidential, and if the member is a patient of CUC, no information will be shared from the medical record. If the panel receives any health information, it would only happen if it is shared voluntarily directly from the individual.
Do I have to be a CUC patient to participate?
No. CommUnityCare Health Centers welcomes community members to apply for the CAP regardless of their relationship to CommUnityCare Health Centers. CAP members will not be required to receive CUC services as part of their participation.
What are the attendance requirements?
The Community Advisory Panel will meet a minimum of 6 times a year. Members are required to attend at least 4 meetings a year to remain active.
How will you use the information I share in meetings?
We appreciate your feedback and input! Any information you provide will be confidential and anonymous. Staff will use your feedback to inform and improve the service delivery at the sexual health access point. Your feedback will make a difference in the sexual health services we provide to the community.
How does participating in the CAP benefit me?
As a member of the CAP, you will be a spokesperson for your community. CUC will support your participation by facilitating transportation to meetings, providing support and access, and compensating your participation with a $25 gift card per meeting.
How do I apply?
When will I know if I have been selected to participate?
We will begin recruitment on June 1st, with applications due by August 16th. Final decisions on participants will be sent out by September 6th. CAP orientation will begin in mid-to-late September.
I have more questions, who should I talk to about them?
Direct all questions to the sexual health project’s Program Specialist, Destiny Herndon, at either advisory.panel@communitycaretx.org or call 512.716.7499.