Office of HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy Requesting Written Comments

National Hepatitis Plan request for comments

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy (OHAIDP) is offering multiple ways for the public to take an active role in helping to develop the next iterations of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) and the National Viral Hepatitis Action Plan (NVHAP). Both national strategies currently expire in 2020.

OHAIDP is combining the commenting process for both the NHAS and the NVHAP, but they will remain separate strategies.

Written comments: OHAIDP has published a Request for Information (RFI) in the Federal Registerto solicit written comments, recommendations, and ideas for developing the next iterations of both the NHAS and the NVHAP. Electronic responses are strongly preferred and may be addressed to HepHIVStrategies@hhs.gov. Hard copy responses should be addressed to:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 330 C Street, SW, Room L001 Washington, DC 20024 Attention: HIV/Viral Hepatitis RFI

Comments must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. (ET) on March 11, 2019. Please allow sufficient time for comments to be received before the close of the comment period.

All the input gathered will be shared with our federal partners, who will use it to develop the next iterations of both strategies, as well as each agency's actions for implementing them.

We look forward to receiving your ideas and input!

Read more about the National HIV/AIDS Strategy. Read more about the National Viral Hepatitis Action Plan.

Read more about the update process on the HIV.gov blog and on the HHS viral hepatitis blog.

View Notice

NIHM Twitter Chat: Eating Disorders

Date/Time: Thursday, February 28, 2019, 11:00 AM ―12:00 PM PST

Eating disorders affect people of all genders, ages, races/ethnicities, body weights, and socioeconomic statuses. Obsessions with food, body weight, and shape may be signs of an eating disorder. These disorders can affect a person’s physical and mental health; in some cases, they can be life-threatening. But eating disorders can be treated. Learning more about them can help you spot the warning signs and seek treatment early.

In recognition of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, NIMH is hosting a Twitter chat on eating disorders. This chat will cover the common types of eating disorders, how they are treated, current research, and how to find help. Mark Chavez, Ph.D., the Program Chief of the NIMH Eating Disorders Research Program, will be available to discuss the topic and answer questions live on Twitter.

Participating is easy.

To ask questions, you must have a Twitter account.
Follow @NIMHgov on Twitter for updates about the chat and other information about mental health research.
If you do not have a Twitter account, you can still observe the chat in real-time by entering the hashtag #NIMHchats at tchat.io.
Remember to use #NIMHchats with your questions and posts.

An archive of the chat will be posted on NIMH’s website following the event.

Note: The experts cannot provide specific medical advice or referrals. Please consult with a qualified health care provider for diagnosis, treatment, and answers to your personal questions. If you need help finding a provider, visit www.nimh.nih.gov/findhelp.

More Information: www.twitter.com/NIMHgov

For More Information

Supporting Women in Recovery: A Trauma-Informed Approach to Substance Use Treatment

The National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma & Mental Health is pleased to announce an upcoming webinar in our Trauma, Opioids, and Domestic Violence Series co-sponsored by the Campaign for Trauma-Informed Policy and Practice. Join us for this webinar and please stay tuned for information about our other upcoming webinars in 2019!

Wednesday, March 13th from 12:00 - 1:30 PM PT

Register

Women with substance use concerns often experience unique barriers to treatment and specialized needs that go unmet within traditional treatment settings, including: experiences of trauma and intimate partner violence, co-occurring health conditions, increased economic instability, family and parenting needs, medication assisted treatment during pregnancy, and gender-specific risk factors. This trans-inclusive webinar defines what it means for services to be comprehensive, trauma-informed, and gender responsive for women; identifies issues to consider when working with women, including women who are pregnant or parenting; and discusses how to apply gender-responsive care in the delivery of behavioral health treatment and recovery services in order to improve outcomes for women and their families.

Presented by:
Hendrée Jones, PhD

Hendrée Jones, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the School of Medicine, University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. She is also the executive director of UNC Horizons, a comprehensive drug treatment program for pregnant and parenting women and their drug-exposed children. She is also an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Psychology at UNC-Chapel Hill and an Adjunct Professor in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Jones is an internationally recognized expert in the development and examination of both behavioral and pharmacologic treatments for pregnant women and their children in risky life situations. Dr. Jones has received continuous funding from the United States National Institutes of Health since 1994 and has published over 175 publications, two books on treating substance use disorders (one for pregnant and parenting women and the other for a more general population of patients), numerous book and textbook chapters. She is a consultant for SAMHSA, the United Nations and the World Health Organization. Dr. Jones leads or is involved in projects in Afghanistan, the Southern Cone, the Republic of Georgia, South Africa, and the United State, which are focused on improving the lives of children, women and families.

Gabriela Zapata-Alma, LCSW, CADC

Gabriela Zapata-Alma, LCSW, CADC, is the Director of Policy and Practice for Domestic Violence and Substance Use at the National Center for Domestic Violence, Trauma & Mental Health, as well as Adjunct Faculty at The University of Chicago. Gabriela brings over a decade of experience working with survivors of domestic violence and other trauma; providing direct services, training, advocacy, and consultation; and leading programs using a trauma-informed approach, Motivational Interviewing, Harm Reduction, Gender Responsive Care, Housing First, and third wave behavioral interventions. Gabriela has been recognized with numerous awards, including Health & Medicine Policy Research Group’s 2018 Health Award, and the Illinois Association of Addiction Professionals chapter of NADAAC’s 2017 Rising Star Award. Gabriela has provided training and technical assistance related to serving marginalized communities impacted by trauma and other social determinants of health, locally, nationally, and internationally.