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Background: As a result of decreasing financial resources, the Louisiana Office of Public Health consolidated the STD Control Program and the HIV/AIDS Program in December 2010. This reorganizational trend continues to occur throughout the country, in order to identify and implement efficient mechanisms to deliver STD/HIV prevention, screenings, and treatment or care.
Objectives: By the end of this session, participants will be able to describe the strategic planning process that a State Health Department implemented to consolidate the STD Control Program and the HIV/AIDS Program and summarize the benefits and challenges of an STD and HIV/AIDS Program re-organization.
Methods: During the merge process, multiple issues have been addressed, including the need to assess and reassign staff duties, develop a consolidated organizational chart, relocate to a new office, establish vision and mission statements and program plan, train staff, address significant budget reductions, and maintain adequate internal and external communication to strengthen and reinforce the Program’s new direction.
Results: As a result, the STD/HIV Program (SHP) continues to develop as a unified organization. The ability to share and/or leverage staffing and financial resources has strengthened its capacity to plan effective prevention interventions, integrate STD and HIV testing and treatment, and improve partner services.
Conclusions: This program consolidation has presented many challenges, as well as benefits and this workshop will provide information related to managing a Program through significant changes, highlighting strategies to ultimately improve the health department’s response to the STD/HIV epidemic.
Implications for Programs, Policy, and Research: Lessons learned in Louisiana could benefit other health departments that are also currently undergoing organizational changes or if they in the process of planning for a program consolidation.