We created the Youth HIV Policy Advisor Program (YHPA) program because “all laws and policies related to HIV should be informed by the experiences of people living with HIV.” To that end, we felt it was critical to train young people living with HIV in Metro Atlanta on policy and advocacy, providing them tools and resources to go forward and educate state, city, and county-level policymakers on HIV-related policy issues.
Members of the inaugural 2015 Youth HIV Policy Advisors cohort
We are preparing to receive our next cohort of Youth HIV Policy Advisors. The application open on April 10th to coincide with National Youth HIV Awareness Day. Youth interested in applying must be 30-years-old or younger, be living with HIV and willing to discuss their status publicly with officials and the media and reside in Metro Atlanta to qualify for this program. Youth participating in the program create a policy agenda which is presented to elected officials and community leaders during our World AIDS Day-Atlanta Policy and Action Luncheon. Policy Advisors are also matched with elected officials and serve as “Special Advisors on Youth HIV” while they complete an HIV-related project.