AGENCY FOUND TO ADMINISTER AIDS GRANT FUNDS.(LOCAL) - The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, VA)

Byline: LIZ SZABO THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT

NORFOLK -- The city of Norfolk expects to hand over management of a federal AIDS-treatment grant to The Planning Council, a private human services provider, officials said Thursday.

Norfolk began looking for an outside agency to administer funds from Title I of the federal Ryan White CARE Act this spring after years of complaints.

The grant pays for care of uninsured AIDS patients throughout Hampton Roads. But a dispute with Eastern Virginia Medical School, which operates local AIDS clinics, disrupted care for hundreds of those patients for three months earlier this year. And city administrators have failed to spend nearly $1 million a year in available funding, even though many eligible people haven't received treatment.

Grant funds today are managed by a program director in the city manager's office. Previously, the grant was administered by the Norfolk Health Department.

The Planning Council's takeover would be the third change in administration in five years.

Although Norfolk officials have not yet signed a final contract with The Planning Council, City Attorney Bernard Pishko said a deal is likely. The Planning Council is a nonprofit agency.

The grant includes money for administrative costs, so giving the work to an outside source will not cost the city anything, Pishko said.

Mary Louis Campbell, president of The Planning Council, said her organization is still negotiating with the city. ``We're hopeful that we will be able to provide this service,'' she said.

The Planning Council is reviewing resumes for the position of Ryan White program director, Pishko said. The current Ryan White program director, Shirley Tyree, does not plan to remain, he said.

``She has expressed a desire for a change of scenery,'' Pishko said. ``It is likely that Shirley Tyree will be doing something different for the city.''

Tyree has defended her work with the Ryan White program. But she has been unpopular among many doctors, nurses and others who treat Ryan White patients.

Her administration was embroiled in the contract dispute between the city and EVMS earlier this year.

The school lost its Ryan White funding and closed seven of eight AIDS clinics. Nearly 400 indigent people with HIV scrambled to find new care. Only one other medical practice had room to see them.

Norfolk has one of the worst track records in the country for using federal money to care for low-income AIDS patients.

City officials estimate that as many as 900 local residents who have tested positive for HIV are not receiving care.

Some in the local AIDS community say they are optimistic about the change in leadership.

``I have great anticipation that this will be better,'' said Jim Spivey, executive director of the Tidewater AIDS Crisis Taskforce, which uses Ryan White money to provide case management, housing, emergency financial assistance and other services.

``The Planning Council has a good reputation,'' Spivey said. ``I'm very familiar with them. They are very easy to talk to.''

Reach Liz Szabo at 446-2286 or lszabo@pilotonline.com.

CAPTION(S):

Graphic

BACKGROUND

Norfolk has one of the worst track records in the country for using federal money to care for low-income AIDS patients.

City officials estimate that as many as 900 local residents who have tested positive for HIV are not receiving care.