Greetings and welcome to the Land of Enchantment’s HIV Prevention Community Planning and Action Group (CPAG).

The profile of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in New Mexico reflects the diversity of the state. HIV has impacted Whites, Hispanics/Latinos, Native Americans and African Americans. Gay and bisexual men and other “men who have sex with men” (MSM) have been disproportionately affected. Other populations with HIV infection include injection drug users (IDU) and heterosexuals at risk (HAR).

The CPAG is mandated by Federal and State funders to develop a statewide Comprehensive HIV Prevention Plan that describes the populations to be reached and strategies for serving them. Recent plans have emphasized the crucial need for risk reduction that reaches persons who are living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH/A), MSM, IDU and HAR. They also describe HIV prevention interventions that have been demonstrated to increase knowledge, attitudes and skills so that participants reduce their risk behaviors for HIV. Such effective, evidence-based models are now delivered in all regions of New Mexico, in both urban and rural areas. The New Mexico Department of Health collaborates with community-based organizations (CBOs) to implement these recommendations.

The CPAG is made up of 6 geographically-based Regional Advisory Groups that identify HIV prevention needs and gaps for the Northwest (Region 1), Northeast and Santa Fe (Region 2), Albuquerque and Bernalillo County (Region 3), Southeast (Region 4), and Southwest (Region 5). A special regional planning group, known as Region 7, conducts planning for members of Native American Nations. Each Regional Advisory Group has 2 co-chairs who serve as members of the statewide CPAG. Members of the statewide group also include 3 statewide co-chairs and 15 at-large members representing affected communities.

New Mexico has a strong network of innovative prevention efforts. We hope you will join us to further enhance and expand these efforts to prevent HIV infection. It is our hope that your participation in CPAG will enrich you with knowledge and skills and allow you to make a difference in The Land of Enchantment.

Sincerely,

Tony Escudero
NMDOH Co-Chair

Will McLauchlin
Community Co-Chair

Martin Walker
Person with HIV (PLWH/A) Co Chair

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Documents you might find useful

• Welcome letter
• CPAG membership application (Word.doc)
• Bylaws
  
• FAQs document
• Glossary of HIV Prevention Terminology
• Our brochure
• Chart of the program and funding
• 2010 Orientation
• CPAG and public health regions in New Mexico
  (click to view)

To sign up for the CPAG email list, send an email to nm-cpag-subscribe@yahoogroups.com