Officers elected include Claude Martin—Board Chair, Noel Twilbeck—Vice Chair, Dimitre Blutcher — Secretary, Keith Greenlee — Treasurer and Enrique Moresco— Advocate at Large. Committee Chairs elected include Stacy Lefleur—Nominating Committee, Jean Redmann—Legislative Committee, Anthony James — Mobilization Committee, and Sergio Farfan — Organizational Committee.

The purpose of LAAN is to serve as a statewide network to build the capacity of all HIV/AIDS community stakeholders and to empower stakeholders to strategically engage legislators and elected officials to keep HIV/AIDS a priority. The goals of LAAN are to influence policy makers, mobilize communities, build coalitions, and to develop and sustain a statewide organizational infrastructure that advocates on behalf of HIV and HIV related issues, such as poverty, homelessness, and substance abuse.

LAAN was started back in August of 2002 in response to the threat of legislative action to discontinue funding for no cost condom distribution and, consequently, the lost of match funding for Ryan White CARES Act Title II funding. Despite multiple efforts by individuals throughout the state, there were no coordinated efforts prior to LAAN’s existence. Due to this lack of leadership and effectiveness, several key leaders (The Louisiana Commission on HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C, Community Based Organizations and members from the Pharmaceutical Industry) began to look for methods of formally organizing and establishing a statewide network for advocacy.

Major activities of LAAN include developing a Legislative Action Plan, organizing a Legislative Awareness Day that is scheduled in May of each year, hosting regional Town Hall meetings throughout the state, developing organizational structure, membership recruitment, developing an email list or list-serve, helping to link citizens with their respective elected officials, identify and support consumers to speak out, helping to identify additional resources for HIV prevention, care and supportive services, and providing information on HIV/AIDS issues in Louisiana.

Since its existence, LAAN has successfully advocated for expanding the Louisiana AIDS Drugs Assistance Program (ADAP) to cover 62 pharmaceutical medications that include 31 antiretroviral medications and 31 medications for the prevention and treatment of Opportunistic Infections. It has also successfully advocated for a waiver for match funding from the state post Katrina and Rita. While both of these efforts serve as major indicators of success for the organization, it continues to advocate for increased funding for prevention efforts in the state and raising income eligibility from 200% of the Federal Poverty Guideline (FPG) to 300% of the FPG, which is consistent with the southern average.

For more information about LAAN or for information on how to become a member, please contact Doreen Keeler-Tollerson of NO AIDS Task Force at (504)821-2601 ext. 215 or Anthony James of Acadiana CARES at (337) 233-2437 ext. 44 or anthonyj@acadianacares.org.