I request your assistance in investigating the decision by the Pennsylvania Department of Health to remove taxpayer monies from AIDS Resource, Inc. and Caring Communities for AIDS and transfer those funds and all services to the Northwest PA AIDS Alliance in Clarion.



I am familiar with AIDS Resource (AR) and Caring Communities for AIDS (CCFA), community-based agencies located in Williamsport with a satellite office in State College (AR) and Berwick (CCFA). Together, the agencies serve Lycoming, Clinton, Centre, Snyder, Union, Tioga, Bradford, Sullivan, Columbia, Montour, Northumberland and Potter Counties. Both agencies have been in existence for many years with stable full and part-time staff and volunteers. In addition, the agencies are in superb financial shape and have had exemplary financial audits for many years. Both agencies provide services for many people in our region and each has a superb reputation.



The North Central District AIDS Coalition and the Northwest Pennsylvania AIDS Alliance (Clarion) made a decision, along with the Pennsylvania Department of Health, to reassign the funding from the North Central District Coalition and give the grant monies to North West PA AIDS Alliance. These grantees apparently made this decision with the support of the Pennsylvania Department of Health. This decision was made without any discussion, including staff, board of directors, clients, donors from either AIDS Resource or Caring Communities for AIDS or local community members. I am concerned this decision was made without any public discussion, bid process or local public hearings. Neither AIDS Resource nor Caring Communities for AIDS was ever provided an opportunity to bid on the services that they have been performing for many years. Other AIDS Coalitions were also denied the opportunity to bid on these monies (including two that have already expressed the opportunity to administer these funds).



One might also assume AIDS Resource or Caring Communities for AIDS would have an appeal process for these decisions because it directly affects clients and the employment of full and part-time staff. However, both organizations were informed by the Pennsylvania Department of Health that there is no appeal process, and since NC District is closing and giving their funds to NW PA AIDS Alliance, there is no further discussion necessary.



I request your office to intervene and halt this process until further investigation and public discussion can occur between all interested parties.